Forty Sixth Week, Sunday's "Medfield Historical Minute"

A Medfield Historical Minute...

This "Medfield Historical Minute" is brought to you by town historian Richard DeSorgher.
A little something to read and learn to give you a little break during this time of boredom during isolation due to the Coronavirus Crisis. A different "Medfield Historical Minute" will appear each day during the Crisis.

"For many years, Medfield had a love affair with the stagecoach. We were located on the popular Middle Post Road that ran from Boston to Hartford, Connecticut and then on down to New York City. A line of stagecoaches ran over the route from the early 1800s, well into the later part of that century. The average stagecoach traveled at about ten miles per hour, which was twice as fast as a wagon or a person on foot. The stagecoaches also were used to carry the U.S. mail.

Medfield documents mention Clark family members hearing the bugle sound as the stagecoach approached the Clark Tavern on Main Street. When the coach was about a mile from the Clark Tavern, the driver blew on a trumpet. The number of blasts told owner Ebenezer Clark just how many passengers would be arriving at his tavern. It became a thing of excitement in Medfield to hear the bugle sound as the stagecoach approached the tavern. After the passengers arrived at the Clark Tavern they would eat. Then they went to sleep with all their clothes on except their shoes. It would be common for three to four people to sleep in the same bed. They would often be awakened in the middle of the night if another traveler climbed into the bed. Sometimes there was no room left and the people had to sleep on the floor.

In the morning the stages would leave bright and early, usually just after 5:00 a.m. Anyone not on board would be left behind."