The Christmas tree no longer illuminated, wreaths now being removed from the front door, resolutions have been made, the new year will be so much more. The cold days are only growing colder and darkness is visiting us earlier each afternoon, we seek solace, hoping for winter to conclude soon.

Today we are fortunate to weather the months following the holidays with options. Sunny places can be visited much more quickly and efficiently. Concordians of the past were not quite as fortunate as we are today, their methods of wintering here in New Hampshire were challenging. The farmers could not farm, the long nights were bone chilling and the concern always hovered around the supply of food that was stored in the root cellar during the harvest. The late afternoon shadows across the snow-covered fields hold a special beauty for us, while those same shadows provided doubt and emotional concerns for those a century or more ago. It is so very important to engage and participate during every month of the year, most importantly the cold New England winter months. Solitude is sometimes a blessing, but at times a curse too.

It was in 1890 that residents in Concord sought some local relief from winter days. The community wished to restore a sense of normalcy following the end of the Civil War.  Politicians swarmed our city during the winter days and also expressed a desire for social activity. It was with the thought of providing a diversion for the Concord legislative visitors that a keen idea developed, an idea that gained supporters, the thought of a grand Winter Carnival.

With much planning and organization, the very first Winter Carnival was celebrated in Concord. The concept of a winter celebration or carnival was not a new one. Other New Hampshire communities had ventured down the same road, but none to the extreme as Concord. The very first event was simply extravagant and no community that ever celebrated compared to the grand venture our ancestors witnessed in the year 1891 on the streets of Concord.

James C. Norris was a very energetic young man living in Concord. His family was known for their business located on the site of the current Concord Theater, the Norris Bakery. James and his family provided the food and nourishment our New Hampshire troops required during the hard-fought Civil War. The Norris family lived next door to their bakery in the Norris Mansion, the mansard roofed building that still stand to this very day. The people elected James C. Norris as the very first Concord Winter Carnival President, a job that he embraced. He spent evenings in his South Main Street home plotting and planning this extravagant event a year prior and envisioned what it could become. James selected a panel of members from the business community and found very strong support at City Hall. The mayor was a very active participant and always participated in the planning meetings at the Norris residence. As plans were made and support continued the event was scheduled for February 1891.

A Main Street Parade quickly became the center of the event, attended by thousands and including sleighs from all over the region. Local businesses built sleigh floats representing their wares, local clubs organized and entered their sleighs too. The Concord Commercial Club, now known as our Concord Chamber of Commerce, was very involved. Yes, they desired to entertain the visiting politicians, but also sought a relief from the isolation of winter. As the first event day approached to view the opening sleigh parade on Main Street, participants were met by thousands of people who had traveled from all over New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. People arrived from Boston to the south. All of these people needed rooms to rent, hotels to enjoy and meals to nourish them. People were referring to our little town as the New Concord.

Another unique feature of the first Concord Winter Carnival in 1891 was horse racing on South Street. It was aptly named the South Street Speedway because it was straight and long with an unobstructed view allowing for a safe raceway. Local people as well as those visiting for the grand event would register their horses for a small fee to wager on their favorite contestant. In 1891, it was said that as many as 10,000 people lined South Street for the grand horse race. It was with mixed emotions that the electric trolley extended their tracks down South Street, the tracks mandated the closure of the raceway deeming it unsafe for running horses.

In addition to the Main Street Sleigh Parade and the South Street Speedway Horse Race, the White Opera House hosted competitive sporting events with an open house, there were bands constantly playing their brass instruments along Main Street too. Numerous contests erupted and trophies were offered for the best contestants. Main Street shop windows competed with elaborate displays with thousands of people voting for the best in show. Residents also decorated their homes with banners, bunting and flags in hope of winning the best decorated residence award. The exteriors of businesses were decorated while former Concord resident John W. Drew offered his own award. Drew was living in Boston in 1891 but also caught the Concord Winter Carnival fever. This wealthy man offered a very costly silver trophy for the best decorated windows in town.

The response and attendance at the 1891 Winter Carnival were simply wonderful for James C. Norris and his committee. A vacant hotel room could not be found at the Phenix and Eagle Hotels. Residents opened their doors to many visitors; rooming houses were filled and the profits continued to provide the best accommodations to be found. The initial Winter Carnival plan required a budget of $1,000. This figure was met and exceeded rather quickly. Five thousand dollars was realized within weeks of the initial plan and events were added.

The overwhelming success of the very first Concord Winter Carnival called for another performance the following year. Sometimes we become the victims of our own success, for better or for worse our ancestors needed to plan carefully for the next winter carnival and there would be much forethought and many late hours to ensure the next event would be as successful as the very first. No Winter Carnival was held the following year in 1892. The next event was held in the year 1893 and enjoyed wonderful attendance. Centre Street Hill was closed to traffic and thousands coasted upon their double runners down the hill. Mr. Pearl of Farmington built a 70-foot double runner sled that seated 70 people tightly, the people gleefully rode with Mr. Pearl late into the night down the illuminated Centre Street Hill.

The Winter Carnival did not materialize in 1894 but returned again in February 1895. People have said the event in 1895 was the very best of the three. A half mile resident sleigh race was added, a local photographer donated funds to provide Main Street fireworks, there were wrestling matches and boxing events and lots of delicious food. Trade displays were added in 1895 representing local businesses and clubs organized to enter their organizations too. The Wonolancet Club and the Police Wives Club showed very well this year. Some of the sleigh float winners in 1895 included the Rumford School, Concord Commercial Club, Hopkinton “Dark Town” Fire Brigade and Harry Emmons Dry Goods. Local residents also competed and won prizes too, resident decoration awards were presented to W. A. Thompson and Nellie N. Merrill. Business decoration awards were presented to Baker and Knowlton and Harry D. Hammond for lining their Main Street shop windows with displays. Miss Sadie Crichett played the role of Concord Winter Carnival Queen in 1895 and she enjoyed numerous attendants in full costume.

As the 20th century arrived, there were attempts to bring back the grand Winter Carnivals of the 1890s. But it was said the past events could never again be relived to the same degree. The nation mourned the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901 and there were dark clouds on the horizon. The approaching decades were not met with joyous Winter Carnivals but instead by war, the Spanish Flu and the Great Depression. But yes, there was a time back in the 1890s when happiness prevailed in the middle of the winter in Concord, New Hampshire. A grand event indeed.

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