I venture on a beautiful spring day from the north end of Concord to the south end. Encountering many familiar sites, I reflect upon the progress we have made as a town. Buildings have been constructed and new streets have been established. New businesses have opened and many new people arrived. Our population grows and with it we find commerce prospering too.
Please embrace my nostalgic thoughts and walk with me. I promise it will not be very far, just a two-mile stroll north to south in the year 1853. As we begin our journey in the north end of Concord, we see distant hills and the beautiful Merrimack River bordered by a large intervale. The intervale now contains the railroad, the railroad depot and various shops to support this industry. But there was a time not so long ago when the intervale was open and clear and unincumbered by the progress we have recently seen.
We continue our walk and look east toward the place known as the dark plains. The pine barrens are evident and the sandy bluffs can be seen from a great distance. There is limited development on the dark plains, some people fear venturing across the river. Some people call the dark plains by another name, considering it unsafe and a haven for bandits and other dangerous people.
Let us continue to walk the road in a southerly direction, I see a steeple ahead. The steeple belongs to the Old North Church and has now been converted into a Methodist College. This area of Concord contains some of the oldest and largest elm trees. The limbs grace the streets and the elms were planted by our ancestors many years ago. An affordable way to decorate the streets the elms provided a cooling shade during the heat of summer. There are many wildflowers along the way too, I gather a bundle to present to my wife upon my return from this ramble about town with you.
To our east we have a clear view of Horse Shoe Pond, named aptly because it resembles a horse shoe. As we leave the Old North Church and Horse Shoe Pond behind us, we approach the New Hampshire State Prison. The prison is located in a granite and brick building and is home to many prisoners. It is located between Tremont Street and Beacon Street and there are many guards about. I give a wave as I pass but the guards are not smiling on this day. The prisoners observe the Sabbath each Sunday and they pay close attention to the minister. And how the prisoners enjoy singing, I can hear them on any given Sunday singing loudly.
As we pass the prison, we next encounter the new North Church. It has only been built for a short period of time but widely attended by the congregation. As we pass the church we encounter the Court House. A large building with many renovations behind it, the people seem to agree to disagree about the design. It is situated on the grounds of the former Stickney Tavern.
As we continue toward town, we see the Freewill Baptist Church on a cross street. Next comes the Unitarian Church, very admired for its fine appearance and large enclosure. Across from the church, we admire our New Hampshire State House. The two-acre parcel that is now home to the state house once featured a meeting house that belonged to the local Quakers. The state house boasts a height of 120 feet from the ground to the eagle perched on the cupola. Time does not allow a tour of our beloved state house this day, but the view from the state house cupola is indeed breathtaking.
As we arrive at Park Street, we find the Episcopal Church. All faiths agree it is very neat and beautiful. We walk a short distance to the south and find ourselves on School Street, home to the Universalist Church with their neighbor the Baptist Church. Recently altered, it is a beautiful church with the highest chandelier in all of Concord and a very handsome organ.
We walk further south and arrive at South Church on the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets. With frescoed walls and a large church organ, it is home to the heaviest church bell in town. As we have walked, I have counted eight ministers in Concord this year alone.
Now that the churches are all behind us, we will venture west to the new hospital. There are 130 patients at the New Hampshire Asylum. It has only been established a decade but the need for organized care in this area was certainly desired and supported by the citizens and the state. This large parcel features many gardens tended by the patients creating multiple park like settings. The grounds of the asylum feature a grove known locally as Paradise. Prior to the establishment of the facility, the grove was a rye field lacking the beauty that it now contains in its cultivated state. We leave the tended grounds and walk under the arbor in this park like setting and head in a slightly west direction.
We approach glorious fruit orchards and see the White Farm in the distance. I hope you agree the distance is far and we should not walk to the west past the fruit orchards. We will reverse direction and head east towards Main Street in hope of catching a horse trolley that might bring us to the north end once again.
Main Street is bustling today with many shoppers about the unpaved street. Every convenience imaginable can be purchased on our Main Street, from horse shoeing to confectionery treats you can find it all down on Main Street. I hear the approaching bell upon the trolley and we must hurry to the stop.
Safely aboard the horse trolley, I admire the residences that have been built and the people walking the streets. The sun is shining and the future looks bright.
I clutch my bouquet of wildflowers tightly as I step off the trolley. I hope you have enjoyed our little ramble from the two end of Concord. Just a two-mile walk, it has left me in a reflective mood. I am glad you joined me and perhaps we can do this once again soon. I must return home before my wildflowers wilt. I do hope that my wife is pleased with the colorful addition to our kitchen table.