My travels continue in and around the Boston area.

I start with some photos of one current project.. called “Bernardi”.  It is actually five different car dealerships in Boston… one Toyota, Acura, Honda, Audi and some management offices.  In all cases, we’re upgrading their interior lighting to fixtures with advanced controls so that one person can control all lighting from one iPad throughout the dealership’s multiple sites.

Work just started two days ago and will take about 2 months to do everything.  I just need to check in by phone once a day and return every 3 weeks or so to be sure nothing goes wonky.

And now back on “Battle road” between Lexington and Concord.  I returned the next day to continue my journey west to Concord.

History aside, Concord is a neat, little village.  I want to return there with Brenda sometime just to wander around.  It has a quaint central village with preserved 18th and 19th century villages; little shops, nice greens.

This is the location where Paul Revere and William Dawes were captured by a British Army patrol nearby during the “Midnight Ride” to Concord of April 18.  I didn’t know he was capture.  It wasn’t Paul who alerted Concord of the British regulars, but Dr. Samuel Prescott who was also riding with them. He escaped by jumping his horse over a wall and into the woods.

You tell me why Paul gets the credit, then.  Fake news.  Revere was released the next day.

I chose to walk several miles of the journey, which was rather dumb since I had sprained my ankle about 10 days earlier.  I hobbled along slowly, but didn’t want to pass up the opportunity.

Because then you would occasionally arrive at places like this along the way..This is Hartwell Tavern – built in 1690.  Soldiers passed by the tavern on their way to Concord, and again on their way back to Boston. Three of the Ephraim Hartwells’ children — Samuel, John and Isaac — fought at Old North Bridge and on the battle road. All three later served in the Revolutionary War.

Prescott (mentioned above) arrived at the Hartwell Tavern, awakened Ephraim and informed him of the pending arrival of the British soldiers. Ephraim sent his black slave, Violet, down the road to alert his parents. Mary then relayed the message to Captain William Smith, commanding officer of the Lincoln minutemen, who lived a little to the west and whose home still stands along Battle Road. The minutemen received the noticed in time, and arrived at Old North Bridge before their enemy.

The road is dotted with lots of still existing houses, farms and taverns that played a role during this event.

The Old North bridge (not the original)..

“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.”

One the far side of the bridge, provincial minutemen and militia companies numbering approximately 400 engaged roughly 90 British Army troops at this location. The battle was the first instance in which American forces advanced in formation on the British regulars, inflicted casualties, and routed their opponents. 

Very pretty countryside and lots of room to wander around.  Coronavirus is keeping all the tourists away.