Concord’s most famous visitor most likely was Lafayette, who visited the city 200 years ago this week. Perhaps the second biggest celebrity was the individual pictured here on the old balcony of the Eagle Hotel. Who was he?
The story of this celebrity is one of the subjects of “Crosscurrents of Change: The History of Concord in the Twentieth Century,” which is due out in the fall.
The small building at left was extremely important to the Boston & Maine Railroad 50 years ago. What was it?
The Concord Historical Society has the answer at concordhistoricalsociety.org. Or you can wait until next week's Insider.
During the lion's share of the 20th century, the B&M's presence and influence made Concord a true railroad town. That is just one of the stories told by the Concord Historical Society in "Crosscurrents of Change", the history of Concord in the 20th Century. Publication is scheduled for later this year.
This obelisk, now alongside Pleasant Street near Concord Hospital, commemorates the killing of Obadiah Peters, John Bean, John Lufkin, Samuel Bradley and Jonathan Bradley on Aug. 11, 1746, by Abenaki warriors. The deaths are honored as victims of an Indian massacre, but in fact they were something else. What was it?
The deaths took place long ago, but the monument plays a role in the 20th century. That story is told in "Crosscurrents of Change," the Concord Historical Society's history of the capital city in the 20th century. Look for it later this year.
Motorists backed up on Centre Street and Loudon Road, waiting to slip through traffic at the Interstate 93 bottleneck, might take comfort from this 1890s photograph from the collection of antiquarian Earl Burroughs. Where did the trolley routes intersect?
For extra credit: How far could a traveler go on electric street railways from Concord?
For nearly all of its history Concord has been a transportation center, and during a majority of the 20th century, the dominant mode of transportation was the Boston & Maine Railroad, which also owned the Concord Street Railways. The Concord Historical Society explores the railroad's influence on Concord in "Crosscurrents of Change," the history of Concord in the 20th century. Publication is scheduled for later this year.
Ask an old-timer about the handsome architecture that Concord lost on the way to progress, and he or she is likely to bring up the old Boston & Maine railroad depot. Here’s a South End landmark that served thousands of Concord residents, a structure whose tale will be told in “Crosscurrents of Change,” the history of Concord in the 20th century. What was it?
The Concord State Fair was a big celebration at the turn of the 20th century. Even President Theodore Roosevelt made an appearance in 1902. In 1900, several owners of the new-fangled automobile staged an exhibition race at the half-mile oval that previously was used for horse and harness racing. The fair was gone by the second decade of the century, and the authors of "Crosscurrents of Change," the history of Concord in the 20th century, are trying to find the exact location of the fairground entrance. If you know, contact us at info@concordhistoricalsociety.org.
For those of you who still want today's riddle: Guess the time it took for the winning horseless carriage to circle the half-mile track. Find the answer next week in the Insider or check out concordhistoricalsociety.org.
The book, "Crosscurrents of Change," is expected to be published later this year.
This building is on a plot of ground that gave School Street its name. One might call it a duke’s castle after the man identified by “Crosscurrents of Change” as the most extraordinary educator of the 20th century. Name the building and name the educator.
The Concord Historical Society is planning to publish “Crosscurrents of Change” later this year.
This mystery Concord leader, in bowtie at right, received a high public office from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, at left. At the same time, one could observe that the mystery man helped Ike get the job he held in 1957, when this picture was taken by a White House photographer.
The mystery man is one of many lives remembered in "Crosscurrents of Change," the history of Concord in the 20th century, written by the Concord Historical Society. He had a major influence in making Concord the city it is today.
This is the home of a man who was multitasking before the word was invented. He was a dairy farmer and a founder of the Concord Dairy cooperative that marketed milk produced by city farmers. He was a doctor who had a practice on State Street and at the newly merged Concord Hospital. And he led New Hampshire through World War II. Who is it?
This photo is one of the many pictures of times gone by in Concord that will be in "Crosscurrents of Change," Concord Historical Society's history of the capital city in the 20th century that will be published next year.