Around Concord – #ThursdayDoors

As I was walking around Concord, Massachusetts last month, I did what most Thursday Doors participants do, I took pictures of doors. Every door I noticed. I figured that, as has often been the case, I would be able to fill in the blanks later. I already knew that my favorite source for history and historic photos, the National Registry of Historic Places (NRHP), would not be helpful. While most of the buildings in Concord’s historic district are listed in the registry, “the PDF assets have not been digitized.” That’s a curious explanation, since PDF assets are, by their very nature, digital.

I think what the NRHP means is that the PDFs have not yet been entered into the records management system. I have a strong urge to explain that further, since that’s been a significant part of my career, but it – would – be – boring.

In the not-boring but somewhat ironic twist, I did manage to find several historic photos from inside The Wright Tavern – you know, the building I featured last week. Not exactly perfect timing, but the photos are so interesting, that I did include them in today’s gallery.

There are two other buildings for which I managed to find some information. One is the main branch of Middlesex Savings Bank. According to one of the bank’s web pages:

“We were founded as Middlesex Institution for Savings in 1835 in the Town of Concord. It was a time when banking focused more on businesses than on consumers. Our founders, not uncommon for residents of Concord at the time, in an act of true community spirit, set out to create a bank where people of modest means, who had no other alternatives, could have a safe place to save.”

The other building, actually a small group of buildings, belong to Concord Academy. The academy is a private boarding and day school for high school students. It was formed in the 1920s and located in several buildings that had been private residences. The academy started out as a school for girls, but in 1971 became the first private girl’s school in New England to begin co-ed enrollment.

I think my favorite building in the gallery is that of Main Streets Market & Café. Again, according to their website:

“We are the 4th generation of The Anderson Family to own the building & have been serving food to locals and travelers from this location in Concord for over 100 years! 5th generation Andersons will likely be waiting on you during your visit to Main Streets.

Formerly L. Anderson and Sons & Andersons Market also known as “Andersons” or “The Market”, Concord’s grocery store and catering for the first 3 generations is now a sit down restaurant, Main Streets Market & Café”

The other door that I like is the entrance to Helen’s, a little restaurant on Main Street. I’ve eaten at Helen’s prior to one of the meetings that we held in Concord (at the Colonial Inn).

Thursday Doors is a fun and sometimes challenging weekly blogfest organized by door aficionado and photographer extraordinaire, Norm Frampton. If you would like to participate in Thursday Doors, you simply need to gather a door photo, a few photos, 18-20 photos, and put them in a post. Then, visit Norm’s page up in Canada and follow his instructions for adding your doors to the collection. Norm makes it easy and, don’t focus too hard on the Thursday part. You can enter your post anytime between 5:30 am Eastern Time on Thursday and Noon on Saturday.

Thanks for stopping here.

Helen’s Restaurant.

Main Street shop – Patina Green.

Door to the basement.

I really like this house.

This house has so many interesting features.

Concord Library

Concord Academy

Concord Academy – I like the fire escape.

Concord Academy

Concord Academy

Concord Academy – I really like the arched shutters on the center gable end window.

Branch of Cambridge Trust Company.

Main Streets Market & Café

Main Streets Market & Café

Middlesex Savings Bank

Wright Tavern – Southeast fireplace.

Wright Tavern – First floor northeast fireplace

Wright Tavern – First floor southwest fireplace

Wright Tavern – First floor northwest fireplace

Wright Tavern, interior staircase. The library has a post card of this staircase that says, “In this place Maj. Pitcarin Drank his Toddy – April 19, 1775”