Concord has always been a very special place. The people who call this town home have never shied away from a challenge, nor have they hesitated to do the right thing in trying times. From mustering the courage to fire the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” to creating a space which fostered a generation of literary legends, to standing up to fight for the abolition of slavery, Concordians are steadfast in the face of adversity.
The Concord Museum’s Guild of Volunteers were heartbroken when COVID-19 restrictions cancelled their 31st Annual Garden Tour. This beloved tradition provides a peek behind the garden gate at some of Concord’s most stunning homes, and is a sort of unofficial opening of Spring in the town. It was a deep disappointment in the community to miss such an anticipated event.
Shops all across Concord have worked hard to reconfigure their storefronts, install plexiglass sneeze guards, create distance markers, integrate no-touch or low-touch point of sale technology, and train their teams to be in compliance with all sanitizing and safety standards put forth by the state. And while the shops are all business when it comes to safety, they are truly so happy to see their friends and customers again!
Concord is a favorite destination for visitors from all over the world: literary pilgrims, Revolutionary War buffs, and nature lovers crowd our streets all summer long, right through foliage season.
But in 2020, many travelers want to steer clear of crowds, so we Concord-area residents have the place pretty much to ourselves. There was never a better time to enjoy the local attractions. In the words of our favorite townie,1 Henry David Thoreau, “It is worth the while to see your native village . . . as if you were a traveler passing through it.”2 The summer has brought ideal weather for fresh-air fun, and outdoor spaces are now welcoming visitors.
Welcome to Concord! Our history, literary legacy, and charming downtown will enchant you. We invite you to stay with us at the North Bridge Inn, just off Monument Square… a short walk from the Concord Center shopping district and local Concord historic attractions. Here in this charming town, Innkeeper Heidi Godbout has lovingly cared for guests from around the world for more than 20 years.
Here in Massachusetts, we are lucky enough to live and work in an area rich in history and natural resources. It’s easy to take this for granted sometimes, and we forget how much there is to see and do right here in our own backyard.
But this summer, local attractions may have the advantage over more exotic places. The pandemic has turned tourism on its side, but at least one positive trend has emerged: the desire to seek enjoyment locally. So if you’ve postponed your European trip or canceled that tropical island getaway, fear not. Adventure awaits but one town away…
With hospitality ranging from curbside pickup, to dining al fresco, to indoor table service, restaurants have pivoted with lightning speed to ensure safety and compliance with state regulations as they reopen their doors and their kitchens to eager diners. We caught up with a few of our favorite spots to find out more about what they are offering guests this summer.
Close to 500 people gathered at The Robbins House with masks, signs, and an open mind to listen, learn, and add their thoughts to a difficult and painful dialogue happening across the country around inequity and the quest for social justice for people of color. The peaceful gathering of solidarity was organized in less than 24 hours and moderated by Nikki Turpin, Robbins House Programming Chair.
Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House Executive Director Jan Turnquist knew that thousands of fans would be disappointed not to be able to visit the home of the world-renowned author during the pandemic – particularly in light of the Little Women film, released this past Christmas. Drawing inspiration from the classic novel’s words of wisdom “Hope and Keep Busy,” Jan launched a series of Facebook Live events to bring the Orchard House experience to viewers around the world. Her hour-long virtual tours covered topics ranging from a ‘get to know’ session on the various Alcott family members, to tours of the house, to a peek at the emerging Spring gardens. Several of the events drew more than 3,000 viewers! You can see the sessions on Facebook @louisamayalcottsorchardhouse.
Debra Stark, founder of Debra’s Natural Gourmet, has published a new book that is simply delightful. In its pages, Debra tells the tale of a young woman with a crazy dream to bring organic foods and a holistic way of living to the neighborhood of West Concord in the early 1990s. This book is a fun, lighthearted, and compelling story that reveals through its pages why Debra has become such a beloved figure in and around Concord (and nationwide!). The story tells tales about regulatory law and potlucks, explains why Debra ordered 6,000 pounds of olives in 5-gallon pails just in time for the shop’s opening in 1989, and shares lessons learned along the way.
One can easily imagine how pleased Concord’s favorite son, Henry David Thoreau, would have been upon the opening of Concord’s 2.5 mile section of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail on September 27, 2019. The ribbon-cutting ceremony began with brief remarks by Jonathan Gulliver, the Massachusetts Highway Administrator, members of the Massachusetts Legislature, and officials from Concord - but the excitement of the day was for the trail itself. Concordians wanted to venture onto the trail that runs from Commonwealth Avenue south to Powder Mill Road and experience the natural and historic delights the trail offers.
As state restrictions cautiously ease, there is a palpable buzz of excitement as shops and restaurants reconnect with old friends – and make new ones as well!
“An unexpected silver lining to the COVID-19 crisis has been a newfound appreciation for the variety of food, shops, and services we have right here in West Concord,” said Meg Gaudet of A New Leaf. “Even while our shops were closed, the outpouring of support from the town – the people who jumped in to order gift cards, curbside pickup, or home delivery – helped us so much. It gave us all a renewed sense of pride in our amazing community. Continued support will be key in ensuring our vibrant town center comes through the crisis.”
With longer days, fresh breezes, and the bright colors of Spring, many of us will be looking to refresh our homes as we stretch into the delightful season ahead. West Concord is proud to welcome a new gem in the design and build world – Appleton Design Group. Owner Nathalie Appleton and her building partner Tino Fazio help make renovation dreams come true through a seamless experience that offers everything from architectural services, to general contracting, to interior design - all under one umbrella.
