Battle Road

Charlie and I were both born and raised here and have
lived our entire lives just a few short minutes drive from
where the American Revolution started back in 1775!
So when Austin started sharing his love of American history,
it was a tour that we just had to take! Though Battle Road has
undergone many changes since 1775, the 20 miles of winding,
hilly roads, even today, still follows generally the same route,
passing sites of some of the bitterest fighting and historical
buildings nearby.

Our first stop was at the Minute Man Visitor Center where
we enjoyed a multimedia theater program called "The Road
To Revolution". It introduced us to the story depicting Paul
Revere's Ride and the battles at Lexington Green, North
Bridge, and along Battle Road. Honestly, it was one of the
very best parts of all of the tours that we enjoyed.

The home of Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell and their
children was a prosperous farm and tavern. Travelers
to and from Boston stopped and shared the latest
news of the day. On April 19, 1775 the British soldiers
marched proudly by on their way to Concord, but they
returned under heavy fire.

So many things reminded us of our own house! We are
priviledged to live in the Hildreth House, a historic house
in Lunenburg, MA. Though it was built originally
to serve as a grain storage warehouse, it was moved
to it's current location right after the Civil War!
The  front of the Hartwell Tavern and the Hancock-Clarke
House and the kitchens reminded us of our own house. Our
living room fireplace with the bee hive oven to the side of the main
fireplace, the crane for the cooking pots and even the
little cabinet door just above the fireplace mantle are
just like the kitchen pictured from the Hartwell Tavern.

Check out this spectacular stone wall! These served
a real purpose in establishing the boundaries of their
property as they cleared the land for farming. With the
addition of the wooden fencing it served as an
effective corral!

Volunteer reenactors are an important of the
park programs and they bring life to the minute-
men who defended life and liberty! Believing that
a full-time army was a threat to their liberties, the
colonists relied upon part-time militia for their
defense. By 1775 many Massachusetts towns had
recruited from among their militia elite companies
of 'minute men' ready to march at a 'minute's'
notice. They were very well trained and many had
fought along side the 'regulars' during the French
and Indian War and they were also paid for their
service!

In my last posting, I commented that Austin was
a bit overwhelmed during his visit here by the hilly
countryside and trees, trees and more trees everywhere!
We were reminded by each tour guide and park ranger
that these trees didn't exist back then! It was all farm land!
Amazing! Austin would have felt a bit more at home then, I think.

Watch for the next posting: Buckman Tavern 1710, Hancock-
Clarke House 1737 and the Munroe Tavern 1735!

Sally
.

Our Guest from A Different World

Earlier this Summer, Charlie and I had the chance to open our
home to Austin Westlake, who traveled across country to serve as
an intern at New Life Church. Austin was excited and perhaps a
bit nervous about coming to NE but he wanted his internship
to be a time when he would be stretched and experience many
things that he'd never learn in a classroom.

Austin took on a wide variety of assignments and two of his
projects that garnered front page coverage in the local newspaper
involved installing 6,300 American flags on the front yard of the
church to celebrate Memorial Day and the 4th of July.

When Austin wasn't working on a project at church, he
could likely be found in his favorite spot, the screen
porch out behind our barn! As an avid reader, I think he
read an average of one book a week!

Though, as an intern, Austin was able to experience most
aspects of pastoral ministry and spent countless hours
in the church office doing whatever was asked of him,
our time spent with him was family time! He had fun learning
to cook with Charlie. He tasted his first and last steamed clam
but loved  his first taste of lobster. 

As Austin's 12 weeks with us was coming to an end
it was time for the guys to check the car's readiness
for the trip back to Missouri.

Charlie explained how to change the oil and replace the oil
filter.

And to repair the regular and persistent slow leak
in a car tire.

Meet Austin's fiance Lauren! He proposed  this week
and she accepted. Though we didn't have a chance to get to
know her, we enjoyed  her short stay before they headed
back to Central Bible College in Kansas City, Missouri!

Oh, you might wonder why the title, A Guest from
A Different World?  From Austin's perspective, he was
coming to a part of the country filled with hills, trees and
windy roads! Even our weather was strange to him, especially
in May when it was colder and wetter than usual. Everything
was different! 

Charlie and I were hopeful when we said 'Yes' to opening
our home! Austin was an answer to prayer and we look
forward to staying in touch!

Watch for another posting! We spent lots of time touring
Lexington & Concord's Battle Road , the Minuteman Museum and lots more!