Boston was “created” when some British subjects landed in 1630 and made Boston the capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony – first in Provincetown, and also Cambridge, but due to lack of water they settled in what is now Boston. They were Puritans, and had left Great Britain because of Religious Restrictions. On settling in Boston, the only faith that someone could have was Puritan, and the Church ruled the city and the things that were and were not acceptable...in other words creating Religious Restrictions! Due to the strength of the Church and it’s rule, everyone was expected to attend church on Sunday – 3 hours in the morning, a break for lunch and then another 3 hours...if you fell asleep there were people who were there to check and to hit you over the head to wake you up!
When the people first arrived, there was 3 hills in the Boston area, but soon there was not enough space for all the people, so over a 40 year period, the moved the ground totally from 2 of the hills (well to flatten them) and 65ft off Beacon Hill, and filled in the Harbour/Marsh land, and this is now the area known as Back Bay. You will find some nice places to live here, as well as Boston’s “5th Avenue”.
Boston Common – This was ground that was common for all people, anyone who had 70 or less cattle / sheep could bring them to the common to graze (until 1830) for 5 days of the week, the two days were exceptions were Sunday – church, and Friday – public entertainment days. The religious nature of the times – the Puritans – meant drinking was sinful, dancing was sinful, comedy and other forms of entertainment was sinful, so what is left for the day of Entertainment? Punishment and Hangings (until 1817)! That’s what. If a woman was accusing (and found guilty) of gossiping, she would have a peg put on her tongue, and placed in the stocks. Hangings were for all sorts of things...some of the normal – murder, theft, burglary – but also if you were a Methodist, Baptist, Quaker (anything other than Puritan) if you refused to leave Boston, then you were hung. They did kick you out of Boston first, but if you persisted and came back then you were hung. This is how many of the other states of New England were set up, they were Baptist, Methodist etc!!!!
The common is about 50 acres.
Boston Public Gardens – these gardens were originally only for the owners of Property in Beacon Hill (the very posh part of town & still is), but more recently the gardens were opened for everyone. The lake in the middle has some swan boats on them which have been operated by the same family for the last 130 years+. You will also find a brass Duck and 7 ducklings
State House – After the Americans became independent from Britain, the people (well the posh people & governors) felt it was time to build a new senate house, so John Hancock (revolutionary patriot & governor) donated some of the land by his house to become the new Senate house (so he didn’t have far to go to work), and was completed in 1798. The dome at the front was first made of wooden shingles, but they leaked too much, so the dome was then covered in Brass, but this soon became green from the weather, so eventually they covered it in gold – 23 carat gold. And this is still the case today...it was recovered recently, and the state taxes were increased to raise the funds.
Park Street Metro Stop – The first metro was set up from 1 end of the common at Trembley Street to Boyleston back in 1897 (therefore making it the first metro system in the world), because there was too much traffic on the road, and it was taking 1 ½ hours to go the 2 blocks (1/2 mile)!
Park street Church / Granary Store. This is on the corner of the common, and used to hold the Granary Store for the city of Boston. When the revolutionaries/patriots were looking to hide the ammunition that had been stolen from the store on the common, they hid it here. The British Regular army didn’t search in the store because it was full of rats. Later the store was removed and Park Street Church was built in its place in 1809. This Evangelical Church of "firsts" is the location of the first Sunday school in 1818 and the first prison aid in 1824. On July 4, 1829, William Lloyd Garrison gave his first public anti-slavery speech here and two years later, "My Country 'Tis of Thee" was sung for the first time by the church children's choir.
Granary Grave Yard – this is next to the Park Street Church and was created in 1660, and there are many notable people of Boston buried here..Paul Revere(businessman – bell maker, brass plate maker, rider who gave warnings of the British Regulars coming), Samuel Adams(spin doctor, failed politician & signatory on Declaration of Independence), John Adams (lawyer & politician), John Hancock(signatory on Declaration of Independence), Robert Treat Paine (signatory on Declaration of Independence), victims of the Boston “Massacre” (the people who died at the event which led to the American Revolution), Mary Goose (who many children’s tales – “Mother” Goose). Where the gravestones are currently placed, does not mean that they are anywhere near the body...many years ago when the maintenance person got a lawnmower, he moved all the gravestones, so that he could get the lawnmower around!
Kings Church – the King James II of England was not happy that there wasn’t an Anglican church in Boston (well it was run by puritans!), so he gave money so that a church could be built in case he ever visited...it wasn’t conceivable that a country/city in the British didn’t have an Anglican church!! There are some notable persons of Boston buried here, including Mary Chilton who was the first woman to step off the Mayflower.
Old City Hall / Boston Latin School was the first school founded in 1635 (Harvard the first university was founded in 1636) – the old city hall site, is also the site of the first schools in Boston. One of it’s failed students (who has a statue in the grounds of the school) is Benjamin Franklin. Ben didn’t like school so persuaded his father that he should be apprenticed into something, but not liking his fathers trade, asked if he could join his older brothers business, which was Printer / Newspaper. Ben soon became better at the job or more renowned than his brother, who became resentful, so Ben left and went to Philadelphia.
