A Summer to Remember

How do you put together a magazine about a town’s revolutionary and literary history while experiencing a moment in living-history that none of us will ever forget? How do you convey the modern-day resilience of a community dealing with an international pandemic; the innovation, inspiration, and undeniable sense of fortitude that makes Concord what it is?

As we put this issue together, we watched our local and national news, studying how our communities responded to the pandemic – and helping where we could. What used to be so simple – a trip to the grocery store, meeting friends, or spending time with our extended families – became risky behaviors, almost overnight. And yet, people were there for each other - sewing masks, bringing food and supplies to those who could not leave their homes, providing financial and moral support for struggling small businesses, fundraising, and sometimes simply checking in on one another. We were struck by how people all across America reached out to help friends and neighbors in a way that gave us hope.

In this issue we celebrate Concordians, be they colonials or 21st century citizens, and their incredible strength in the face of difficulty. In The Minutemen Would be Proud, we share just a handful of the amazing stories of compassion, community, and innovation that we’ve seen and experienced throughout our community.

As these past months brought financial challenges that few businesses are ever prepared to weather, Concordians rallied to protect the shops and restaurants that are truly a part of their cultural heritage. Now that restrictions are being cautiously lifted, those shops and restaurants are looking forward to seeing you again! Safe Shopping Made Fun, West Concord Welcomes You Back, and our guide to what restaurants are doing to reopen, all show the resilience and creativity of our local business community. We hope these articles will inspire you to shop locally - and often - to help them recover.

We love history and we know that our readers do too. This isn’t the first time that Concord has faced a pandemic. Lessons of History shares shocking similarities between the current COVID crisis and the 1918 Influenza pandemic here in Concord. Transcendentalism as a movement may have ended 150 years ago, but its impact on our nation’s literary history endures. Transcendentalism 101 will introduce you to these men and women who sought to create a better world. And fans of Walt Whitman’s poetry will enjoy reading about his links to Concord in The Concord Sage and an American Poet.

A Beginner’s Guide to Concord’s Beautiful Outdoors, Enjoying Our National Parks, and Made for Sauntering: Concord’s Bruce Freeman Rail Trail celebrate the beauty of nature, which has been faithfully going about her work, even as we sheltered in place. Happily, picnics never go out of style as our article, The Perfect Picnic Makes a Comeback reminds us. And while we can’t gather ‘round our favorite local bar just yet, we can mix up the perfect cocktail at home and even host a virtual cocktail party. Check out Easy Breezy Summer Cocktails with local mixologist Brigette MT Sanchez for tips on what’s hot in cocktails right now.

Day trippers will appreciate recommended itineraries for time spent in Concord and neighboring Lexington. And while you’re seeking out new adventure, why not try Following in the Footsteps of Thoreau and create your own walking map of some of the routes that Henry David Thoreau once explored.

As summer beckons and life begins, ever so carefully, to return to what we’ve known, we hope that each of us will remember this time - especially the compassion, resilience, and creativity that have defined our collective response to a struggle that may well be generationally defining…truly, living history.

Stay safe.

Cynthia L. Baudendistel Co-Founder

Jennifer C. Schünemann Co-Founder