Lexington and Concord: The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

By Jeff Burns

A history teacher can’t vacation in Massachusetts without seeing where it began, in a sense, Lexington and Concord.  In April 1775, British troops marched to these small villages with orders to confiscate stockpiled weapons and, if possible, to arrest the rabble-rousers Samuel Adams and John Hancock who were somewhere in the area.  Alerted by several riders (not just Paul Revere, whose accomplishment was greatly exaggerated for poetic effect by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow), the rebels lay in wait at both locations, where they refused orders to disperse.  The result was “the shot heard ‘round the world”, in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the beginning of the American Revolution.

Concord is an easy ride from Boston via commuter train, but we found it wasn’t exactly the best idea.  The train station is a really good walk from downtown Concord, and the battlefield itself is even farther out.  We didn’t really know that.  Fortunately, at the battle site, we discovered The Liberty Ride tour bus.  The tour takes you on a 90 minute circuit of all the sites in Lexington and Concord, complete with a very knowledgeable tour guide. You can approach the tour in several ways.  You can do the entire circuit, which is a good idea because it gives you an overview, and you can decide what sites you want to go back to explore on your own time.  Or you can get on and off at any stop on the route.  It’s the best way to learn about the battles.

Next to the Concord battlefield is The Old Manse, the family home of Ralph Waldo Emerson. From this house, Emerson’s father and his family watched the battle unfold. It was also lived in and visited by Thoreau, Hawthorne, and other noted writers and famous people.

Like every other place we visited in Massachusetts, there is so much to see in Lexington and Concord, beyond the Revolutionary War sites.  Besides the Old Manse, you can see and tour houses lived in by Emerson, Louisa May Alcott, and John Hancock. You can even see the house where the Concord Grape was born.  And set aside some time to spend in the towns themselves. There are great shops and restaurants to sample.

Salem Massachusetts: Don’t Get Spooked (Unless You Want)

By Jeff Burns

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I visited Salem Massachusetts for the day.  Of course, I have seen the episodes of “Bewitched” (There is a statue in town  of actress Elizabeth Montgomery as witch Samantha Stevens.), and I knew Salem was the only city in America with an official witch (Laurie Cabot, proclaimed so by Governor Michael Dukakis in the 1970s).  I’ve also read several books about the Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s, and there are a couple of titles on my “to-read” list as I write this blog. While vacationing in Massachusetts, I knew that I had to see for myself whether I’d find the historic or the cheesy.

 

Long story short:  I found both. Let’s get the cheesy out of the way first. Yes, there are numerous psychics, tarot readers, and self-proclaimed witches who have set up shop, many along Pickering Wharf, a quaint and picturesque shopping and dining area.  (Cabot herself opened the first such shop in the early 1970s but has recently retired.) There are also haunted houses and “witches’ dungeons”  where live and wax figures frighten tourists.   Then, there’s the Salem Witch Museum, which probably attracts most tourists to Salem.  Located in a former church on Salem Common, the museum purports to present the story of the hysteria and trials.  The sanctuary has been converted into a theater-in-the-rectangle for the presentation.  Above the visitors’ heads, there are 10 or so 3D scenes recreating elements of the story with mannequins, narration, and sound and lighting effects.  While much of the history is sound, you get the sense that the melodramatic (one scene depicts the devil) script hasn’t changed in fifty years.  When the show is over, visitors go to a small exhibit area for a superficial docent talk about witchcraft trials and then the gift shop which has a decent selection of books and an extensive collection of every cheesy witch and magic related item of merchandise imaginable.  Honestly, I’m not sure if I can recommend the Salem Witch Museum; I kind of wish we had used that time elsewhere.

At Pickering Wharf

For example, we could have visited the House of Seven Gables, the 17^th century museum that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne’s work by the same name.  It’s one of many house tours in Salem, representing different eras in Salem’s long history. The Phillips House dates to the 1800s. You might also see the Pickering House or the Ropes Mansion, just to name a few.  There are also guided and self-guided walking tours available, focusing on the trials, Hawthorne, ghosts and spirits, and other facets of Salem’s history.

 

If you’re interested in maritime history, be sure to go to the National Park Service Visitors Center for great information.  You can visit the Customs House, and Salem also boasts the New England Pirate Museum.

The highlight of our day in Salem, however, was the Peabody Essex Museum, which we didn’t even know existed.  The Peabody Essex is a fantastic art and cultural history museum that got its start in the collections of objects brought home by Salem’s sea captains and sailors who sailed the world.  The collection of Asian, African, and Native American artifacts is amazing. Asian export art is a key part of the exhibits, and visitors can see the result of the meeting of East and West.  There is much to see, and a visitor can easily spend hours here.  The PEM also oversees 22 of the historic houses and structures open for visits in Salem.


We only saw a small bit of Salem, but we definitely fell under its spell and hope to get back there someday.

