Our little town was nestled deep in the woods. Our very first land grant was deeded in 1725 and few people lived in our original settlement of Pennycook. The population remained low and the original settlement was named Rumford eight years later in 1733. When Rumford became Concord in 1765, there were more people, but the settlement remained very rural and somewhat isolated, but the location was strategic. The future of Concord was about to change.
Because the city of Concord is centrally located in New Hampshire there has always been much convenience found. Concord is also a central point between the port of Boston and Canada. During the colonial period Concord found many British soldiers quartered here for periods of time for a variety of reasons, most notably the British were providing protection for their subjects in the community.
The population did remain somewhat consistent as the early years progressed, growth was slow and the wilderness unforgiving for people more accustomed to the luxuries of a civilized residence.
It was during the War of 1812 that Concord was recognized for its central location and established further as a rendezvous for soldiers destined for Canada. A year following this turbulent war, the New Hampshire Legislature determined the State House would be constructed in Concord, solidifying the capital city and opening the door to opportunities for growth. The years 1825 to 1836 harbored in a stream of slow but steady growth and there was market speculation in Concord as well as the rural lands in Maine. Our ancestors continued to seek further development as more houses were built and the railroad was entertained and certainly desired by all. The Concord Railroad was constructed in the coming years and Concord was finally connected to the large city of Boston, allowing a constant flow of both freight and passengers to the land north of Boston.
The very first passenger train arrived on the newly built railroad tracks with much fanfare. It was on Sept. 6, 1842, that the first train carrying passengers from Boston arrived in Concord. There were hundreds of people gathered to witness this amazing first journey to our little town. There was a band, singing, festivities and even a cannon fired to celebrate the arrival of the train on this day. The train not only ushered in new passengers and goods from the large city to our south, it ushered in permanent residents and a sense of additional growth for the city.
The year following the arrival of the first train in 1842 found 37 new homes built bringing the total residences in Concord to a staggering 51 tenements. A large church was built, more retail shops down on Main Street and offices for our local commerce. Our ancestors found the population of Concord doubled between the years of 1840 and 1850.
In 1853, the City of Concord Charter was adopted and further solidified the foundation for the people. The Civil War found the young men and woman of Concord and we once again found our location a central rendezvous for the brave soldiers eager to serve in the Union Army. The soldiers were recruited from all over the state and traveled to Concord for processing and enlistment into the army. The people living within the city of Concord themselves provided their full quota of 918 men to serve in the Union Army. The new soldiers departed from the train depot for the battlefields to the south, many never returning to Concord.
The coming years leading into the 20th century found our centrally located town a good location for retirees, tourists and rural people in surrounding communities in search of social enrichment. The train that arrived to much fanfare in 1842 found extensive use and was replaced by newer trains, some manufactured right here in Concord by the skilled employees at the Boston and Maine Railroad yards.
Concord witnessed similar gatherings because of the crossroad location it provided. People arrived in search of a future, recreation or enlistment for more wars. Our men and woman walked the same road time and time again, with our young recruited to World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The train would leave with much fanfare for destinations very far. When the train returned there was relief, celebration, sadness and remorse. There were tears of joy and tears of sadn ess when the people gathered at the crossroads.