Hartwell Tavern

Hartwell Tavern, also known as the Ephraim Hartwell House, is a historic American building in Lincoln, Massachusetts, preserved as part of Minute Man National Historical Park. Although its name reflects its former use as an inn, it is not a contemporary hospitality brand. It is a National Park Service historic house museum interpreted as an example of rural domestic and tavern life in the Massachusetts countryside during the eighteenth century. The main structure was built in 1733 for Ephraim Hartwell and his wife, Elizabeth. Ephraim received the house from his father, Samuel Hartwell, who lived nearby in the older Samuel Hartwell House. The Hartwell family farm became one of the most productive farms in Concord by the middle of the eighteenth century and covered approximately 141 acres in 1749. The property became part of Lincoln when that town was incorporated in 1754. In 1756, after the Hartwells had nine children living in the house, Ephraim applied for a license to operate it as an inn. The establishment functioned as a tavern until the 1780s, while also remaining a family residence. Its location along the road between Lexington and Concord gave it particular importance during the events of April 1775. The building stood along the route used by British troops traveling toward Concord and returning toward Boston during the opening engagements of the American Revolutionary War. Hartwell Tavern is also connected with the warning that helped Lincoln militiamen reach the Old North Bridge. During the night of April 18–19, 1775, Paul Revere and William Dawes were detained by a British patrol in the surrounding area, while Samuel Prescott escaped and continued toward Concord. Prescott reached the Hartwell property, woke Ephraim Hartwell, and reported that British soldiers were approaching. Hartwell sent Violet, an enslaved woman in his household, to warn his son and his family. The message was passed onward to Captain William Smith, commander of the Lincoln minutemen. Three Hartwell sons—Samuel, John, and Isaac—served in the Lincoln militia and later in the Revolutionary War. The building remained a residence after its tavern operation ended. It passed through Hartwell family ownership and was modernized over the following generations. The National Park Service purchased the property in 1967. During restoration work in the 1980s, the structure was returned to an appearance associated with 1775, while later additions dating from 1783 and 1830 were retained. The principal structure, much of its foundation and walls, and some flooring are original to 1733; approximately 65 percent of the restored building is reported to survive from the original construction. Today, Hartwell Tavern is presented as a seasonal historic house museum. National Park Service rangers in colonial-style clothing provide interpretive programs and explain the Hartwell family, the former inn, local agriculture, enslavement, and the military movements connected with the first battles of the Revolution. Public programming generally operates from Memorial Day weekend through October. The tavern’s original sign is displayed at Buckman Tavern in Lexington, another historic property associated with the Battle Road landscape.

Hartwell Tavern was constructed in 1733 as a home for Ephraim Hartwell and Elizabeth Hartwell. Ephraim’s father, Samuel, provided the newly married couple with the property. Samuel lived in a separate house nearby, now known as the Samuel Hartwell House. Both properties formed part of the Hartwell family’s agricultural holdings in the Concord area. The building is a saltbox-style structure whose principal façade faces south. The Hartwells raised their family there, and by 1756 nine of their children were living in the house. That year Ephraim sought a license to operate an inn. The building served as a tavern through the 1780s, combining public hospitality with the functions of a family farmstead. By 1749 the Hartwell farm had become one of the most productive in Concord and encompassed about 141 acres. The property was located in Concord until the creation of Lincoln in 1754. Family ownership continued after Ephraim’s death in 1793. Elizabeth lived until 1808, after which the property passed to their son John. Although its tavern use ended, the structure continued as a residence for many years and underwent modernization and alteration. The house’s historical importance is closely tied to April 19, 1775, when the Battles of Lexington and Concord began. British troops passed the property while marching toward Concord and again during their withdrawal toward Boston. The Hartwell family was directly involved in the local warning network. Samuel Prescott, who had been traveling with Paul Revere and William Dawes, escaped a British patrol and reached the Hartwell home. After informing Ephraim Hartwell of the approaching troops, he prompted a chain of warnings that reached Lincoln militia commander William Smith. Ephraim sent Violet, an enslaved member of his household, to alert relatives, who conveyed the information to Smith. The warning helped Lincoln militiamen assemble in time to participate at Old North Bridge. Hartwell sons Samuel, John, and Isaac were among the Lincoln minutemen and later served in the Revolutionary War. The National Park Service acquired Hartwell Tavern in 1967. Later changes had obscured aspects of the eighteenth-century appearance, so restoration in the 1980s sought to present the building as it may have appeared around 1775. The restoration retained additions from 1783 and 1830 rather than removing every later feature. The National Park Service estimates that about 65 percent of the original structure survives, including the main framework, most walls, the foundation, and portions of the floor. Hartwell Tavern now operates as a historic house museum within Minute Man National Historical Park. Seasonal park rangers interpret the building, the Hartwell family, the tavern’s former role, the agricultural landscape, and the events surrounding the opening of the American Revolution. Programs are generally offered daily from Memorial Day weekend through October. The original tavern sign is preserved at Buckman Tavern in Lexington.

• 1980

  Restoration to an eighteenth-century appearance

  [1]Hartwell Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  Restoration work during the 1980s presented the building in an appearance associated with 1775 while retaining later additions from 1783 and 1830.

• 1967

  National Park Service acquires the property

  [1]Hartwell Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  The National Park Service purchased Hartwell Tavern for preservation and interpretation within the Battle Road historic landscape.

• 1780

  Tavern operation ends

  [1]Hartwell Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  The building’s use as an inn continued until the 1780s, after which it remained primarily a residence.

• 1775

  Hartwell Tavern connected to the Lexington and Concord warnings

  [1]Hartwell Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  Samuel Prescott reached the Hartwell home during the night warning preceding the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Information from the house was passed to the Lincoln militia.

• 1756

  Inn license obtained

  [1]Hartwell Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  Ephraim Hartwell applied for a license to operate the house as an inn, beginning its period of use as a tavern.

• 1754

  Property becomes part of Lincoln

  [1]Hartwell Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  The property changed municipal affiliation when Lincoln was incorporated from territory that had previously been part of Concord.

• 1749

  Hartwell farm reaches major agricultural scale

  [1]Hartwell Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  The Hartwell farm was described as one of the most productive farms in Concord and covered approximately 141 acres.

• 1733

  Hartwell house constructed

  [1]Hartwell Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell’s saltbox-style house was built in the Concord area of Massachusetts.

A National Park Service historic site focused on eighteenth-century rural life and the local human history of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

1. 1Hartwell Tavernen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Minute Man National Historical Park: Hartwell Tavernnps.gov