The North Bridge, often colloquially called the Old North Bridge, is a historic site in Concord, Massachusetts, spanning the Concord River. The town of Concord received the wooden beams that were recovered. officer began to remove planks from The colonial forces, under the command of Colonel John Barrett, advanced on the bridge from the west, although they were under orders to not fire unless fired upon. In the 1830s, famed American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote the dedication for a new monument to the colonial soldiers of the Battle of Concord, the first official battle of the American Revolution. North Bridge Visitor Center - U.S. National Park Service Beneath the statue is a pedestal, designed by James Elliot Cabot, with the first stanza of Emersons poem inscribed on it. Portions of what is known as the Elisha Jones House were possibly built as early as the mid-1600s! In 1975, this bridge became a focal point for the bicentennial celebrations here in Concord. Photo Gallery Suggest edits to improve what we show. One was placed in 1875 and another in 1975 (each contain period items such as coins, newspapers, and books). The fight at the North Bridge took place around 10 AM. One of the reasons this ground is considered sacred is because there are actual soldiers buried here. were only about 50 yards (46 meters) on Lexington Green). Among the items in these boxes is the same block of wood from The Old North Bridge from the Ripley School Bicentennial. Battle at Concord's North Bridge (Continued from: Battle on Lexington Green) Word of the Lexington engagement was rushed to Concord ( map ), where the Minutemen , now numbering about 250, retreated across the North Bridge ( map) over the Concord River in the face of the superior British force. The 120 British soldiers stationed on the western side of the North Bridge under Captain Laurie witnessed the approaching militia and decided it prudent to cross back over the bridge and form defensive ranks along the eastern side. Prior to the construction of the permanent bridge, what is now referred to as Virginia Road was the only way into and out of Concord. On the night of April 18, 1775, General Thomas Gage ordered seven hundred British soldiers to march to Concord to seize the hidden munitions and supplies from the colonial safe houses. To appreciate the significance of the Old North Bridge, we need to talk about the Battle of Concord. In the early morning hours of April 19, 1775, about 700 British soldiers marched from Boston with one goal in mind: to seize the military stores and munitions hidden by the rebels in the countryside town of Concord, Massachusetts. The battlefield has been well-maintained in its 1775 appearance, and today the site probably looks more like it did on the day of the battle than in either of the two earlier photos. Minute Man Lines of March to the Old North Bridge April 19, 1775; Concord-Maynard-Hudson Streetcar Route 1901-1923 Additional Streetcar History - Maynard Historical Society Archives; Zoning Map 1928; . Your email address will not be published. The images included were taken at the start of stick season in late November and focus on capturing the scenery viewed from the bridge. Vermont This Site All NPS Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Daniel Chester French's first statue, Minute . To all Americans today.. Lets remember why this country fought for our freedom. The hymn is said to have made Emerson's name as a poet and to have transformed the skirmish at Concord into the spirit of the Revolution. There have been 5 restorations since then. My name is Bob Smith. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Unless otherwise specified, Lost New England does not own or claim rights to any of the historic images used on this site. My mother, Grace Smith, was a teacher at Ripley School. This is the path that the Westford Minutemen took on April 19th 1775 to Old North Bridge in . All rights reserved. Most of the route involved walking on snow-covered sidewalk but that had also been packed down. Ill return soon to get pics of the historic monuments and add more information. Elisha Jones House (The Bullet Hole House). now numbering about Concord's North Bridge - U.S. National Park Service I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. He was a lawyer, and he had previously served as sheriff of Middlesex County from 1853 to 1859. Where to Stay Painting by Don Troiani, Historical Art Prints. established his headquarters in the Wright This shot heard round the world prompted Buttrick to order his troops to ''Fire! From the tavern in the center of town, the two British leaders could easily dispatch orders and direct the movements of their men. Aside from the monuments, the most significant landmark here on the battlefield is the bridge. The park gained significant attention during the American bicentennial celebrations, and in 1975 President Gerald Ford gave a speech here at the bridge to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle. Old North Bridge is a great day trip destination for families as there is lots to see within a short area and plenty of spots for photographs and taking a break. As the centennial anniversary of the battle approached in 1874, the leaders of the town of Concord realized that the site of the North Bridge deserved some attention. 132 North Bridge Concord Ma Stock Photos & High-Res Pictures This bridge, shown here in the first photo, bore no resemblance to the original one. The North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts is often refered to as the location of the "shot heard round the world," and the beginning of the American War for Independence. Unlike the earlier bridges, it is a replica of the original one, and it has remained here at this site for longer than any of its predecessors. is located in a brick mansion built in 1911 by descendents of the Buttrick family (Major John Buttrick was the colonial officer who first ordered his militia to fire upon British soldiers. 