1890s Archives - Page 65 of 66

Buckman Tavern, Lexington, Massachusetts

April 11, 2024November 12, 2013 by Derek Strahan

The Buckman Tavern in Lexington, between 1890 and 1901. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

Between 1910 and 1920. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

In 2013:

This building, located just to the east of the Lexington Green, was built around 1710 by Benjamin Muzzy. His son John operated it as a tavern for many years, and the tavern was eventually acquired by John Buckman after his marriage to John’s granddaughter Ruth Stone in 1768.

It was during Buckman’s time here that the tavern gained attention as the site where many of Lexington’s militiamen gathered on the morning of April 19, 1775, just before the Battle of Lexington. This battle—really more of a small skirmish—occurred directly in front of the tavern on the Green, and it marked the start of the American Revolution. There was at least one bullet that passed through the front door of the tavern, and later in the day there were two wounded British soldiers who were brought here, and one of them died here in the tavern.

After the battle, John Buckman continued to operate this tavern until his death in 1792. Two years later, it was acquired by Rufus Merriam, who had witnessed the battle nearly 20 years earlier as a 13-year-old boy. He later became postmaster, and the town’s post office was located here starting in 1813, but the building does not appear to have been used as a tavern for much longer after that.

The property would remain in the Merriam family for many years, and it was eventually acquired by the town of Lexington in 1913. The interior was subsequently restored to its colonial-era appearance, and the old tavern is now leased by the Lexington Historical Society, which operates it as a museum.

2023 update: I have added some photos from the interior of the tavern, which were taken during a May 2023 visit:

*The room in the northwestern corner of the ground floor*

*The front entryway. On the left side, behind the plexiglass, is the original front door, with a yellow arrow pointing to the bullet hole.*

*The tap room, where the militiamen gathered prior to the battle.*

Cape Neddick, York, Maine

January 22, 2016November 11, 2013 by Derek Strahan

The view of Cape Neddick from Long Sands Beach in York, Maine, between 1890 and 1910. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

The same view in 2011:

In the past 100 years, Cape Neddick went from being almost deserted, to being covered with vacation homes. The only readily-identifiable structure in both photos is the Cape Neddick “Nubble” Lighthouse, located at the end of the peninsula on a small, rocky island known as the Nubble. However, with close examination, at least one of the cottages from the old photograph still exists – the one with the tower in the center of the roof on the far-left side of the photo.

Union Oyster House, Boston

January 22, 2016November 11, 2013 by Derek Strahan

Union Oyster House in Boston, sometime in the 19th century. Photo courtesy of Boston Public Library:

The historic building around 1898. Photo courtesy of Boston Public Library:

In 1930, courtesy of Boston Public Library:

Sometime between 1934 and 1956. Photo courtesy of Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.

The Union Oyster House in 2010:

The above four photos show over 100 years of the history of the oldest restaurant in the United States, the Union Oyster House in Boston. Although the restaurant opened in 1826, the building itself is far older, having been built around 1704. The second floor was once used as the publishing office of the Massachusetts Spy in the 1770’s, and in 1796 the future King Louis Philippe of France lived in exile, also on the second floor. Since becoming a restaurant, the Union Oyster House (originally Atwood & Bacon Oyster House, as seen in the 1898 photo) has served many notable patrons, including Daniel Webster, John F. Kennedy, and other members of the Kennedy family.

New Old South Church, Boston

September 22, 2015September 17, 2013 by Derek Strahan

New Old South Church at Copley Square, between 1890 and 1899. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

The same view in 2010:

For the most part, this view hasn’t changed. The Boston Public Library on the left is still there, as is the brick building behind the church. The only real difference is the tower, which had to be taken down in 1931. Like the rest of the Back Bay, the church sits on filled-in marshland, so the weight was supported by wooden piles that were driven into the soil. However, the tower was too heavy for the piles, and as the ground settled it began to lean about three feet. It was rebuilt in 1940 on stronger steel piles, and the new tower has stood substantially longer than the original one did.

Faneuil Hall, Boston

December 7, 2023September 17, 2013 by Derek Strahan

Faneuil Hall in Boston, as it appeared between 1890 and 1899. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

The building in 2021:

The building was completed in 1742 as a meeting hall and marketplace, and was largely reconstructed following a fire in 1762 that gutted the building. It is well known as having been a place where patriots such as Samuel Adams and James Otis gave speeches concerning independence in the years leading up to the American Revolution.

Tip Top House, Mt. Washington

August 26, 2015September 16, 2013 by Derek Strahan

The Tip-Top House on Mount Washington in New Hampshire, sometime in the early 1860s. Image courtesy of the New York Public Library.

The building between 1890 and 1901. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.

The same view in August, 2013:

Originally built as a hotel in 1853, it is the oldest surviving building at the summit of Mt. Washington, and is located just below the summit, which is just to the right of the building and outside of the picture. After many years of being abandoned, it was restored in 1987 to its original appearance and now serves as a museum – the steeply pitched roof was not added until the 1860s, which provides a date for the first photo.