Building the Hartwell Tavern Part 1 The 1775 Structure

 

  "Things From The Basement" latest historical building kit is of the Hartwell Tavern.  The tavern is located in Minute Man National Historical Park in Lincoln Massachusetts. 

  The tavern is a typical late 17th early 18th century Salt box style  New England house.  Built along the Bay road that connected Boston to Concord and other towns to its west the building saw heavy traffic (for the time) passing by .  Being a typical "thrifty" Yankee Ephraim Hartwell converted the front rooms of his hone into a tavern.  Drivers brining cattle to market to Boston could stop, feed themselves and their cows before the final push to Boston.  On April 19, 1775 Colonel Smith's British troops marched passed it in the morning and heavy fighting took place around it later that afternoon.  It continued to be a private home up until the 1960's when it was bought by the National Park Service.

 The tavern was restored in the early 1980's to its appearance during the 18th century.  Two additions had been added to the house in the 1780's and 1790's and are included if you want to add them and make it like it looks today.  It was in one of these wings that I had my office during the summer months.   It was around the tavern that many of the parks costumed interpretation programs were staged.  

  First off the kit is very big and I recommend laying out all parts to familiarize yourself before starting.  Also download the instructions from "TFTB" website.  Make sure you have a clean workspace and some good glue.  I use a superglue and also a white glue.   Once done with that you are off and running!

First off are the buildings windows.  And there are lots of them.  Take your time lay our the pieces and put them together. Make sure they fit together nicely, otherwise they will not fit into the openings for then in the building.

Next you start on the main floor if the tavern itself.   The stair case is a bit finicky so fit it together before you use glue. The tavern was built around the big central fireplace.  Again take your time and cut the pieces together.

In the background my famous coffee mug.

Once done you can glue the walls of the tavern together. I first use a little superglue to hold it together. Then I add white gorilla glue along the edges for strength. This is also when you add the doors.  These are tricky and a set of twisers helps. There is a molding around the door that goes on last

The upper floor is mainly the chimney.  Again take your time fitting the pieces together first.  Add the stair case railing and you are all set.

Next the roof.  Carefully fit the rafters together.  I add some gorilla glue afterwards for added strength.  Then fit the roof to the rafters.  This will take a while to fit together.  Take your time.

While waiting for the glue to dry I put together the tavern sign.  This adds a nice touch to the set up!  The actual tavern sign is still in existence.  "TFTB" has a Xerox if the sign you can print, cut out and paste on.  Or you can paint it yourself.

Almost done!  Place the second floor and roof together and admire your house!

Next time in part 2 I put together the additions.  Then stain the structures just like the restored structures.