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From The Founders
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Summer is here once again, and there’s no better place to spend it than in Concord. In this issue, you’ll find everything you need to make your summer extra special.
Did you know that you can soak up centuries of history, beautiful architecture, and learn about Concord’s literary legacy all in one leisurely stroll down Lexington Road? Beginning at Monument Square, and wrapping up at The Wayside, Concord’s American Mile is fascinating. We invite you to learn all about it and to take a stroll of your own by opening the foldout guide in this issue.
Summer is when our gardens lure us out of doors with their color, scent, and movement. “Welcome Butterflies to Your Garden This Summer” will show you how to make your garden happy while protecting and fostering endangered pollinators. Looking for more outdoor adventures? Features in this issue include the history of cycling in Concord and exploring Concord’s Wild & Scenic rivers and ponds. Feeling peckish after all that exercise? Turn to p. 26 for our favorite spots for al fresco dining in Concord.
No matter the season, Concord is a town full of history; from the Indigenous people who lived here before Europeans colonized the region, to twenty-first century visitors discovering the wonder of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House. This issue brings you those stories and these:
Responding to the Intolerable Acts imposed by England in 1774, colonists in Massachusetts formed their own government, calling it the Provincial Congress. The first Provincial Congress met in Concord in 1774 and their actions, along with those of the Second Provincial Congress that met here in 1775, were among the factors that led to the American Revolution. Learn more in “Massachusetts’ Provincial Congress: Britain’s Guiltless Children.”
Meet the sons of Death, who rode from Sudbury to Concord on April 19, 1775, and fought the King’s troops as they retreated to Boston. “Hell Followed with Them” brings these remarkable brothers, their Belgian ancestors, and, yes, even King Charlemagne to life.
The town of Menotomy (known today as Arlington), was the site of the largest, longest, and bloodiest engagement of April 19, 1775. “The Battle of Menotomy” examines the lessons of that merciless attack.
In 1858, In what had to be the best summer camp experience ever, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ebenezer Rockwood Hoar, William James Stillman, and other leading intellectuals of the day embarked on a camping trip in the Adirondacks. “Waldo in the Woods: Emerson and the Philosopher’s Camp” brings a fascinating glimpse into the lives of these men and why Henry Wadsworth Longfellow asked, “Is it true that Emerson is going to take a gun?”
Whether you spend your summer walking, swimming, or curled up with the stories of Concord’s extraordinary history to be found in this issue, we wish you a wonderful summer!