Page:20th annual meet- League of American Wheelmen, Aug. 14th to 19th '99, Boston, Massachusetts.djvu/55

 a wild and picturesque gorge and having, under favorable conditions, twenty distinct echoes. The bridge was built for an acqueduct for carrying the water into Boston. From here the route extends through Waban and Auburndale to "Norumbega Park," a place most beautifully situated on the banks of the Charles River, a popular summer resort. Meals can be had here at reasonable prices, arrangements having been made for a discount of 10% to L. A. W. members upon presentation of their membership tickets during the week of the meet. Those that wish to obtain an excellent $1.00 dinner can stop at the Woodlawn Park Hotel, Auburndale. Arrangements have also been made with the Pigeon Hill House at Riverside, where L. A. W. members can obtain dinner at 75 cents. The admission to the grounds is ten cents and wheels checked for five cents. There is an outdoor theatre and performances are given free every afternoon and evening. After dinner all hands will go to Norumbega Park in the afternoon and take in the vaudeville show, and amuse and enjoy themselves about the Park until 6.15 P.M., when a start will be made to attend the Water Carnival on the Charles River at Waltham, an event you should not miss and one long to be remembered, visiting Norumbega Tower enrouteen route [sic]. The tower is a rugged, substantially built structure, of rough stone, with interior stone stairways leading to a lookout at the top, from which an elegant view of the river can be had. From here the road follows along the river to Waltham, passing near the Waltham Watch Company's factory into the centre of Waltham, and from here to Watertown, passing the United States Arsenal, to Allston and in to Boston over Commonwealth avenue. Distance about twenty-five miles.

2.30 p. m. Leave Copley Square for a run to the famous Blue Hills of Milton, said to be the highest land on the coast from Maine to the Rio Grande, on the top of which a most magnificent view can be had of the surrounding country for miles around. From the Blue Hill entrance at the base of Blue Hill to the observatory on the summit is about three-fourths of a mile and an easy climb, and will well repay any one who takes the trip. The route will be out to Franklin Park and over Blue Hill avenue to Mattapan and Canton avenue, passing beautiful residences en route. The roads are good and it is a very pretty run. Distance about twenty miles.

Runs to attend the grand River Carnival at Waltham and also the illumination of the Charles River. This event will be well worth going miles to see, the river being completely swarmed with canoes, row-boats, launches, etc., each beautifully decorated with lanterns and lights of all sort special features, etc., such as large floats, will be prominent. Last year fully 75,000 persons witnessed the spectacle and parade from the river bank. There will be several runs out there, leaving Copley Square at 6.30, 6.45, 7.00 and 7.15 P. M., under charge of local riders.

8.00 P. M. Carnival and Illumination of Charles River at Waltham.

Bass Point, Nahant, Winthrop, Plymouth, Salem Willows, Gloucester, Cape Ann and Provincetown. See Monday's program for details.

8.00 a. m. Leave Copley Square for run to Middlesex Fells, Metropolitan Park System, Spot Pond and Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington, Belmount and Cambridge, passing over Harvard Bridge, through Cambridgeport, Somerville, to Medford, stopping in front of the Royall Mansion House, which, though shorn of its grandeur, still stands a rare relic of Provincial days; and on to the old Garrison House, built before 1640, and past the ancient Craddock House, which is believed to be the oldest house in the country now standing which retains its original form. From Medford Square we go toward West Medford and turn right Rural avenue through to the Middlesex Fells Reservation of the Metropolitan Park System, through a thickly wooded section to the Lawrence Observatory, from the top of which can be had a most excellent view of the country. The road winds from here through the woods bearing to the left when we strike the town of Winchester. From here we have a most delightful ride along the shores of the Mystic Valley Lakes over an elegant boulevard and on to Arlington. From here we take Pleasant street to Belmont and home through Cambridge. Distance about twenty miles.

9.00 a. m. All day run to the historical points of interest partly on the route taken by Paul Revere on his famous ride and of the British march through Lexington to Concord and of the retreat from Concord to the Charlestown line. The roads are very good, some eight miles of it being a new State highway.

The following description was very kindly written by Mr. Edward Webster McGlenen, the president of the Massachusetts Bicycle Club and who is considered an authority on the historical events of Lexington and Concord, and for those that intend going on this trip it will fully post them of the historical places en route as well as refresh the memory of those that read of the Battles of Lexington and Concord in their gone by school days.

The "Lexington Alarm" as the old records state, was caused by the march of the British troops from Boston to Lexington and Concord. On the night of April 18, 1775 General Gage ordered Lieut. Col. Francis Smith to march with 800 picked men to secure the provincial stores at Concord and while on their way through: Lexington to capture, if possible, John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who were known to be there. It was for the purpose of warning that Paul Revere and William Dawes were sent by Dr. Joseph Warren (afterwards Major General, and killed at Bunker Hill) telling of the coming of the regulars and to send the news to Concord so that the stores might be secreted.

The British troops crossed the Charles River in boats, landing at Lechmere Point (East Cambridge), following the old Charlestown lane turning into Massachusetts avenue through Beech street, passing the stone church (where the old tavern formerly stood) on the right, near Porter's Station. From this point, with few deviations they followed the Massachusetts avenue of today all the way to Concord. On the retreat on April 19th, the British fell back by way of the lane to Charlestown. Revere went by the way of Charlestown and Medford to Menotomy, now Arlington, on the old highway that runs into Massachusetts avenue by the Arlington House on the site of the Cooper tavern. William Dawes went out by the way of Roxbury, Brookline and Brighton into Harvard Square, Cambridge, then followed the direct road to Lexington.

The British troops marched to Lexington unmolested. At Lexington Green they found some seventy minute men under Captain Parker drawn up in line to oppose them. Major Pitcairn, who commanded the advance, ordered the provincials to disperse, but they not complying, instantly the British opened fire, killing seven and wounding nine of the Americans, after which they marched on to Concord without Opposition. Detachments were sent to various points to destroy stores, and at Concord bridge they opened fire on the Americans; Capt. Isaac Davis and Abner Hosmer were killed, and there the first British soldiers fell. After destroying all the stores they could find (which were very few) they began their homeward march at noon. When they reached Meriam's Corner, a little more than a mile away, they were attacked by the Americans in force. Here the retreat began and they were driven back by the provincials who added to their force at each incoming road. Nearly every house on the way down to Lexington was fired at by the British, but beyond breaking the windows little damage was done.

Crossing Harvard Bridge to Harvard Square, the college buildings attract one's attention. The large wooden house on the right was the home of it presidents and was built before the Revolution, it was occupied by Washington and Lee. In a corner of the fence about the burying-ground on the left as we turn the corner is