To count down the days to the end of summer, I will be taking you on a virtual walking tour of Arlington–the same one outlined in 1937’s The WPA Guide to Massachusetts. Each entry will include an excerpt from the book about each site visited. Hopefully this will give us a little insight as to how things have changed in the past 73 years. A ways up Massachusetts Avenue brings us to site number fifteen.

“The Benjamin Locke House (private), 21 Appleton St., was built (1726) by a captain of the militia.

When the British passed by, about two o’clock on the morning of April 19, Captain Locke was awakened

and rushed out to arouse his neighbors. In a short time he was able to muster 26 men.

By afternoon the band grew to 52, which, with companies from surrounding towns,

joined in harassing the rear of Percy’s retreating column.”