Col. James Barrett Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Col. James Barrett Farm
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The Barrett Farmhouse
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Concord, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1705 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000290 |
| Added to NRHP | November 15, 1973 |
The Col. James Barrett Farm, also known as Barrett's Farm, is a very old and important place in Concord, Massachusetts. It played a big role in the start of the American Revolutionary War. This farm was a secret storage spot for weapons and supplies for the local fighters, called the militia.
Contents
A Secret Storage Spot for Freedom
Who was Colonel James Barrett?
James Barrett was a leader of the local fighters, known as the militia, in Concord, Massachusetts. A militia was a group of ordinary citizens who trained to be soldiers in case of an emergency. Colonel Barrett's farm was chosen for a very important secret mission.
British spies found out that the farm was hiding all of Concord's militia supplies. These supplies included gunpowder, other weapons, and two valuable bronze cannons.
The British March to Concord
On April 19, 1775, British soldiers, called British Regulars, marched from Boston. Their mission was to travel about 20 miles inland to Concord. They wanted to seize the cannons and raid the secret weapon storage at Barrett's Farm.
However, the British faced resistance along the way. They met local militia fighters in both Lexington, Massachusetts and Concord. Before the British soldiers could search the farm, the clever colonists had already moved and hidden all the supplies in a nearby field. The British never found them!
The Farm's Long History
The Barrett Farmhouse was built a very long time ago, in 1705. It has stood for centuries, witnessing many changes. In 1973, it was recognized as a historic site and added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important places in American history.
Over the years, the farmhouse fell into disrepair. A group called Save Our Heritage worked for eight years to restore it. They used money from local donations and a grant from the Department of the Interior to bring it back to life.
Becoming a National Park Site
In March 2009, the United States Congress passed a law to add Barrett's Farm to the Minute Man National Historical Park. This park protects important sites from the first battles of the Revolutionary War.
In August 2012, the National Park Service officially took ownership of the Barrett House and the land around it. Later that year, in October 2012, a celebration was held. It marked the completion of the restoration and the transfer of the farm to the Minute Man National Historical Park. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas played a key role in making Barrett's Farm part of our national park system.
See also
In Spanish: Granja de James Barrett para niños
