The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-06-29
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Lexington Inn
Bears Scars of
! Famous Battle
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In using old historic houses for their
community centers, have shown their
reverence for the past and their ap-
preciation of the value of keeping 1t
alive. are Lexington and Dedham,
writes Margaret Fitzgerald Browne, in
the Boston Transcript. OF Lexington
does this more especially hold true,
for here the Lexington Historical So
ciety has turned over to the Community
association the old Buckman tavern,
built in 1890, and closely associated
with the stirring events of the history
Of the town, which are also the events
of the history of the nation. 1t was
closely associated in a literal sense,
too. for 1t stands so near the village
green, where Captain Parker and his
seyenty-six minute men faced six hun
dred trained British soldiers in the
gray dawn of April 10, 1775, that there
are holes made by the bullets in Its
white clapboarding-its scars from the
battle.
The very Oldest Of the twelve tav-
erns which once were carrying on an
active business in Lexington, the Buck
man tavern, so called from its owner
end landlord in Revolutionary days,
John Buckman, was built in 1890 by
Benjamin Muzzey. who owned a con-
siderable piece of land in that part of
the countryside, then called Gam
bridge Farms. Up to that time, since
the first house was built there in 1910
'by Roger Herlarkenden, Cambridge
harms had remained a precinct of
cambridge. and its lands were used by
Cambridge people as an additional
source of hay. The year after Benja-
min Muzzey built his tavern, and was
licensed to keep a public house and
hung before it sign promising "en-
tentainment for man and beast" Cam
bridge Farms was incorporated as a
separate parish, but it was not until
March 81. 1713, that the town was in
Icorporated as Lexington, taking its
name from Lord Lexington, a British
statesman of prominence at the time
Later Colonial Period.
The house as originally built had q
huge brick chimney at one end, which
provided enormous fireplaces for its
two rooms, one room to a floor, while
"a narrow stairway went up beside the
chimney. This original house was
added to at various times, and fire
places With the necessary alterations
and fues were built into different sides
of the chimney, SO that ii now pre-
sents the square substantial lines Of
the later Colonial period An ell built
onto the front right-hand corner of the
house was added in 1928 and this
part Of the tavern became the first
post office in Lexington, continuing in
that capacity until 1S47. This room
now makes a convenient and pleasant
place for bridge parties and food sales
for charity, and such activities OF the
town.
The oldest part of the house lies to
the right of the door as you enter.
Here is the original taproom of the
tavern, with its huge fireplace before
WHICH l1tG SutSlo VI l1AC ILL 0AuVtANR
their pipes and drank the hard cider
and ale and Medford rum, which were
served through the little window open
ing into the bar The bar is still there.
just as it was, even to its original
old wooden shelf and hinged door
which let down from the ceiling and
closed the opening into the closetlike
taproom where the drinks We're stored.
All of Historical interest.
Around the fireplace, with its old
Colonial fittings Of fire irons and tin
oven, are now hung various objects of
historical interest. Leaning against a
wall in this room is the original front
door Of the house with a bullet hole in
its old panels, received in the battle.
Back of this room and connecting
with it and the bar is the inn kitchen
with its huge fireplace and brick oven.
The second story of the house con
sists Of large, square rooms all with
fireplaces, and all have been the scenes