The Road Where It Happened: Reexamining Menotomy on April 19, 1775 – An Informal Historical Talk at Old Schwamb Mill

Not everything that unfolded in Menotomy on April 19, 1775, reflects the popular memory. Beyond Paul Revere’s ride and marching columns of redcoats, the day was marked by ambushes, seized wagons, rebels hiding in cornfields, and fierce fighting starting at  the “Foot of the Rocks.”

On Saturday, March 7 at 2:00 PM, the Old Schwamb Mill invites the public to The Road Where It Happened: Version 2.0, an informal illustrated talk by local historian Doreen Stevens. The program explores the lesser-known stories, myths, and meanings surrounding some of the deadliest fighting of the first day of the American Revolution.

Stevens will focus on the experiences of local residents and militia members, including Benjamin Locke of Foot of the Rocks, who led the Menotomy Minutemen up and down “The Road Where It Happened.” By examining contemporary accounts and later interpretations, the talk invites audiences to reconsider how history is remembered, retold, and rooted in place.

Neighboring the Foot of the Rocks park, the historic Old Schwamb Mill hosts this program which offers a unique opportunity to connect Arlington’s Revolutionary past with the landscape where it unfolded.