1898 Wright Tavern

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wright’s Tavern stands in the center of Concord. With the public meetinghouse on one side and the militia training ground on the other, it was a favorite resort of Concord’s leading citizens for both business and pleasure, and thus played an important role in the transaction of the town’s civil and military business. Built in 1747 by Ephraim Jones, who operated it until 1751, the tavern was managed during the portentous days of April 1775 by Amos Wright, whose name it has borne ever since. On April 19, when the courthouse bell announced the approach of Major Pitcairn’s British troops, the Concord minutemen assembled at Wright’s Tavern. Later, after Pitcairn’s arrival in the public square, the British officers took refreshments in the tavern. As the scene of these events, the tavern has important associations with the opening military episode of the Revolution.

It also has associations with the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay which met next door, in the First Parish Church, in October 1774. This congress, with John Hancock as president and Benjamin Lincoln as secretary, consisted of 300 delegates from Massachusetts towns who passed measures ending tax payments to the Crown and organizing a militia force to defy the King by arms if necessary. Wright’s Tavern was used as a meeting place for committees of the Congress during the 5-day session, and also provided refreshments for the delegates.

Until recently it functioned in its original role as a public house. Since the Revolution, however, it has seen many uses and was finally saved from a doubtful future by the efforts of the Society of the First Parish and the generosity of two of Concord’s public-spirited citizens.  It has been owned by the Society of the First Parish, Concord since 1961. (NPS)

Currently it house’s the church’s “Spiritual Center” and some offices.  Seems like  a mismatch of functions (spiritual center in a old tavern that is in a not-so-good shape?). Hopefully the good folks of the church and the town will someday to put this architectural and historically landmark back in place – and open it up for all.

 

 

Fence long gone, trees have grown: 1920’s(?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undated, likely 1800’s (earliest picture in this collection)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1905

 

1906

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1909

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1909 postmark,  but must be before then – fence doesn’t just disappear (pre 1904)

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

1910

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1900’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1915

  

 1940

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1900

 

1914 tap room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above, Dining Roomm 1908 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HABS Survey, 1941

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HABS Survey 1961

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HABS Survey 1963

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

East view (the front is to the right) 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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