Concord Magazine Blog

Slowind Concert

Saturday, November 14, 7:30 p.m. Concord Free Public Library, 129 Main Street

Slowind (pictured above) is a wind quintet made up of soloists of the Slovene Philharmonic, an orchestra with a rich musical tradition since its beginnings more than 300 years ago in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In its long history, the orchestra's conductors have included Gustav Mahler, Fritz Reiner and Carlos Kleiber.

The musicians -Ales Kacjan, flute; Matej Sarc, oboe; Jurij Jenko, clarinet; Metod Tomac, french horn; Paolo Calligaris, bassoon--will perform works by Darius Milhuad, Vinko Globocar, Paul Hindemith, and Gyõrgy Ligeti.

Music From the Library is free, advance reservations required at  www.concordlibrary.org or 978-318-3301. Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.

Thursday Author: Historian Speaks at the Library

Karl Jacoby, author of Shadows at Dawn: A Borderland Massacre and the Violence of History. Jacoby, aprofessor at Brown University, will discuss his examination of US/Mexico border issues during the 19th century. Thursday, November 19, 2009, 7:30 p.m.

Free. Main Library, 129 Main Street, Concord. For more information,  www.concordlibrary.org. Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.

We have been asked: why does it matter to correct the history about the preservation of the West Concord Depot (as we did yesterday). It's nice, but does it really matter?

Certainly, many Concordians have been among the nation-wide leaders when it comes to preserving our history. It's simply mind-boggling to think of the visionaries who came before us who knew that both the "great" and the every-day things would be of real interest and value in the future. 

For example, how did someone like William Munroe know that by founding the Special Collections of the Concord Free Public Library -- dedicated to both the obviously important documents AND the ephemera of daily Concord life -- Concord would maintain itself as a center of research because of the richness of its major-university-level primary source material? How did Munroe have the vision to do this?  It simply stuns us! 

Connected in the River of History
But there is something far deeper than research-fodder in our efforts to preserve, know and understand our past.  While pondering this, we happened to run into two wonderful quotes this week that we feel illuminate the wholly human aspects of full and vivid history-keeping.

First, from Kurt Vonnegut's novel Breakfast of Champions, a book populated by humans filled with anguish, disconnection, desperation and despair, the one character who stands out as fully different is mentioned only briefly. But the richness and connectedness of his world is apparent.

At the wheel of the ambulance was Eddie Key, a young black man who was a direct descendant of Francis Scott Key, the white American patriot who wrote the National Anthem. Eddie knew he was descended from Key. He could name more than six hundred of his ancestors, and had at least an anecdote about each. They were Africans, Indians and white men...

Eddie Knew knew so much about his ancestry because the black part of his family had done what so many African families still do in Africa, which was to have one member of each generation whose duty it was to memorize the history of the family so far... As he sat in the front of the disaster vehicle, looking out through the windshield, he had the feeling that he himself was a vehicle, and that his eyes were windshields through which his progenitors could look, if they wished to...

Eddie Key's familiarity with a teeming past made life much more interesting to him than it was to [the main characters in the book], or to almost any white person in Midland City that day... Eddie Key was afloat in a river of people who were flowing from here to there in time. [The others] were just pebbles at rest.

And Eddie Key, because he knew so much by heart, was able to have deep nourishing feelings [about others]...

A Gift to Ourselves and the Community
In the second quote, from a Native American children's book called The Raven and the Sun:  Echoing Our Ancestors, comes the human importance of history: "Each time a story is shared, whether spoken, written, dreamed or remembered - it is a gift - from those who came before to those who carry on in their footsteps.  Listen to the story of your elders and those in your family and community."

Having a full and rich knowledge of our history nourishes us, as it nourishes our community, too. It connects us to events, places and to one another.  A community unaware of its history -- or harboring narrow or false notions about it -- is just a pebble at rest, not afloat in the river of  life. Even if the facts are not ones we prefer, we can celebrate that we have been brave enough to openly know and speak them.

