Eagle Feathers #302–One If By Land, Two If By Sea

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

(This article was first published in the April 19, 2021, edition of The Somerville Times)

Somerville statesman Edward Everett first brought Paul Revere’s ride to light in his 1825 speech at Concord. Thirty-five years later, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow solidified Revere’s fame with his legendary 1860 poem, Paul Revere’s Ride.

Longfellow wrote it with the hope of avoiding the bloodshed of a civil war. It inspired the whole nation but didn’t prevent hostilities. A decade later, North Chelsea, Massachusetts, changed its name to Revere in honor of the patriot hero. The town named one of its schools and one of its main streets that runs to the ocean after him. Revere Beach is the first public beach in America.

Although Somerville never claimed Revere as its name, she can vaunt an historic trail of connections with the famous “Midnight Rider.”

• An old memorial and a brand new statue in front of the Somerville Holiday Inn on Washington Street pay homage to Paul Revere. On the eve of April 19, 1775, he came dangerously close to being captured here by British Cavalry.
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• The summit of Winter Hill was once the location of a revolutionary fort, and today is the site of Paul Revere Park, which is the smallest federal park in the nation. Three apartment buildings historically circle the area, notably named The Concord, The Lexington and The Paul Revere. In 1910, President William Howard Taft visited and honored the location.
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• Revere worked for and with his dear friend, Doctor and General Joseph Warren, martyr of Bunker Hill. After the battle, Warren’s body was identified by Revere who had performed dental work on him. Revere’s next born son was named after Warren, and Somerville was almost named after him.
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• The first Prospect Hill flag raising took place on Revere’s 40th birthday, January 1, 1776. After the American victory at Saratoga, 4,000 British and Hessian prisoners were brought to Prospect Hill and Winter Hill under guard of Colonel Revere.
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• One of Revere’s grandsons, Edward Revere Curtis, made Somerville his home. He was born on George Washington’s birthday, February 22, when Boston became a city. He was a popular businessman and alderman. Curtis Street in Teele Square was named after him. Out of the 776 buildings that were lost in the Great Boston Fire of 1872, his was the last.
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• On the eve of April 19, 1775, on a daring ride through Somerville and beyond, Revere triggered American history. That night he rode a steed with no name, but we will never forget its rider and his name … Paul Revere!
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