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Hartwell Tavern


Hartwell Tavern
Photo Information
Copyright: Greg Davis (Greg1949) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1242 W: 105 N: 1837] (6208)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-20
Categories: Daily Life, Architecture, Decisive Moment
Camera: Nikon D 200, 18-200 1:3.5-5.6 DX VR, Digital RAW, Hoya PL-CIRCULAR
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Battle of Concord, Colonial New England Structuers [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-04-30 16:14
Viewed: 639
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This revolutionary war era building was a chance encounter for me, and once there I got very wrapped up in it. In the three pictures you see two men, both in period costume and they man the building to explain it's significance and act as the park rangers; as a federal government job I think this may be the best one I have ever seen or heard of.

The building itself is also unique, at least of the other shots I have posted. Please notice that there are no corner boards, that the clapboard are woven at the edges of the building. I hope you find this interesting and enjoyable.

Included is some of the the information from the National Parks site for this location.

Hartwell Tavern is a restored 18th century home and tavern. It sits on a beautifully restored section of the actual "Battle Road." It was here at the time of the battle on April 19, 1775 and is what we call a witness house.

It was built 1732-1733. When Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell got married, Ephraim's father Samuel gave them a new house surrounded by 18 acres of land, as well as 12 other acres (30 acres total). The couple quickly began raising a family. In 1756, when the Hartwells had 9 children living in the house, Ephraim applied for and received a license to open part of their home as an inn. He and his family continued to do so until the 1780's.

The house continued to be a residence until it was purchased in 1967 by the National Park Service. Over the years, it was modernized and changed.

In the 1980's, the Park Service restored it to its 1775 appearance, however keeping its 1783 and 1830 additions. The main structure, the foundation, and most of the walls, and some of the flooring are original.

In all, about 60 - 70 % of the "original" structure remains within the restored house.

The tavern was on the main road, the "Bay Road," running from Boston through western Massachusetts out to Crown Point, N.Y. This was the road that the British troops used on April 19. The soldiers passed by the tavern on their way to Concord, and again on their way back to Boston. There are no records or stories about soldiers entering the tavern for any reason.

Three of Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell's sons were in the Lincoln Minute Man Company (Capt. William Smith's Co.) that fought at the North Bridge and on the battle road on April 19: Samuel and John were both sergeants, and Isaac was a private. All three went on to later military service in the Revolutionary War.

The other connections with April 19th are based on stories told by Mary Hartwell. These Hartwell legends vary in detail, having been remembered many years after 1775. One legend goes like this:

On the night of April 18th, an advance guard of British soldiers captured Paul Revere and William Dawes just down the road from the tavern. Dr. Samuel Prescott of Concord, who was riding with them, escaped by leaping his horse over a stone wall and fleeing through pasture and swamp. He emerged at the Hartwell Tavern. Prescott awakened old Ephraim and told him that the British regulars on the march. Ephraim sent his black slave Violet down the road to awaken Samuel Hartwell next door. Mary then took over and relayed the message to Captain William Smith, commanding officer of the Lincoln Minute Men. Thus the Lincoln Minute Men were warned in time, and arrived at the North Bridge before the British soldiers got there.
robertosalguero, avene, kiwi_explorer, gunbud, asajernigan, angela926, AROBN54, holmertz, meltemi, Floydian, Budapestman, jlbrthnn, dareco, fulvio52, Didi has marked this note useful
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To fulvio52: FulvioGreg1949 4 05-01 10:00
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • avene Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1453 W: 80 N: 1837] (6910)
  • [2008-04-30 16:50]

hello Greg,
another excellent addition to your collection of photos of historic buildings, it's nicely composed with the tree as a natural frame and well-managed light resulting in clean colours. the man in the period costume is a gread addition to the scene, I find it makes it more lively and engaging than a photo with a house alone would be. and thanks a lot for pointing to the unique contstruction of the building, I don't think I've ever seen edges like that, it's certainly very different from the traditional wooden houses of the rural Northern Europe. very nice work.

with best regards,
Kristine

The building is in remarkable condition given that it is over 270 years old.