We know that history is generally written by the conquerors, not the conquered. However, the Concord Magazine Blog has for nearly 12 years been a voice of the Concord stories-not-otherwise-heard, and tales of those not in power. The fuller story of the West Concord Depot was not recently publicly repeated until it was told here yesterday, not because it was unknown to all -- there are some we know who have known the facts -- but because it was for some reason politically or personally inconvenient to acknowledge.

Why would that be? Well, who can truly say? We won't speculate or try to characterize the motivations of those who try to edit Concord history.  We can only say that it's important that we recognize all that transpired in the cause of West Concord historic preservation.  We are tremendously proud of and congratulate all who have thus served.

Photos: Fairhaven Bay along the Sudbury River. ©2009 Rich Stevenson of Local Color Images

By The Concord Indies

Local independent businesses are an under-recognized resources for combating global warming. Concord's Indies are working to be more sustainable in ways you may not realize. We're community members; we want to reduce negative impacts we have on our neighbors. As business owners, we're not powerlessly following wasteful corporate policies we had no hand in creating. We can quickly make decisions and take actions kinder to the environment. Here's what came back from an informal survey about what some Concord Indies are doing to be more environmentally friendly.

1. Reducing Waste. Far beyond the usual (though important) paper recycling, we're reusing materials and reducing how much goes into the waste stream. Bring a vase to the Concord Flower Shop, they'll recycle it and you'll receive a thank-you rose. Cynthia Cosmetics & More gives customers a 10% incentive to recycle their empty cosmetic packaging. Andrews & Andrews donates clothing hangers to local charities and surplus inventory to MinuteMan ARC so clients go to work appropriately dressed. Debra's Natural Gourmet's organic waste goes to feed customers' livestock and pets. Many of us reuse packing material in as many ways possible.

2. Reducing Toxic Chemicals. Cynthia Cosmetics has chosen its main product line because of the safety and purity of its ingredients, and its mission to help reduce skin cancer. When it can't source locally, the Concord Flower Shop uses growers certified to have strict standards of environmental sustainability and social responsibility. Debra's core business revolves around purity and unadulterated ingredients.

3. Sourcing Locally. Rude Bridge Construction buys over 95% of its materials from local Indie businesses, and uses 100% local Indie subcontractors. Lots of Debra's goods are made in New England: cheeses, cereals, meats, lotions and potions. The Flower Shop chooses local organic growers when possible.

4. Offering Recycled and Repurposed Goods.  Some of our Indies sell 100% recycled goods, including Thoreauly Antiques, Upstairs Antiques and Reflections Consignment Shop. Their quality of materials and workmanship can be better than new goods offered at higher prices. Old architectural pieces are made into lamps, vintage buttons are incorporated into jewelry and handbags, linens become window treatments, duvet covers and decorative pillows. Debra's offers items that repurpose our waste into purses, bracelets and hairbrushes.

5. Reducing Use of Non-Renewable Resources. Montague Gallery changed to LED spotlights, far more efficient than even compact fluorescents.  Debra's chose plant-, not petroleum-based, flooring during its expansion last year. Sales Renewal helps small businesses increase their sales through better website use, allowing customers to do business without driving.

6. Walkable Villages.  Our wonderful villages are still predominantly populated by Indie businesses in retail, service and other sectors.  More folks are out on foot these days, both for their health and to reduce their carbon footprint. As much as a mile from a village center is not too far for many to walk. Stacy Mitchell, senior researcher with the New Rules Project (www.NewRules.com) points out the importance of keeping walkable Indie business areas alive: increases in fuel economy are easily negated by increases in driving - a trend we've seen as total US miles driven rose 60% between 1987 and 2007. In Concord, we are truly blessed to have the option of doing business locally.

Concord Indies' members want many more ways to be part of the solution, and it's frustrating that some methods are not yet known.  Debra's wants fully bio-degradable, heat-resistant take-out containers.  Spiral Beading needs information on greener material sources that is truly reliable. Many Indies are searching for workable ways to do more local sourcing. We invite community members to dialogue with us on this topic.

Find out more about the Concord Indies and the $2 bills floating around town stamped with "Spend Local" at www.ConcordIndies.org or email info@ConcordIndies.org.

