The horse-drawn street car traveled up North State Street, pulled by beautiful black horses and driven by a gentleman most proud of his position as the Concord streetcar conductor.
Steven Spain held his job closely to his heart for it was indeed his passion and desire to serve his customers well. Steven was the son of Michael Spain who had arrived in Concord four decades earlier with his brothers Martin, James and Thomas. The Spain brothers departed Ireland under a cloud of sorrow as the potato famine raged across Ireland and the tenant farmers failed repeatedly. Without crops and revenue, the brothers decided to cross the Atlantic in search of a better life, and that is what they found here in Concord.
The first generation consisting of four young brothers arrived in Concord during the year 1850 without nothing more than a light baggage, an old fiddle and a strong will to survive. This will to survive brought the brothers beautiful brides from Ireland, loving children and a new generation born in Concord into opportunity for a life far better than those lives left behind in the hills of Ireland.
The first generation born in Concord attended the normal school in Fosterville and became educated quite well. The children learned to read and write and survive in the new community where they found many neighbors from across the sea. Steven continued his education and sought employment that he could enjoy his entire life. Where his father Michael and uncles Martin, James and Thomas worked in the quarries on Rattlesnake Hill, Steven wished to seek employment off the hill with a company that respected him as much as he respected them. He found his career as a conductor with the Concord Street Railway Company operating his own horse-drawn street car over tracks about Concord. The gleaming black streetcar sailing over steel rails was complimented greatly by the beautiful black horses at the helm. Yes, Steven Spain enjoyed his job very much.
It was during the summer of 1893 the Concord Street Railway Company invested in the Contoocook River Park in Penacook. For many years the community progressed and civilization became common with the people seeking recreation more and more. People worked very hard on their farms, in the shops along Main Street, at the quarries and certainly on the railroad. As the weekend approached many sought refuge from the town and traveled about the surrounding forests enjoying the cool refreshing streams, rivers, mountains and scenes. The families would pack a picnic lunch and travel about in search of that special place to spend their day together as family. The Contoocook River Park became a destination location in 1893 and the people arrived to visit from all over the New England area.
The concept of the Contoocook River Park was originally suggested by Paul and Adam Holden from Penacook. The brothers knew there as a need for a recreation area and felt that it would prosper with the right investor and support. The Holdens were involved in the Woolen Mill business in West Concord and visited the Contoocook River frequently, enjoying the solitude that it provided. Soon they invited John H. Albin to join them for a tour of the area, for John Albin was an important man. Albin was the president of the Concord Street Railway. After a splendid hike and picnic the three gentlemen were all convinced that the area would make a wonderful location for a public park. The 26-acre parcel was a paradise and would certainly be well attended if developed properly. Albin approached his board of directors and presented his idea, which was quickly approved. The people would indeed flock to such a public park, and they would arrive via the Concord Street Railway.
A builder from Penacook was hired to construct the buildings needed, George W. Abbott from Penacook was awarded this task and completed his work in a most prompt and efficient manner, producing fine quality buildings suitable for the crowds.
There were groves, boat landings, tables, swings, water tanks and even electric lights for evening parties. The 26-acre park was entirely enclosed by a fence and embraced by all. The park had the capability to allow 10,000 people to attend at once where they would be greeted by a 75-foot Liberty Pole flying Old Glory. The expansion of the park was ongoing as the people arrived season after season, adding a lawn tennis court and a croquet area that was 400 feet long and 60 feet wide. Soon the Contoocook River Steamboat Company was formed and provided steamships to traverse the waters of the Contoocook River. John Whittaker himself piloted the steamships up and down the river stopping at key points for the people to picnic. He would stop at Whittaker’s Park and allow people to drink from his natural spring, ascend Ike Walton’s stairway to a grove above to view the northeast course of the Contoocook River. He would sail down to the Borough Dam as his passengers enjoyed the most beautiful shoreline on the forested slopes.
The grand pavilion was constructed with care and offered wonderful entertainment of the day, plays, magic and grand tales from afar. There was something for everyone when they visited the Contoocook River Park.
As the sun started to set in the west the thoughts would start to wander to the return trip to Concord. Park patrons would seek young Steven Spain and his horse drawn streetcar for the short trip to the hotels along Main Street in Concord. They would hear stories of the early days as Steven shared his lore. As they passed Horse Hill he enjoyed speaking of the origin of the name; simply a hill where the earliest Concord settlers would graze their work horses a century before.
The shiny black streetcar with lanterns would arrive in front of the Phenix and Eagle Hotels for visiting patrons to disembark after a day at the Contoocook River Park. Steven would continue south on the tracks until the end near the Margaret Pillsbury Hospital before returning to the Concord Street Railway Depot on North State Street in Fosterville.
Steven Spain would lovingly remove the harnesses from his horses and prepare them for the night in the stable. Wipe down his black streetcar and secure the building for the evening. When his job was complete, he would walk back up North State Street to enjoy another evening with his wife and children, telling of the adventures of the day and the tourists he met from afar.