Hi Greg,
Very good documentary photo along with your very informative and interesting notes. I like your angle of shot as it gives the house some depth. Good inclusion of the person to give scale of dimension to the building. Well captured and composed. Well done! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

  • Great 
  • gunbud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 4607 W: 4 N: 4484] (20064)
  • [2008-04-30 18:12]

Hi Greg,
I'm glad that you have been hanging out at so many taverns lately! This one is a stunner with the bare clapboards contrasting so beautifully with the vivid blue sky. Wonderful lighting reders soft soothing shadows and exposes grand details and sharpness. Excellent historic note.
Regards, Tom

Greg,
Excellent composition here showing the building from an angle that shows depth and detail. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and detail. The trees frame this nicely drawing our attention to the center of the image.
TFS,
Asa

Hello Greg,
Great capture of this historic tavern, fantastic
sharpness and depth of field, great textures
and details, beautiful natural colkors and nice
light
Angela

Hi Greg,
Beautiful and picturesque scenery :] Nice composition, colours and lighting, well framed.
Georg

Oh, man,
this is a great shot. You caught the light at such a good angle. The composition is wonderful with the two sided view of the tavern, and also the tree with rock wall. The colors are so clear and crisp with marvelous detail and contrast. This is wonderful! Great note, too... Many thanks and kindest wishes,
Shelly

bonjour,
tu as chois i le meilleur angle pour cette superbe composition de cette taverne avec un historique important et interessant d'après ta note où je pense avoir compris l'essentiel
C'est surprenant et étonnant à la fois de voir cet homme ainsi sur ton ws
merci de ce partage
bonne journée
juliette

Hello Greg,
I was pleased to notice the building technique before reading your interesting note. A very fine housae, and as usual you have managed a faultless composition and a perfect exposure. Your portfolio really contains an innumerable amount of interesting old houses.
Best wishes,
Gert

Hello Greg,
an impressive, well composed scene. The details are quite amazing. The point of view is effective, allowing the eye to wander further along the old building. Great framing by the trunk and branches of the tree and superb colour saturation. Bravo.
Kind Regards.
Stella

Hi Greg,
You have a good eye in capturing these old houses. The tree in front acts like a natural border and the man sitting outside brings a life in the picture and makes an interesting focalpoint...very nice.
Regards, Henk

Hi Greg,
Great premiére for this place with splendid note. The composition is excellent and the details are fascinating. Splendid shot, Very well done! Have a nice day
George

nice shot, nice subject, this wooden house is beautiful, excellent POV, fine light well managed
regards
jo

Hello Greg,
Your images combine the colors learnedly. Patinated wood and the blue sky are superb. A belleimage, a good work.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

  • Great 
  • dareco Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1936 W: 53 N: 763] (12566)
  • [2008-05-01 6:39]

Another real beauty Greg. Interesting and I like the lighting, shadows and perfect detail. TFS

Greg, you are starting to look like Metallica's drummer... a metronome! LOL!!!
Wonderful addition to this outstanding series of yours. In terms of composition, light, contrast and color, possibly my favorite so far.
Cheers!
Fulvio.

  • Great 
  • toto Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2490 W: 112 N: 2899] (15360)
  • [2008-05-01 14:05]

Bonsoir,
belle photo de ce batiment tout en bois, très jolis et qui fait penser a une cabane a sucre que j' ai visité au Canada.
Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté, belles fenètres, arbres très agés et jolis devant la maison, grosses pierres bien rangée qui donne un bel effet a votre photo.
Belle prise et beau partage.

Amitiés Thomas

  • Great 
  • Juntas Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 269 W: 65 N: 382] (1244)
  • [2008-05-02 16:06]

Hi Greg. Beautiful composition, Great colors and definition. Not beeing the subject, that tree looks great. tfs. Paulo.

  • Great 
  • mumek Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2216 W: 27 N: 2399] (16078)
  • [2008-05-11 15:52]

Good evening Greg!
This is a very beautiful capture of the old historical building, taken in a warm early spring day. Great natural colours, superb light and sharp details.The note sa usual from you, very informative and interesting.Thanks for sharing
best regards
ziggy

  • Great 
  • Didi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6591 W: 3465 N: 8269] (30442)
  • [2008-05-14 2:58]

Hi Greg
In French we call this an Auberge, the taverns are smaller.
Intersting description of this historic house; we can feel returning back on the glorius past of your county.
Cheers.

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