Editor's Note: On October 27, the Town of Concord and the MBTA were awarded a citation by the Massachusetts Historical Commission for the recent splendid work on the West Concord Depot.

But what has not been told until now is that this is the second time this building's restoration has been given the same award.  In 1990, a citizens' group was given the same award for historic preservation.  Around that same time, they also placed the building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Much of what you see at the station -- inside and out -- was put in place or preserved by this group. It is only due to their efforts (about which you will read below) that the current restoration had so much of the original historic fabric to work with. Without the 1990 award-winning project, there would have been no recent restoration of the Depot and therefore no second award. There is ample reason for us to have great pride in everyone's combined accomplishments... bravo to all!

We should take this situation as a warning about how important it is to hold onto the facts of our own history... how quickly it can evaporate from living memory, even though most of the players are still alive and dwelling in Concord. It's for this reason that The Concord Magazine Blog asked Mari Weinberg, the 1990-award restoration chair, to make us all aware of how the West Concord Depot fits into the long Concord tradition of citizen-driven historic preservation.

October 29, 2009: A few days ago I attended a regional meeting regarding our Fitchberg Rail line. The West Concord Depot was used as an example of a positive  process.

When I heard them use the West Concord Depot  (and included it in the minutes) as an example of "collaborative citizen participation process" I thought I'd share what actually happened (back in the last century!) in the 1980's.  For two years there was no collaboration with our Town; which is why Barbara Ramsey, Lou Hills and I were desperate and went directly to the Governor's office for help. Then things began to happen... eventually, in the end, yes, our Town totally supported the project... but it took 3 years!!!

Now, twenty years later, it's the Town of Concord  and the MBTA that sees the importance of our train stations -- that they remain public and preserved. Originally owned by the B&M Railroad, then sold to private use around 1961;  the MBTA bought back the building in 1989 and still owns it today.

I know that the late Barbara Ramsey who worked tirelessly -- along with Lou Hills -- to put the WC Depot on the National Register of Historic Places would be so proud. Their hard work was not in vain.  I don't know if Lou Hills is aware of this latest award given to the West Concord Depot, but I believe he would agree with me that we three, who were so graciously honored with this award in 1990 at a special evening reception at the State House, are so very pleased to have the care given to preserve the West Concord Depot acknowledged  and honored once again!

In 1990, West Concord residents Lou Hills,  Barbara Ramsey, and I received the exact same award -- The 1990 Mass. Historical Commission Award  as a "major grass roots effort to save the WC Depot from abandonment, disrepair, or drastic alteration...."  A Concord Journal article on May 10,1990 stated: "Ten awards are being presented throughout Massachusetts this year... however... the award to the West Concord trio... is the only one being given to a grass-roots effort to save a public building for public use."  Then it was just the citizens who worked  to preserve a building that had been overlooked and neglected for so long.
 
Along the way, we successfully convinced the MBTA to re-purchase the building to secure its role as a public train station. We submitted to them the now-present parking lot lights (rejecting the galvanized steel flood lights previously accepted by the Town), and reduced their energy needs, saving the Town thousands of dollars in power expenses.
 
We submitted to the MBTA the actual design and fabrication details of the inter-track fence in place today, after refusing to accept the original galvanized chain link design approved by the Town. We "nicely" insisted that a concrete ramp with galvanized railings and no cover was not acceptable as a handicap ramp to the train; upon request from the MBTA, researched the style of what is there today, drew up the new interior plan to incorporate the required handicap bathroom in a more pleasing design. 

We found new lighting for the interior space, benches for the commuters, gathered donations from Concord citizens and businesses for the round "community table" that still sits in the corner inside the station. We found the original plans for the Depot, discovered the original missing door in the basement that opened up the space once again to the Junction Park side. We submitted all the interior details to the MBTA. we worked with our State Senator's office to create the new lease with opening hours that benefit the commuters.

In the past two weeks I've received personal "congratulations" relating to the recent 2009 Mass. Historic Preservation award our little West Concord Depot has received from the State. I want to say to everyone how very happy I am to see it receive such love and care, and acknowledged importance as a vital public train station. It's wonderful to see so many efforts create something positive.