38th President of the United States: 1974 1977 Remarks at the Old North Bridge, Concord, Massachusetts. Seven companies (about Waymarkly is the premiere Waymarking app for iOS. From Lexington, the British continued on their way to Concord, where they began searching for the hidden supplies. When it at last disbanded in 1969, a nucleus of its members, mostly from Concord, MA, pooled their enthusiasm, experience, and resources with other interested people in the area and formed the Old North Bridge Hounds (ONBH). More), Declaration Late on the previous night, a force of some 700 British soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith had left Boston, bound for Concord. Today, the bullet hole to the right of the front door is said to have been from a British musket ball intended for Jones! To me, the most incredible item on display is one of the original lanterns that was hung in the steeple of Bostons North Church on the night of April 18, 1775 (as made famous by the phrase one if by land, two if by sea). Since the town was not paying for the removal work, the crew reused most of the wood and stone buttments from the North Bridge site at the new Flint bridge. Surely this one would survive for a long time to come! On the morning of April 19th, 1775, some 800 British regular forces under the command of Lt. Col. Francis Smith were marching towards Concord, Massachusetts. This is a great place to go to while away a few hours or even have a picnic and then you can head into Concord for a great lunch, stroll around the town and do a little shopping. NPS photo Quick Facts Location: 42.469310, -71.348531 Significance: Concord's North Bridge is where colonial minute men and militia were first ordered to fire upon British soldiers. Here in Concord, life steadily returned to normal after the war, and in 1788 the original North Bridge was demolished and replaced with a new one, evidently without much regard to its historic significance. The current structure that you see today is the fifth bridge at this location and was built in 1956 and restored in 2005 (the 1909 bridge was destroyed in a hurricane). Here stood the Invading Army and on this spot the first of the Enemy fell in the War of that Revolution which gave Independence to these United States. THE 10 CLOSEST Hotels to The Old North Bridge, Concord - Tripadvisor The significance of the historic events at the North Bridge inspired Ralph Waldo Emerson to refer to the moment as the "shot heard round the world.". This appealing home is known as the Old Manse (269 Monument Street) and it boasts a connection to some of the brightest literary minds of American history to include Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ive held on to my memento of the bridge ever since. The current wooden pedestrian bridge, an approximate replica of the bridge that stood at the time of the battle, was built in 1956 and extensively restored in 2005. was hidden. Incredibly, the Barrett Farm lands are still cultivated and farmed to this day! However, as part of the centennial celebrations of 1875, a new one was built around the same time that the statue was installed. frightened British soldier. it, other British soldiers began to The North Bridge block that I received as a student at Ripley School in 1975. Various companies were immediately dispatched to secure the South and North bridges in town. on Battle Road. They briefly attempted to tear up the planks of the bridge, but they soon abandoned this effort. The group was appropriately named by Mrs. John Buttrick, a long time Concord resident. Many of these images are in the public domain, but some may still be under copyright protection, and are used here under an appropriate license. It was mostly comprised of granite, with the exception of a marble slab here on the eastern face, which reads: Here on the 19 of April, 1775, was made the first forcible resistance to British aggression. The Old North Bridge (Concord) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go a grievous and embarrassing loss for the powerful, A wooden bridge spanning the Concord River, the Old North Bridge (a.k.a. Old North Bridge . Waymark Code: WM1GY3 Location: Massachusetts, United States Date Posted: 05/07/2007 at Concord North The fire spread to the meetinghouse (church), The colonial militia at Lexington didn't intend on fighting the . As was the case a century earlier, the event included a visit from the president, with Gerald Ford speaking from a platform here at the eastern end of the bridge, which was located just out of view on the right side of the scene. heard 'round the world was fired The shot One of those pieces, a witness to the events of April 19, 1775, is a large side brace of the original bridge with a tenon on the end that had been pegged into a mortise on the main frame of the bridge. Here you can grab a map of the town and ask any questions you may have. They fled toward the town This day would turn out to be the spark that ignited the American Revolution. Bill had a long history with the historical society in Concord. The monument was formally dedicated on July 4, 1837, with a ceremony that included a keynote speech by Congressman Samuel Hoar. It was here that British and American forces gathered on either side of the river for the Battle of Concord in April of 1775, considered the first true battle of the American Revolution. To say that it was the shot heard round the world does not mean that it was the first, just that it was a particularly important moment as the turning point of the first day of fighting in the Revolution. It was designed by noted architect William R. Emerson, and it featured a rustic Victorian-style design, with cedar logs for railings and two half-arbors at the middle of the bridge. Read about what happened at Concord in April 1775, the Concord Bridge Battle, and its significance. They cut some of the beams into pieces and mounted the blocks of wood on plaques or gave them to schools including mine for bicentennial celebrations. On April 19, it was a meeting place for the Concord minutemen and later in the day, served as the headquarters for British Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn. This farm was one of the primary goals of the British troops on April 19, 1775, because they believed colonial arms and munitions were stashed away here (although they did not find much, to include the sought after gunpowder and cannon). Now, as an adult, Ive put the story together, and another, much more significant piece of the bridge will go on display at the Shot Heard Round the World: April 19, 1775 exhibit, opening on April 18th at the Concord Museum. Visit the reconstruction to see where the "shot heard round the world" was fired. The circa 1705 house and surrounding land is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The entire battle took less than three minutes, but it