Hidden Concord:
Learning and Living History
By Deborah Bier, editor and publisher of this magazine.
Those of us who are not historians may think of those who are as academics, reading, writing, and teaching from written documents. And those of us who are not historians often think that history is a known quantity, and the research of it only reveals new interpretations and understandings of old facts, but not new facts themselves.
I have learned how wrong I am in part by getting to know the work of Concord's D. Michael Ryan, sergeant/drummer with the Concord Minute Men, Associate Dean of Students at Boston College, and Revolutionary War historian. Readers of this magazine as well as our town paper may know his articles which each focus on little-known (and often greatly misunderstood) aspects of local 18th century history.
And if you watch our local parades and historical reenactments at Minuteman National Historical Park, you may have seen him there. Maybe he was portraying Jonas Bateman, a Concord farmer, cider mill owner, and minuteman. He could also have been Dr. John Cuming, the Concord Town Meeting moderator, a physician, the Justice Court of General Sessions, and a French & Indian War hero. Or, as he is pictured here at right above, he may have been William Thorning of Lincoln, a farmer and minuteman. Because May to October, Mike devotes 120-150 hours a year at the park volunteering as an historic reenactor. His research acts as background for his performances, giving history a living voice and face to visitors to the various parts of the park.
Often, these visitors are very surprised by what they learn from him. Some are shocked to realize that some of the old chestnuts they were taught in school about American history just aren't fact or do not represent the whole story. "One of my reasons and purposes for what I do is to present that part of real history which is never seen...lesser known people, events, causes, and stories," he said. "Response to my articles has been greatly positive, though some people are upset when I present certain ideas challenging what they always believed."
Mike may be one of the few people who are still actively researching local Revolutionary War history. His research has brought to light new facts about the events of April, 1775 which had not been known before, as well as both confirmed and dispelled other well-accepted details. "Everyone should visit the Special Collections at the Concord Free Public Library," he said of one of his favorite haunts for historical revelation. "Many people don't know it's there and have no idea what is on hand; it is an enormous resource."
The experience of being a veteran of the Vietnam War has also helped make his reenactments more real. "Having seen combat is an advantage and I can better understand the feelings and reactions which would have existed at the North Bridge and during the British retreat on April 19, 1775," he said. "so real, in fact, that there have been moments during large battle reenactments that I feel like the fight is actually happening." So much for the concept of the dusty-musty, intellectually-detached, bookworm-historian.
"In some way, I feel like I was fated to live in Concord," said Mike. He pauses to shape the words to explain the both present-day and historical connections he feels to this place. "It was inevitable. I am fortunate to be in the place where I belong." 
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Text: ©1998 The Concord, MA Homepage
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Photo: ©1998 Rich Stevenson.
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