Photos: Taken before the recent restoration began. The brick facade erected by a tenant protected the original siding for decades, so it could be restored and seen now.  ©Rich Stevenson

Three more of Emily Wheeler's gorgeous photos of the autumnal splendor of the Town forest, named Fairyland by the Alcott sisters. Thanks to Emily for sharing her photos with us this week.




Photos: ©2009 Emily Wheeler

Teddy Humphreys has penned and performs a ballad (with able back-up work by brother Harry) about this legendary annual autumn rite-of-passage for CCHS's Earth Science class. (Safari users: are you seeing this video on the page twice? We do too, but can't explain [or fix] it!)

Trinity Church (81 Elm St, Concord, MA) will be holding its All Hallows' Eve Fayre on Saturday, October 31 from 9 am - 2 pm. The Fayre will feature Jewelry, Linens, Baked Goods, Music/Movies/Books, Toys and Games, Handcrafts, Treasures (antiques, collectibles, china, art), and White Elephants. There will be Halloween Games with prizes for the children from 10 - 2.

Special feature this year - the Haunted House (hours 10 - 5) enter if you dare!

Proceeds from the Fayre will be used to support four food pantries and local organizations serving the needs of the homeless and children; a portion will be used for Trinity projects and funding for the youth pilgrimage to Ireland.

Nationally known Thoreau re-enactor, Kevin Radaker (at right), will portray Thoreau in a one-person dramatic presentation. (Praise for Kevin Radaker's Performances)

John Brown and New England is a series of public programs commemorating the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry. John Brown and New England is a collaborative project of the American Antiquarian Society, the Massachusetts Historical Society,
the Thoreau Society, The First Parish (Concord) Transcendental Committee,
Worcester State College, and Mechanics Hall. This program is funded in part by the Mass Humanities, which receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This program is free and open to the public.

Directions:

First Parish in Concord is located at 20 Lexington Road, Concord, Massachusetts.

From the WEST: Take Route 2 EAST (Concord Turnpike) towards Boston. Take a left on Elm Street. Bear left on Main Street. At the rotary in the center of town, bear right onto Lexington Road. First Parish with be on your right.

From the EAST: Take Route 2 WEST (Concord Turnpike) towards Fitchburg. At the base of the hill when Route 2 turns left, go straight on the Cambridge Turnpike. At the stop sign, turn left onto Lexington Road.

Saturday October 24 was wet and chilly, but hundreds nonetheless attended the regional 350 Rally at the North Bridge. Over 500 ConcordCAN petitions were signed at this event, and around 250 "Messages to Copenhagen" were written on flags, to be sent to Copenhagen. Group photo during the event is below.
        
Photo: Courtesy of ConcordCAN

Did you know that there is a labyrinth being maintained on Cousins Field? It is free and open to the public to use.

Combining a circle with a spiral, a labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness, mystery, purpose, and journeying on one's path. The Labyrinth Society says that "[a] labyrinth is a single path or universal tool for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation."

Labyrinth-keeper, Concordian Pam Swing, says this on her website (www.BlueMoonCreativity.com) about the Cousins Field site:
 

This seven-circuit labyrinth changes with the seasons. In the winter, it is stamped out of snow. The rest of the year, it is painted on the grass.

I began stamping out a labyrinth in the snow in Cousin's Field a few years ago just for fun. It soon started to be walked by friends and neighbors. You would also often see the footprints of dogs and children entering at odd points, following the path for a bit, and then exiting again. In the spring of 2009, I received permission from Concord Natural Resources to trace a labyrinth in the grass at the same spot during the rest of the year. I have been experimenting with using athletic field marking paint, which does not harm the grass. I repaint it when it has faded from mowing and heavy rains.

This labyrinth is open to the public--please contact me if you would like information on how to locate it in the field. Because this labyrinth is dependent on the elements, it may not always be there.

Pam is holding a facilitated labyrinth walk for a small group of women scheduled for December 5 called "Pausing before the holiday rush labyrinth walk".  See her site for more info or to register.

 Photo Credits: Snowy labyrinth photo courtesy of and by Pam Swing. Other photos courtesy of and by Emily Wheeler.