By Bonnie Allison.

Editor's Note: This issue begins this new feature. We will look into Concord's past and report on stories from the local newspapers. We will go back to a randomly-chosen year between five and 160 years ago, starting our research in the Concord Free Public Library's Special Collections, which contain extensive Concord newspaper tombs.

As we examine the Concord newspapers of 65 years ago -- January and February of 1936 -- we're struck with the things that are so different now. And even more impressed with what doesn't seem to have changed much at all.

One thing that's different is that Concord had two weekly newspapers back then. One, published on a Wednesday -- The Concord Enterprise -- was a large-sized paper, noticeably wider than the standard-sized paper of today. It reported on a wide range of news stories and displayed a lot of slick advertisements for products and services both local and national.

The other paper, published even then every week on Thursday was The Concord Journal. This was a much smaller-sized publication, both in height and width than its current incarnation. It was a much more local affair, with fewer ads and news focused very close to home. In this outing, we focused mainly on news in this paper, and will turn our eye to the Enterprise in a later installment in this series.

Local Liquor License Hearing is Top Story
The Journal's lead story on January 16, 1936 was about a hearing before the Board of Selectmen requesting for liquor licenses for two drinking establishments. One, across the street from the Concord train depot, and the other across from The Hapgood Wright Forest. This hearing drew an unusually large and upset crowd, and this front-page story offered discussion about why the requests created so much public and official opposition.

After Prohibition ended, Massachusetts towns voted to grant drinking licenses or to remain "dry." Concord accepted licensing. Now, not many years later, the story editorialized that many now regretted this decision. The effects alcohol was having on young people was spoken of as a developing social problem.

It seems ironic to note that during the past year, our current-day Crosby's Market has been trying to procure a liquor license left unused by the now defunct Spice and Grain, an establishment that was also located across the street from the Concord train depot. Concern about availability of alcohol to under-age drinkers was one of the major considerations to deny Crosby's the transfer of the license to sell alcohol in the grocery store.

Concord's Social World 65 Years Ago
Concord really knew how to party back then. Dinner engagements. Banquets. Card games. Dances. Out of town guests. Travel both near and far. The fabric of Concord's social life was well documented as a major part of the paper was devoted to reporting who dined/saw/visited with whom. "Miss Nancy Millet entertained at bridge Monday afternoon this week." "Mr. and Mrs. Ben Wilson returned Monday from Cleveland where they spent Christmas with Mr. Wilson's father, Mr. M.H. Wilson."

About third of each issue was filled with these happenings; Concordians seemed to extensively socialize with one another. And we assume that residents knew enough of one another to be interested in the comings and goings of their neighbors. Concord's population now seems far less socially active and connected.

The churches were also very central to the social life of the town. The Journal extensively reported on sermons, speeches, presentations, and other church events on nearly every page of the paper.

Concord as Center of the Known Universe
It is always amusing to see evidence of Concord's overblown sense of self-importance -- a sentiment no doubt stretching from 1635 until today.

There was a lengthy obituary of Clarence Day, the author of the book "Life with Father," later made into the movie. Day's connection to Concord was ephemeral at best: he was no longer married to a woman whose mother had lived in Concord. No death of any cradle-to-grave Concordians memorialized during January and February, 1936 were honored by as fine placement, nor by as many column inches as Day received.

Text: ©2001 The Concord Magazine
Backgrounds: Grab a Graphic and Word of Mouth Design.
Other Images: Courtesy of ArtToday .