Traveling with History: Touring the Black Creek Historic Brewery

By David Duncan

Black Creek Historic Brewery is part of the Historic Village at Black Creek in Toronto.  There, the brewery recreates the techniques, tools and recipes used by brewers in 1860s Ontario.  Indeed, the Historic Brewery employs a local brewmaster to create small-scale brews entirely by hand. As someone who has toured dozens of breweries, the tour was definitely a change of pace.  While the ingredients haven’t changed over time, certainly the actual brewing process is similar, there were several differences that modern day equipment make readily apparent. 

The Brew tour is in addition to the Historic Village admission and the tour covers not only the brewing how-to but also the beer history of the area.  According to the tour guide, in the 1860s there were over 150 registered breweries in Ontario and countless smaller operations.  It is wonderful that the Black Creek Historic Brewery is honoring the past by replicating the brewing processes of the time period.  Brewing beer at the time meant no electricity, no stainless steel tanks, no mechanized bottling plants, and no artificial carbonization.  When taste testing the brews, the lack of carbonization was apparent.

 

The equipment at Black Creek Historic Brewery is made mainly of wood and copper. The beer ferments in wooden casks just as it did in the 1860s.  Malted barley is shoveled by hand into the mash tun. Hot water converts the starch in the malt into a fermentable sugar, which then infuses into the liquid-now called "sweet wort." The barley husks act as a filtration bed, allowing the wort to pass from the mash tun. We then boil the wort and add hops, both for flavoring and as a natural preservative. Once the boiling is complete, the wort is cooled and put in barrels where the yeast is added. After five days of fermenting and a week of aging, the beer is ready.

At the end of the tour, visitors sample the beer at cellar temperature—the way it was enjoyed in the time period. When we visited, the beers on tap included an India Pale Ale, Porter, Stout and Brown Ale.  Again, when taste testing the biggest difference to modern beer was the fact that the beer is allowed to naturally carbonate.  Some tasters didn't care for the taste.  Meaning—the beer through bottle conditioning is rather flat but flavorful.

For anyone who loves beer and history, I would heartily recommend touring the Black Creek Historic Brewery!

Traveling with History: Niagara Falls

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

My Husband and I heading for the Falls

Historically, Niagara Falls was established as the ideal honeymoon destination by the French in the early 1800s. For my family, my parents honeymooned there in 1959 and my brother and sister-in-law celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary at the Falls. 

Legend has it that Napoleon’s brother, Jerome Bonaparte, spent his honeymoon in Niagara Falls, and since everyone wanted to be like royalty, people began choosing it as the go-to place.  Indeed, promoters jumped on the idea and began promoting the idea of a “honeymoon” and Niagara Falls as the place to do it.  There are even films dedicated to the idea like the 1953 film Niagara starring Marilyn Monroe, or 1980’s Superman II that shows Superman/Clark Kent professing his love for Lois Lane.

However, there is much more to the Falls than just a romantic getaway, it is also the major power provider to New York and Ontario, Canada. Niagara Falls consists of two waterfalls on the Niagara River, which marks the border between New York and Ontario.  The American Falls is located on the American side of the border, and the Canadian or Horseshoe Falls is located on the Canadian side. To the right of the American Falls is a smaller waterfall that has been separated from the American Falls by natural forces, which is called Bridal Veil Falls.  We stayed on the Canadian side and by many accounts, considered to have the best views.

 

Of course, Niagara Falls is not just for couples.  It has also been the place for daredevils in barrels and tightropes.  In October of 1829, Sam “The Yankee Leapster” Patch, jumped from a high tower into the gorge below the falls and survived.  This jump began the tradition of daredevils trying to go over the falls. On October 24, 1901, a 63-year-old schoolteacher named Annie Edson Taylor became the first person to take the plunge over Niagara Falls in a barrel.  Today, it is hard to go to the falls without making a barrel reference or joke. 

So, even today, Niagara Falls considers itself the “Honeymoon Capital of the World.”  While the city bills itself as the ultimate romantic getaway, it can definitely come across as more kitschy than romantic.  However, one constant does exist—the Falls are a work of nature and sight to truly see. 

Histocrats on the Road in 2015

              Where did your travels take you this year? How did you enjoy history on the road this year? We have had the opportunity to enjoy history throughout 2015.  Great books, museums, and historic sites have been part of our year. History has been both destination and inspiration. Check out a few of the great places we have enjoyed this year.  Happy History Travels!

Winter

(Clockwise from top left) Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Macon, Georgia; St. Petersburg, Florida

Spring

 

 (Clockwise from top left) Antigua; Martinique; St. Thomas; Grenada

Summer 

 (Clockwise from top left) Chicago, Illinois; Louisville, Kentucky; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; St. Marys, Georgia



Fall

(Clockwise from top left) Toronto, Canada; Greensboro, North Carolina; Boston, Massachusetts; Niagara Falls, New York


Where will you go to enjoy history in 2016?