J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. He was consultant for an episode of History Detectives, and contributed to a display at Minute Man National Historic Park.

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Saturday, May 19, 2018

Trail Work at the North Bridge

Minute Man National Historical Park has begun an “extensive rehabilitation” of the North Bridge Trail on the west side of the North Bridge in Concord.

Sections of that trail are closed, meaning that there’s no pedestrian access to the North Bridge from the park’s Concord visitor center or Liberty Street. That situation is scheduled to last until 15 June.

Folks can still visit the North Bridge and its nearby monuments by approaching from the east side, which has its own parking area. And they can separately still visit the Concord visitor center, which houses the “Hancock” cannon (one of the four stolen cannon that ignited the Revolutionary War, I believe).

This phase of work on the trail is scheduled to end on 15 June. Then the contractors will begin similar rehabilitation for the trail east of the bridge, probably limiting access there. But again, people will still be able to get to the bridge from one side.

I talked about what was going on west of the bridge at midday on 19 Apr 1775 during the videotaped conversation with Lee Wright of the History List that folks can view on this page.

3 comments:

Don Carleton said...

Just watched your very fine History List interview at the Old North Bridge: it's sort of a curious sensation to be watching you tramp through such a familiar landscape while sitting on a couch in Montpellier!

BTW, I've got a plaster bust of good old Ralph Waldo over here with me, and he looks pleased enough that you pointed out the Old Manse and the Emerson connection in your commentary.

Just wish the audio could have been better in places...

Charles Bahne said...

I was at North Bridge today, Sunday, and the trail was open with no sign of any construction staging. I know that access to Hartwell Tavern has been very limited and difficult with the ongoing work there in the past month or so. But I understand that the work at Hartwell is almost complete and that the contractor will soon shift work to the North Bridge. Still, as of today, no sign of any work yet in the vicinity of the bridge.

J. L. Bell said...

The construction information came from a park press release, and it’s not entirely surprising that the work might lag behind the schedule.