♪ REPORTER: IT IS A RARE REMNANT OF COLONIAL BOSTON.
THE NARROW ALLEYS OF THE BLACKSTONE BLOCK DATE BACK TO THE 17TH CENTURY.
AND THE ESTABLISHMENTS THAT LINE THESE STREETS CELEBRATE THEIR HISTORY.
ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER YOU FIND BOSTON’S OLDEST RESTAURANTS, ITS NEIGHBOR AMERICA’S OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING TAVERN.
>> THE LAST TOWN CRIER FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON FOUNDED THE BAR IN 1795 AFTER HE PUT DOWN HIS BELL AND WENT BEHIND THE BAR.
STARTED TO TELL HIS TALE.
REPORTER: BACK THEN, A WOOD CARVING LIKE THIS WAS THE ONLY SIGN.
>> IT HUNG OUTSIDE, THERE WAS NO TEXT.
REPORTER: SHE AND HER HUSBAND ARE THE CURRENT OWNERS, THE CARETAKERS OF THE BELL IN HAND’S STORIED PAST.
>> PEOPLE COME TO THE BELL IN HAND, IT IS A TRUE MEETING PLACE.
REPORTER: IT IS SAID DANIEL WEBSTER, PAUL REVERE AND SAM ADAMS WERE REGULAR CUSTOMERS.
THEY DID NOT STAND IN THIS EXACT SPOT.
>> HAS MOVED FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION.
REPORTER: THE ORIGINAL BELL IN HAND IS JUST ABOUT WHERE CITY HALL SITS NOW.
THE TAVERN ALSO FLOURISHED OFF WASHINGTON STREET.
>> PIE ALLEY WAS A NEWSPAPER WROTE.
PEOPLE USED TO THROW -- OUT THE WINDOW REPORTER: THE HISTORY IS A LITTLE LOOSE FOR A FEW YEARS.
>> THE ONLY TIME IN HISTORY WE WERE CLOSED WAS DURING PROHIBITION.
AND WHO KNOWS THAN.
REPORTER: DEBBIE’S GRANDFATHER TOOK OWNERSHIP IN THE 1950’S.
SINCE THEN, OUR FAMILY HAS WORKED TO PRESERVE THEIR RICH HISTORY.
A LOCAL ARTIST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PORTRAITS THAT LINE THE HALLS.
NATIONAL GALLERY PAINTINGS AND ADDED SOMETHING NEW TO EACH ONE.
REPORTER: WE DID NOT HAVE A PORTRAIT OF JIMMY WILSON, THE FOUNDER OF THE BELL IN HAND.
WE DUBBED IN MY FATHER.
REPORTER: THE KESSLER’S CREDIT THE WELCOME FEEL OF THE TAVERN FOR THEIR LONGEVITY.
>> IT HAS A HEART.
REPORTER: THE FRESH NEW ENGLAND FARE CANNOT HURT EITHER.
CLAM CHOWDER, OVERFLOWING LOBSTER ROLLS ARE FAVORITES.
AS FOR DRINKS SOME OF THE STRONGEST JIMMY WILSON WOULD SERVE WAS A CREAM ALE.
HE REFUSED TO SELL SPIRITS.
SAM ADAMS MAKES A SPECIAL VARIETY OF ALE JUST FOR THE TAVERN.
IF YOU WERE AT BELL IN HAND IN 1795, YOU WOULD BE SERVED TWO PEWTERS JUST LIKE THIS.
ONE FOR THE FROST, ONE FOR THE ALE.
I AM NOT SURE HOW YOU USE BOTH.
WHY STICK TO ONE TAVERN WHEN ANOTHER ONLY STEPS AWAY ALSO HAS PRETTY GREAT BRAGGING RIGHTS?
WELCOME TO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THE GREEN DRAGON.
FOUNDED IN 1654, WELL BEFORE BELL IN HAND.
THE CATCH IS, THE ORIGINAL GREEN DRAGON BURN DOWN SEVEN TIMES.
IT WAS REBUILT, THANKS TO JOHN SUMMERS.
THEY SAY THEIR FATHER LOVED THE HISTORY OF THE TAVERN, NAMED FOR THE WEATHERED BRONZE DRAGON OUT FRONT.
>> IT IS WHERE THE SONS OF LIBERTY MET, SAM ADAMS, DANIEL WEBSTER.
REPORTER: SIGNS WERE SO TENSE, THE PEWTER MUGS HAD GLASS BOTTOMS.
>> YOU LEFT A EYES ON PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES.
REPORTER: AND EARS.
A 13-YEAR-OLD BAR BOY OVERHEARD BRITISH SOLDIERS TALKING ABOUT TRUE -- TROOP MOVEMENTS.
IT WAS THOSE LOOSE LIPS THAT SAID PAUL REVERE ON HIS FAMOUS RIDE BEFORE THE BATTLES OF LEXINGTON AND CONCORDE.
>> THERE WOULD NOT BE IN AMERICA IF NOT FOR THE GREEN DRAGON.
REPORTER: THERE IS A SHEPHERD’S PIE AND BUBBLE AND SQUEAK, THE EARLY AMERICAN ANSWER FOR LEFTOVERS.
>> THEY WOULD FRY IT UP AND IT WAS CALLED BUBBLE AND SQUEAK BECAUSE OF THE NOISE AS IT MAKES.
WE HAVE OUR OWN TAKE HIM A POTATO PANCAKE WITH CORNED BEEF, CABBAGE, CARROTS AND CHEESE.
REPORTER: CUSTOMERS CAN JUST ENJOY THE FAIRE AND REVOLUTIONARY SPACE.
THEY SAY THEIR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE WARMTH AND RESPITE.
REPORTER: MY FATHER’S GOAL WAS TO GIVE HOSPITALITY TO THE WEARY TRAVELERS.
THAT IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.
THAT YOU ARE WELCOMED AND FEEL GOOD WHEN YOU ARE SITTING HERE AND MADE SOMEONE SMILE.
SHAYNA: THAT IS GREAT.
BACK TO BELL IN HAND, IT HAS REALLY EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.
THE KESSLERS SAY IT BRINGS COMMUNITY.
ANTHONY: MANY HAVE GOTTEN MARRIED IN THE TAVERN.
THE ORIGINAL BELL IN