Step back in time with this walking tour of Charlestown, where the echoes of April 19, 1775, still resonate. Thanks to the City of Boston’s groundbreaking research, including a detailed “census map” reconstructing the town before its fiery end, we now know more about the lives of Charlestown’s residents—artisans, families, and the 31 known People of Color, whose stories shaped this pivotal moment.
Join us as we trace their footsteps – using the map provided:
Stop 1: Three Cranes Tavern (City Square)
It began at the site of the Three Cranes Tavern, Charlestown’s bustling heart since 1635. More than a pub, it was a colonial crossroads—stagecoaches rolled in, travelers swapped tales, and on April 19, 1775, chaos erupted. Jacob Rogers, a local, described dodging British soldiers to reach the tavern, where “all was tumult and confusion; nothing but drink called for everywhere.” Sadly, the tavern burned to ashes during the Battle of Bunker Hill, but its story endures.
Stop 2: Deacon John Larkin House, 1775 (55 Main Street)
Near City Square Fountain, envision Paul Revere arriving to borrow Brown Beauty, a horse from Deacon John Larkin’s family, for his legendary ride. The Larkin homes later burned, but their defiance lives on, richly documented in Boston’s new findings about Charlestown’s residents.
Stop 3: James Russell’s Mansion (Devens Street- corner of Washington/Rutherford Ave)
On Bow Street (now Devens Street), imagine James Russell’s grand mansion, a beacon of influence until it, too, burned in 1775. Russell’s calm voice steadied a rattled town that April day, even as General Gage’s threats loomed. Boston’s work uncovers his role as a bridge-builder—literally and figuratively—in a community tested by fire.
Stop 4: Richard Devens House (16 Devens Street)
Stand where Richard Devens helped launch Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride. On April 18, 1775, Devens spotted British officers and raised the alarm, setting history in motion. The City’s research highlights his unsung role as a patriot and civic leader whose quick thinking changed the course of the Revolution.
Stop 5: Jacob Rogers’ Home (29 Harvard Street)
Near Harvard Street, pause at the home of Jacob Rogers, a former Royal Navy officer turned reluctant revolutionary. On April 19, as war broke out, he hustled his family to safety, navigating gunfire and suspicion. His tale—rife with fear, loss, and murky loyalties—captures the human cost of that fateful day, vividly detailed in Boston’s recent findings.
Stop 6: Journey’s End at the Training Field (Chestnut/Adams Streets)
At the intersection of Chestnut and Adams Streets, picture Rogers finding refuge in Samuel Townsend’s home after a harrowing escape. Here, amid frightened families, he witnessed Charlestown’s unraveling as British troops stormed through. The City’s research reveals the raw panic of residents huddled together, their lives upended in a single night.
Stop 7: Mapping a Lost Charlestown (Chestnut/Adams Streets)
On Chestnut Street near Adams Street, the City’s “census map” brings 1775 Charlestown to life. Every home, wharf, and resident—including the marginalized—has been painstakingly placed, revealing a vibrant town lost to flames. As Dr. Joseph Warren prayed in 1772, may this land remain “a land of liberty.”
Stop 8: The Unfinished Revolution
End at Park Street by Roughan Hall, and learn about the Charlestown Diaspora and the archaeology work that will be part of Bunker Hill 250.
COMMENTS
There aren't any comments yet.
Comments are closed.