Historic Powder Houses of New England: Arsenals of American Independence

Matthew E. Thomas

nov 2013 · Arcadia Publishing

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In the turbulent history of colonial New England, more than two hundred powder houses were built to store gunpowder, guns and armaments. Even the spark from a metal shoe nail could ignite their contents, so they often sat in remote sections of town. These volatile storehouses played a vital role in earning and preserving American independence. It was, after all, to a powder house in Concord, Massachusetts, that the British army marched in April 1775 to seize colonists' gunpowder. The British were thwarted, and the colonists' defense of the powder house ignited the Revolutionary War. Add to this the duels, murders, public hangings and tragic explosions that checkered the history of these structures, and the reader will discover a fascinating and forgotten aspect of our New England heritage. Using meticulous research, Matthew Thomas narrates the colorful histories of New England's powder houses as he resurrects their historical significance in early American history.

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Matthew Thomas founded the Fremont, New Hampshire, historical society in 1979 and still serves as president. He has also served as secretary of the New Hampshire Association of Historical Societies, New Hampshire librarian, and founder and owner of New England Historical Research Associates. Since 1974 Thomas has lectured on New England history.