At Jacob Whittemore House, Lexington Resident Helps Historic Walls Speak

For the past year, the house and the family that inhabited it in 1775 have been the subjects of grant-funded research, led by Lexington resident and public historian Polly Kienle

The following was provided by Minute Man National Historical Park. Of the 43 historic buildings within Minute Man National Historical Park, 11 were standing on April 19, 1775 to witness the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Of these eleven “witness structures,” only the Jacob Whittemore House (ca. 1717) stands in Lexington. For the past year, the house and the family that inhabited it in 1775 have been the subjects of grant-funded research. The Friends of Minute Man National Park were awarded a grant by the Mass Humanities Foundation to fund a Scholar-in-Residence project on behalf of the park. Lexington resident and public historian Polly Kienle has spent the grant term investigating the structure’s 18th-century residents, a “forgotten …

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PHOTOS: Scenes From North Bridge on Patriots' Day

British Regulars and Colonial Militia clashed during a reenactment at North Bridge in Concord on Patriots' Day, April 15.

  British reenactors conducted a "Mourn Arms" ceremony in honor of the British dead buried at North Bridge on Patriots' Day morning in Concord.  The Redcoats were then met by the Colonial Militia, exchanging volleys (and cannonfire) with the Minutemen from opposite banks of the Concord River. Concord, Lexington and Bedford were represented by their seperate companies of Minutemen.  Stick with Patch for more coverage of the Patriots' Day festivities in Lexington and Concord, including the Concord's annual Patriots' Day Parade. 

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Patriots' Day 2013: A Weekend Events Preview (Photos)

Looking at the what, when and when of Patriots' Day weekend events along the Battle Road in Lexington, Lincoln and Concord.

It starts tomorrow. Patriots' Day weekend has arrived, and we all know what that means: Parades, patriotism, people and the smell of sulfur in the morning. The running battles and re-enactments begin tomorrow, April 13. An afternoon parade and midnight ride will be among the highlights on Sunday, April 14. And on Patriots' Day itself -- Monday, April 15 -- there will be enough activities that it wouldn't be fair to try and pack them all into one sentence. So, flip through the photos above, which have many of the area's Patriots' Day weekend events included therein. Or scroll down below to find event information in an easy-to-scan list, subdivided according to community. Or, take a peek at the PDF posted above, which includes a schedule of …

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Aron Levy

9:28 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2013

If it really IS the end of the discussion, maybe you could stop whining about it elsewhere?   more ›

Report: Minute Man NHP Facing $100K Budget Cut

The federal government giveth, and the federal government taketh away.

In recent years, the stories have more often been about what Minute Man National Historical Park has gained thanks to federal funds. But now, as the nation copes with “sequestration” cuts, the narrative shifts toward what may be lost. According to a report last week by The Globe, Minute Man National Historical Park is facing a six-figure budget reduction to which park staff must adjust to even as they prepare for Patriots’ Day festivities sure to attract thousands to the hotbed of Revolutionary history next month. Reports the Globe: The $137,000 budget reduction at Minute Man National Historic Park in Concord, part of the automatic spending cuts in the federal budget triggered by an impasse over how to reduce the federal budget deficit, …

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Patrick Ball

6:38 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Hi Susan, Thanks for asking. One way might be to reach out to the Friends of Minute Man. You can contact them by email at volunteer@friendsofminuteman.org or by calling their office at (978) 318-7822. -pb   more ›

School Vacation Week Day Trips Within an Hour of Lexington

Looking for something to do this week? We came up with a few ideas.

  It's school vacation week in Lexington, and that means a week of keeping your school-aged children entertained. There's plenty of snow for sledding and snowman-making, however you might want to get out and explore science, history, art or more with your children. Or maybe you just want an indoor space to play?  Here are a few ideas for things to do and places to visit this vacation week, within an hour of Lexington — including right here in town: Tell us in the comments where you venture out during school vacation weeks. 

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Poetry, a Colonial 12th Night Celebration, World Hypnotism Day and More

A peek at five local events this weekend around Bedford, Concord and Lexington.

It’s Thursday, and you’ve got no idea what you’ll do this weekend. Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time. Check our picks for the activities you'll want to take part in this weekend. 1. Lexington Community Education presents: Poems For My Coloring Book Where/When: Lexington Depot, 13 Depot Sq, Lexington; 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 4 Why Go: Because this LCE event promises "A Celebration of Sound & Vision" featuring a reading by Lexington poet Marcia Steere and music of the Wayside Quartet, a Concord-based outfit that performs classical and popular music. Pricing: $5. Pre-register using a MasterCard or VISA, by contacting Lexington Community Education at 781-862-8043. 2. Colonial 12th Night …

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Giving the Gift of History

This weekend, after eight years of restoration and legislation, Save Our Heritage will transfer ownership of Barrett Farm to the National Park Service and Minute Man National Historical Park.

  The following was provided by Minute Man National Historical Park. This Saturday, Oct. 27 Save Our Heritage and Minute Man National Historical Park are holding an event to celebrate the completion of the Save Our Heritage restoration of Barrett Farm, and the transfer of its ownership to the National Park Service, Minute Man National Historical Park. A public ceremony with U.S. Rep Niki Tsongas and others will take place at Barrett Farm, 448 Barretts Mill Road, Concord at 11 a.m., followed by an Open House from noon to 4 p.m. Restoration of the historic Barrett House, built in 1705, began eight years ago when Save Our Heritage (SOH), a Concord-based nonprofit preservation organization, acquired Barrett Farm and the 3.4 acres of …

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Hanscom Air Force Base Loans Revolutionary Artifacts to Minute Man NHP

The following announcement was provided by Minute Man National Historical Park.

  In a ceremony held Oct. 3 at Hanscom Air Force Base, Col. Lester A. Weilacher, 66th Air Base Group commander, handed over several Revolutionary War artifacts to Nancy Nelson, superintendent of Minute Man National Historical Park. The artifacts, including several musket balls, a shoe buckle and knife, were uncovered during three extensive archeological digs that started in the 1990s and wrapped up in the mid-2000s. “The Air Force has a cultural resource program that can evaluate historical significance,” said Don Morris, civil engineering installation asset manager. “Because of Hanscom’s proximity to Revolutionary War battles, we invited the group to come out and survey the area.” The base is located near the site of a significant battle …

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Five Things To Do This Weekend: July 13 to July 15

A look at what's going on in and around Lexington.

It’s Thursday, and you’ve got no idea what you’ll do this weekend. Lexington Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time. Check our picks for the activities you'll want to take part in this weekend in Lexington and beyond. 1. Nathaniel Hawthorne - The Haunted Mind Where/When: The Wayside, 455 Lexington Road, Concord; 7 to 8 p.m., Friday, July 13 Why Go: Because the perfect way to spend Friday the 13th, is to join Nathaniel Hawthorne, as portrayed by literary historian and playwright Rob Velella, as he reads some of his short works which explore the dark side of human nature. Pricing: Free 2. Summer Concert Series in Lexington Center Where/When: Lexington Visitors Center, 1875 Massachusetts Ave…

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Hawthorne to Haunt Minute Man NHP Friday the 13th

Literary historian and playwright Rob Velella portrays Hawtorne and reads some of his short works which explore the dark side of human nature this Friday the 13 at the Wayside.

Author of works like "The Scarlet Letter" and "The Minister's Black Veil," Nathaniel Hawthrone is no stranger to the unsettling, which makes him a perfect fit for Friday the 13th. Literary historian and playwright Rob Velella, will portray Hawthorne and read some of his short works which explore the dark side of human nature in free a program offered at The Wayside this Friday, July 13.

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