In 1855, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a letter that would become one of the most famous pieces of correspondence in American literary history.
That year was a difficult time for the adolescent country. Already sharply divided over the issue of slavery, “free soilers” and pro-slavery factions were quickly disintegrating into bloody violence. The ongoing gold rush and westward expansion was continuing to displace native populations, while the same year, and without irony, a white, anti-immigrant party in Cincinnati would attack a local German-American neighborhood for being foreigners.
In the mid-1830’s, a new word entered the American lexicon; Transcendentalism. It was a word that was vague and confusing, a word that seemed mystical, spiritual, and possibly even blasphemous. Even today, 170 years later, Transcendentalism is still misunderstood, and many people have a hard time explaining what it was and what it means.
Lexico.com defines Transcendentalism as
“an idealistic philosophical and social movement which developed in New England around 1836 in reaction to rationalism. Influenced by romanticism, Platonism, and Kantian philosophy, it taught that divinity pervades all nature and humanity, and its members held progressive views on feminism and communal living. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were central figures.” Simply put, it is the idea that God is present in all things, that we are surrounded by divinity. All of nature is divine, and therefore, since man is a part of nature, we have the capability to be divine as well.
Henry’s sunflowers greeted me as I walked the path to the old farmhouse. This is a peaceful place – this house where Henry David Thoreau was born in 1817. He lived here only eight months. The cold summer caused all the crops to fail and his family had to abandon the farm and move to Concord center where his father ran a store. It was difficult making ends meet in those days. Life was hard. The family moved around, to Chelmsford then on to Boston before returning to Concord for good when little Henry was five. So Henry David Thoreau grew up in Concord, though not on this farm where he was born.
In the early 1960’s a high school freshman watched a quiz show, “College Bowl.” Little did he know how that random act would change his life. Many years later, he tells the story: “The moderator asked what noted book began with the following words. Before he had said fifteen words, one of the college whiz kids gave the correct answer — Walden by Henry David Thoreau. Then the moderator read the complete sentence, which captivated me”
It was the first line in Thoreau’s iconic work: “When I wrote the following pages, or rather the bulk of them, I lived alone, in the woods, a mile from any neighbor, in a house which I have built myself, on the shore of Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts, and earned my living by the labor of my hands only.”
The COVID-19 virus has taken a toll on area farmers. With mandated closures coming right at the beginning of spring, the fresh fruits and vegetables that we all love were out of reach for a time.
We have good news, though. Many farms are open once again with online ordering, curbside service, no-contact purchasing stations, and other programs to ensure that you can easily and safely get your five-a-day of fresh fruits and veggies. Here is a quick round-up of just a few of Concord’s gems where you can find some of the freshest fruits and vegetables this summer.*
Summer has always been a wonderful time to explore the many trails, parks, historic sites, and other natural wonders of Concord. During these stressful times, it’s more important than ever to take time to enjoy nature - to get outside and feel the sun and the breezes, to marvel at the plants and animals with which we share this world, and to find our best selves again. I’ve spent many years walking these trails and photographing the plants and animals found there. Over the years I’ve found a number of places that have become favorites. Here are a few I recommend to locals and visitors alike:
A week before Thanksgiving 1917, the Concord Enterprise printed a letter from a young Maynard man named Hugh Connors. The United States had entered the First World War seven months earlier, and Connors had shipped out with New England Sawmill Unit No. 3, a team of American lumbermen stationed in Scotland.1 “I am writing this letter in bed,” he wrote, “as I have been laid up for a week with the grippe. Over here they call it influenza,” he added, as if translating a foreign word. “I am not at the hospital, but have engaged a room about five minutes’ ride by bicycle, from our camp.”2
Concord is well known for its rich history and stunning natural beauty. Residents and visitors alike deeply appreciate having
access to national parks which showcase these features. During
the COVID-19 pandemic, the parks are working hard to make visitors feel welcome – while doing all they can to help stop the spread of the virus. Here, we present some updates from two of
our most popular destinations.
With COVID-19 restrictions easing, and outdoor gatherings with reasonable social distance being allowed, picnics present the perfect opportunity to enjoy blue skies, green grass, sunshine, and tasty food!
Concord is blessed with an abundance of green space. Beyond the obvious choices like Walden Pond and Minute Man National Historical Park are such gems as South Meadow or Emerson playgrounds, Mattison Field, and even the shady lawns of historic attractions like The Old Manse or The Robbins House.
On March 30th, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and inspired by similar programs in other cities, Concord citizens Rob Costello, Hilary Steinert, Susie Winstanley, Pamela Loos Gildehaus, Karen Croff Bates, Anne Elton, and Virginia Shannon launched Fuel the Fight (FTF-Concord). This community-based effort had one goal: to raise money to provide meals for Emerson Hospital staff while supporting local restaurants in the process. FTF-Concord worked directly with the administrative team at Emerson Hospital to feed medical staff working on the frontlines, and to streamline the many food donations they were receiving.
To provide a fun incentive to support the shops and restaurants still recovering
from being closed for so many months during the pandemic, the Concord Together initiative is launching the “Summer Solstice Passport Event”
which will run through August 20th.
Summertime . . . the perfect time for lazing in a hammock with a good book and a perfect cocktail. Concord’s excellent bookstores can see to your reading needs and we’re here to bring you three of our favorite summer cocktails created by one of Concord’s best mixologists, Brigette M.T. Sanchez of Ideal Mixology.
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