Old Belfry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Belfry |
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The Old Belfry, pictured in 2017
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| General information | |
| Type | Belfry |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Location | Lexington, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 42°26′54″N 71°13′51″W / 42.44822°N 71.23085°W |
| Completed | 1762 |
The Old Belfry is a famous old building in Lexington, Massachusetts, United States. It stands on a place called Belfry Hill. This historic tower played a very important role in the start of the American Revolution. Its bell rang out to warn people of danger and call them to action.
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The Old Belfry's Story
The Old Belfry was first built in 1762. It was placed on land owned by Jonas Monroe. In 1768, it was moved a short distance to Lexington Common. This happened because Jonas Monroe wanted the town to pay him taxes for keeping it on his land. Today, a special boulder and plaque mark its old spot on the Common.
What the Bell Did
The bell inside the belfry had many important jobs. It called people to church services. It also reminded everyone at 9:00 pm to "rake up the fires and go to bed." The bell warned people of danger. It rang slowly when someone in town had passed away. Most famously, it rang the first alarm of the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. This event helped start the American Revolution. Today, the bell still rings every year at 5:30 am to begin Patriots' Day.
Moving and Rebuilding the Belfry
The belfry you see today is not the very first one. A third version of the structure was built in 1794. This time, it had a steeple to hold the bell. Just three years later, the belfry was moved again. It went to the Parker Homestead in the southern part of town. There, it was used as a shop by a wheelwright, who was someone who made and repaired wheels.
By 1891, the belfry was in very bad shape. The Lexington Historical Society helped fix it up. They moved it back to its original spot. James S. Monroe, a descendant of the original Jonas Monroe, gave the belfry to the Historical Society.
Sadly, a big storm on June 20, 1909, destroyed the belfry. But it was rebuilt by March of the next year. In 1913, it was moved one last time to its current spot on Belfry Hill. An iron fence was put around it for protection.
Belfry Hill Park
In 1971, a house called the Katharine Harrington House was taken down. This made way for Belfry Hill Park. The park is located at the corner of Clarke Street and Massachusetts Avenue.
The Bell Itself
In 1761, a man named Isaac Stone gave a new bell to the town of Lexington. This bell was quite heavy, weighing 463 pounds. At a town meeting on June 15 of that year, they decided where to hang it. They chose "ye top of ye Hill upon ye North side of Liet Jonas Munroes house."
The Alarm of 1775
Between 1:00 am and 2:00 am on April 19, 1775, the bell rang out. It called the local militia, a group of citizen soldiers, to Lexington Common. This happened right after Paul Revere and William Dawes had ridden through town. Later, a scout arrived to tell Captain John Parker that the British Regulars were very close. The bell was rung a second time. This second ringing gathered the 77 Minutemen, who were ready to fight at a moment's notice.
Today's Bell
The bell that hangs in the Old Belfry today was made in the 1800s. However, the original bell's tongue, which is the part that strikes the bell to make sound, is kept safe at the Hancock–Clarke House. The current bell was replaced again in March 1964. It was a gift from William Maloney and used to hang in the Wilmington Methodist Church in Wilmington.
Gallery
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The front of the building
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A view of the hill on which the belfry sits
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Steps up to the belfry