marked the first victory of any kind for the colonists during the war, and the first British fatalities of the war. The Buttrick House is currently used for NPS staff and is not open to the public for tours. Town of Concord 22 Monument Square Concord, MA 01742 Hours Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm Phone: 978-318-3100 Email: publicinfo@concordma.gov; FAQs. The events that took place in Concord and at the Old North Bridge will forever live on in American history and lore. Of note, the walk to the North Bridge from this Visitor Center is about 1/4 of a mile (a bit longer than the other route). The Old North Bridge is a simple bent pile wooden structure crossing the Concord River on the north side of the original Concord, Massachusetts township. As you walk across the Old North Bridge, be sure to admire the peaceful and meandering Concord River below- the river is a favorite to canoe and kayak at all times of the year! Word of the Lexington engagement The original bridge was constructed in the 1730s by inhabitants of the town of Concord, Massachusetts. In the following years, this memorial bridge kept requiring rebuilding or repairs after spring floods and storms. The bridge that was present on April 19 of 1775 was a pile bent bridge, built in 1760. Chris has a master's degree in history and teaches at the University of Northern Colorado. The scene in 2018: This view shows the scene looking west across the Concord River, at the site of the Battle of Concord, which occurred on April 19, 1775. The town left a few of the best beams intact and donated them to the Concord Antiquarian Society, now the Concord Museum. North Bridge, Concord, 1775. Old North Bridge in Concord MA is a Revolutionary Place to Visit The grounds of this The Trustees property are open to the public for free. the musket smoke cleared, half of the It was written for the occasion by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the grandson of William Emerson, and it was among his earliest notable literary works. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. This prompted Paul Revere and several other messengers to make their famous midnight ride, warning the minutemen in the surrounding towns. Following the Boston Tea Party in December of 1773 and the resulting lock down of Boston by the British Crown in 1774, colonial Patriots began to prepare for the inevitable outbreak of hostilities between Mother England and her American colonies. John Buttrick, having with patriotic firmness shared in the dangers which led to American Independence was able to enjoy the blessings of it and died on May 16, 1791 at 60 years old (he is buried in the Old Hill Burying Grounds). This is where the militia initially mustered and following the fight at the North Bridge, the bodies of Isaac Davis and Abner Hosmer (the two colonial militiamen killed) were brought to Major Buttricks house. As the redcoats Side Brace of the North Bridge, Concord, 1775. Spirit, that made those heroes dare,To die, and leave their children free,Bid Time and Nature gently spareThe shaft we raise to them and thee., Book recommendation: Paul Reveres Ride by David Hackett Fischer & The Battle Road by Charles H. Bradford, Source(s): https://www.nps.gov/mima/index.htm, The Battle Road by Charles H. Bradford, Your email address will not be published. The bridge and the surrounding 114 acres of land make up what is known as the North Bridge unit of the Minute Man National Historical Park and is managed by the National Park Service. After being nearly wiped out by disease from 1616-1619, the Pennacook bartered the area to British colonists in 1636 for wampum-peage, hatchets, hoes, knives, cotton cloth, and shirts. Old North Bridge, Concord, Mass (1) - Lost New England Here once the embattled farmers stood, Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Wary of British spies and supporters, groups such as the Boston Sons of Liberty and the Committees of Correspondence developed a system of safe houses and locations to secretly store munitions throughout the colonies to prevent their seizure by British hands. There was actually a long period after the war where there was no bridge at this location at all! April 19, 1975 Thank you very, very much, Mr. Suter. Minutemen, The Old Manse and Old North Bridge are popular spots, so I could count on the 12 inches of snow we got yesterday being somewhat packed down on the trail. Today, the historic town of Concord embraces its role in Americas birth and any visit is sure to be informative and memorable. Contact Us Tools. The statue was unveiled on April 19, 1875 in a celebration that was attended by President Ulysses S. Grant and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Visit the Old North Bridge, walk in the footsteps of the Minute Men on Battle Road, or learn about some of Concord's literary history at the Wayside. in the center of Concord pursued their The Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts, was the site of the first real skirmish of the American Revolution. Its significance has been protected by the National Parks Service since 1959. The Minutemen took let them burn the town down?" In the confusion of moving troops on both sides of the bridge at approximately 9:30 AM, a command to fire was heard, and at least three shots rang out from the British side. advance, which only angered the Minutemen. and the Battle of Concord commenced. Battles of Lexington and Concord - Old North Bridge - Battlefields on Old North Bridge, Concord, Mass (3) - Lost New England Tours & Routes Ralph Waldo Emerson coined the phrase specifically to describe the fighting here at Concord. Once under colonist control, the area soon grew in population, allowing for a second division of the original land grant in 1653. The gravestones of these two men are in the southeastern portion of the cemetery (off to your right upon entering/walking up the hill). On the opposite bank stood the American Militia. 91 Old North Bridge TheDiscoveryService (Atlas Obscura User) On the twilight morning hours of April 19, 1775, members of the Massachusetts Militia received word that British Army regulars. This building earned the nickname the Bullet Hole House, due to events that played out on April 19, 1775. There were at least eight iterations of the North Bridge constructed over four centuries. Old North Bridge | Boston's Western Suburbs, Massachusetts
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