USS Constitution, Old North Church to Celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Jubilee

From the June 3, 2022, CBS News Boston.

Historic locations in Boston will be joining in on Britain's Queen Elizabeth II's platinum celebration from across the pond as they say.

The Old North Church, where Paul revere's famous "one if by land, two if by sea" lantern was set will host s service at 11 am marking the 70th anniversary of her rule.  Church bells will chime to mark the jubilee, with the British Consulate-General and the Royal Navy Attache to the United States in attendance.

In the afternoon, the USS Constitution will host a special ceremony onboard.  The "Old Ironsides" may have fought Britain during the War of 1812, but on Sunday will fire a cannon salute and have a ceremonial raising  of the UK  Union flag in recognition of the jubilee.

The Queen was a guest on board the ship during her visit to Boston in 1976, the first time a reigning British monarch had visited Massachusetts.

The events are free and open to the public.  The first 100 people aboard the Constitution will receive special Platinum Jubilee coins and pins.

--Brock-Perry

Paul Revere's Bell On the USS Constitution-- Part 2

Best-known for his "Midnight Ride" and his gold and silversmithing, Paul Revere, in his later life, got into manufacturing other metal products. He built an iron and brass foundry in 1787 at the corner of Lynn and Foster streets in Boston's North End. He produced iron products such as fire buckets and window weights. Then he branched out into bolts and spikes for shipbuilding and later cannons and bells.

In 1800, at the age of 65, Revere bought a copper rolling mill and became the first American to successfully roll copper into sheets commercially. The federal government used it on its warships and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts used his copper for the dome of its new statehouse. Robert Fulton used Revere's product on the boilers of his steamships.

In 1788, Revere had built a furnace to make copper spikes, bolts and other ship fittings.

Later, Paul Revere cast copper alloy bells. Before this, the U.S. imported its bells from England. Revere cast his first bell in 1792 and made a total of 398 in his North Boston foundry. Many of these bells are still in use in Boston today, including the one at King's Chapel which weighs 2437 pounds.

The bell of the USS Constitution was also one of his until it was shot away in the battle with the HMS Guerriere.

A "Listen My Children and You Shall Hear" of Revere's Midnight Bell. --Brock-Perry

Paul Revere's Bell On the USS Constitution-- Part 1

Last month, I wrote about the bell of the HMS Guerriere coming to Rhode Island last year and that it had been taken from the ship after its battle with the USS Constitution before the Guerriere sank.

During the battle,the Constitition's bell was destroyed and it had been made by Paul Revere's factory; the Paul Revere famous for his Midnight Ride to warn the Minutemen of the British Army marching out from Boston.

I knew that Revere was also a famous silversmith, but not that he had anything to do with making bells. Of course, that meant I had to do some research.

A Ringing In My Ears. --Brock-Perry