Old South Meeting House - The Old South Meeting House was built in 1729 as a Puritan house of worship. It was also the largest building in colonial Boston. The Old South Meeting House is best known as the site of where the Boston Tea Party began. In the winter of 1773, more than 5,000 colonists gathered at Old South in a meeting to protest the tax on tea. After many hours of debate, Samuel Adams announced, "This meeting can do nothing more to save the country!" Protestors stormed out of the Old South Meeting House to the waterfront where they dumped three shiploads of tea into Boston Harbour. They changed American history forever.
Old State House – this was the senate house that was used at the time when the British ruled, built in 1713. The army also were stationed around here, and had to guard the establishment. The British Americans, didn’t like the fact that although the British government could create and dictate taxes, the British Americans could not have a representative in the government! The Senate House is a fairly small building, and has a Lion and Unicorn at one end (the British symbols), and more recently they have put a Golden Eagle at the other end (American symbol). On July 18, 1776 the citizens gathered to hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence (it had been signed on July 4). In 1780, a tradition started where it was read from this building on July 4, and still happens to now.
Boston “Massacre”. This event was the start of events that led to the American Revolution. The British Regular soldiers were housed to guard the Customs House/Senate House on 5th March 1770. Now an argument broke out between 1 soldier (a sentry) and a local merchant. A small mob started to form, and started to pelt the soldier with various materials. So a few more of the soldiers where called out to try and keep the crowds away (which were getting bigger). Finally, the captain called out additional help and all 15 soldiers were out in front of the State House, but were not allowed to fire weapons in that area without prior authorisation from a civil magistrate. The mob grew to a few hundred, and they taunted the soldiers to fire. The church bells were ringing, which usually signified that help was needed for a fire. In all the confusion, a soldier was hit and fell to the ground and the shouts of “fire”, a soldier fired his weapon. After the captain got order back 3 were dead, 2 mortally wounded and 6 wounded but later recovered. This is not really a “Massacre”. Samuel Adams, a spin doctor, wanted to capitalise on the incident, and asked Paul Revere to create an engraving, depicting a slightly different story of events, a showed a massacre with 100’s of soldiers and a few locals who were “massacred” by the soldiers...a very different story. The soldiers were tried, and defended by John Adams, and they were found innocent. The soldiers withdrew from the area of Boston to Castle Island. After the funeral of those 6 killed, there was quiet. But the Propaganda fuelled later towards the events of the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution.
Fanueil Hall – this has served as a market place and meeting hall since 1742. Paul Fanueil, a weathly merchant, provided the funding for it. Many inspirational talks were made by Samuel Adams and other patriots, and these became the footstool for America’s dream to become independent from Britain.
Paul Revere House – this is the oldest house still standing in Boston, as well as being the home of Paul Revere, and was built around 1680. Paul lived here from 1770 to 1800. Paul was a successful silversmith, but is famous for his “midnight” ride to Lexington, Massachusetts to inform that the British Regulars were coming.
North End Church – This church was built in 1723 and is the oldest church in Boston. Paul Newman signaled with lanterns the approach of the British regulars; "One if by land, and two, if by sea". Which on seeing, Paul Revere then set off to Lexington, with a friend on their horses. When they reached there destination, at the inn they drank and were refreshed, but after a couple of hours they decided they needed to go to another place and inform them as well, which they did in their drunken stupor.
Old Ironsides – This is actually the oldest and still commissioned ship in the US Navy, called US Constitution, and is at the US Navy Yard. It was first launched in 1797. Constitution is one of six ships ordered for construction by George Washington to protect America's growing maritime interests. The ships greatest glory came during the war of 1812 when she defeated four British frigates which earned her the nickname "Old Ironsides," because cannon balls glanced off her thick hull. The ship was restored in 1927 with contributions from the nation's school children. The Charlestown Navy Yard was built on what was once Mouton's or Morton's Point, the landing place of the British army prior to the Battle of Bunker Hill. It was one of the first shipyards built in the United States. During its 174 year history, hundreds of ships were built, repaired and modernized, including the World War II destroyer USS Cassin Young. Today, thirty acres of the Navy Yard are preserved by the National Park Service as part of Boston National Historical Park.
“Bunker” Hill Monument - The Bunker Hill Monument stands 221 feet tall at Breed's Hill, the site of the first major battle of the American Revolution fought on June 17, 1775. Control of this high ground near the harbor was important to the British occupation of Boston. When colonial forces chose to fortify Charlestown, they bypassed the more dominant "Bunker Hill" and dug in on Breed's Hill which was lower and closer to the water. "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" is the legendary order attributed to Colonel William Prescott to make sure that each shot would count. The poorly trained and ill prepared colonial forces repelled two major assaults by the British Army before retreating. Almost half of the British soldiers were either killed or injured. Although the colonists lost the battle, their bravery and strong showing against the British encouraged them to fight on. Visit the Bunker Hill Monument and climb the 294 steps that lead to the pinnacle, for some amazing views.
No comments:
Post a Comment