FReepers Visit Lexington & Concord - PICS!

n/a | 8-6-03 | Bob J

[Bob J]

In July, Bob J and Diotima visited Lexington and Concord while on a visit to the RadioFR studio in Taxachusetts. We thought others might enjoy some of the pics we took while there!

Statue honoring the Minutemen on Lexington Green

Miniature of Battle Scene
Notice the drummer boy in lower left corner
This is the 16 year old who played his drum to call the minutemen to battle.

View of the Lexington Green looking SW

Plaque honoring the event placed in 1799

Sign on Buchman Tavern

Buchman tavern where the minutemen gathered prior to the clash with the Redcoats
Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pics inside
Too bad, it is quite fascinating

Sign on the site of the Belfry which alerted the townspeople
It subsequently burned down

John Hancock's House where he and Samuel Adams were roused out of bed and discussed the impending engagement
Neither were at the battle, believed to be too valuable to risk and secreted to another town

Concord Bridge Monument honoring the minutemen/farmers who met and turned back the British Soldiers
Notice the plowshare

Concord Bridge where the "Shot Heard Round the World" was fired
An understatement

Hoe you enjoyed this short tour of part of our nations founding history! We highly recommend a visit to these two locations if you're ever near Boston!

[LarryM]

Concord Bridge where the "Shot Heard Round the World" was fired

The Shot Heard Round the World was fired on Lexington Green.

[austingirl]

I lived just down the road from Concord for three horrible years before I was blessed by a merciful God to return to Texas. It is shocking what knee-jerk bleeding-heart leftists have emerged out of that area. I hated every moment I lived there, but it's okay to visit to see the history that has been so sadly perverted in our republic.

[agitator]

You forgot to mention that your visit there was marred by the overwhelming noise generated by Founding Fathers spinning in their graves. :)

[RightWhale]

Minutemen came from all around, even as far as Salem to fight tyranny and oppression. Nobody liked John Adams.

[Bob J]

You're right of course, my bad. Major Pitcairn had instructed his troops not to fire on the villagers unless fired upon first. The patriots had already begun to disperse when it was seen how large the British force was. As most were leaving, a shot was fired at the Americans and the battle began. To this day, no one knows where that shot came from (calling all conspiracy enthusiasts). The Bush bashers will probably blame it on W's great, great, great, really great, grandpa.

[Bob J]

Hmmm, I thought they were earthquakes!

[Digger]

Concord Hymn
HYMN.
SUNG AT THE COMPLETION OF
CONCORD MONUMENT, APRIL 19, 1836.
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world,

The foe long since in silence slept,
Alike the Conqueror silent sleeps,
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone,
That memory may their deed redeem,
When like our sires our sons are gone.

Spirit! who made those freemen dare
To die, or leave their children free,
Bid time and nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and Thee

[Little Bill]

You should have looked up ThirstyMan he lives and has a business in Concord, great man.

[1Old Pro]

Been there, brings back great memories. Only problem with that neck of the woods is that the plagarist PBS FDR loving woman, what's her name, lives there. Oh, Doris Kearns Goowin

[Semper Paratus]

Doris Kearns Goowin

Her son is a Lt. stationed in Baghdad.

[Digger]

If I remember my history Ralph Waldo Emerson was asked to dedicate this monument. You see his grandfather was the pastor at the little church there & he went off with the troops at Valley Forge. That winter he got the fever & died. (Now today we got a hugh group of anti-americans in congress who strive to ruin this wonder gift given to us. No way would these people have put up with this government. When will we stand up to them by action?)

[1Old Pro]

Her son is a Lt. stationed in Baghdad.

Perhaps the apple ran from the tree.

[SamAdams76]

It's not that bad of a place to live! I drive by the North Bridge in Concord every day on the way to work. I also walk the Battle Road frequently on weekends - the entire 10 miles from Ethan House to Fiske Hill and back. It's a beautiful area.

They got liberals down in Texas too. That Mosely-Brown character and Anne Richards and Lloyd Bensen, etc. I think it is great living here in New England. We have the perfect climate (it's just too damn hot in Texas for my liking) and lots of amenities up here.

The liberals up here can kiss my ass. I'm staying whether they like it or not.

[austingirl]

I lived in Acton and was miserable for mostly personal reasons. My horse died and one of dogs did, too, in a short period. Unfortunately, you are right about liberals in Texas, there are plenty in Austin. But I'd rather sweat than freeze. It's been 100+ for a week here and I wouldn't trade it for snow. ;-)

[El Gato]

The Shot Heard Round the World was fired on Lexington Green.

Not in the poem by Ralph W. Emerson, whose grandfather Willaim may have been the first on the field at the bridge(his house is right next to it)

By the rude bridge that arched the flood.
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world.

The difference between the Lexington dustup and the action at the old north bridge in Concord was that at Lexington, it was the colonials who were routed, which was the expected outcome. The long retreat back to Boston/Charlestown started at the bridge in Concord, and it was the Redcoats who were routed. The defeat of a force from the most powerful army in the world by a bunch of "farmers with pitchforks" (well muskets and rifles actually) was a Big Deal, and thus the shots there are generally considered to be the ones "heard round the world".

Still the overall battle did begin at Lexington, and so they have some claim as well. In fact the site where I got that snippet of poem credits Lexington with being the place where "The Shot" was fired.

[El Gato]

The day I visited Lexington, the "battle road", Concord and the bridge (as well as the nearby Walden Pond) April 19, 1993 (quite sick to my stomach after seeing the final assault on the Branch Davidians on TV) the river was in flood, the same as on the much earlier April 19th. The causeway on the far side of the bridge was underwater, and I saw a one man shell glide over the causeway rather than going under the bridge.