Goodbye to an Old Friend

“The only thing that might have been better than growing up in Concord, New Hampshire during the 1950’s and 1960’s would have been growing up on the back lot of some Hollywood studio. To me, at least, Concord seemed like a Norman Rockwell drawing brought to life.”

Thus begins Chapter Six of my 500 plus page book, “Was That a Name I Dropped?”

For years, I have had a love affair with our city, loving everything about it from its wonderful buildings and architecture to its sometimes quirky but always fascinating residents. Over the years, I have invited hundreds to come visit us and have proudly showed off all of the reasons why living here can stir within a person a certain passion and drive to help you achieve any dream you wish.

When I was about 9 or 10, relatives came to visit from Borger, Texas. When we asked them what they wanted to do each day they proclaimed, “We want to spend at least part of the day browsing, exploring and shopping on your amazing Main Street.” We gladly granted their wish.

For 27 years, from the time I was 15, I worked at 18 1/2 S. Main St., at the venerable Concord Theatre and had a chance to experience, first-hand, the pleasure of getting to know thousands of locals who frequented the movie theatre until it shut its doors in the summer of 1994. In many ways these patrons became extended family.

I sat enthralled as a teenager and young man, in the 1960s and 70s, listening to stories about the history of Concord from people who had lived here for years.

Theresa Cantin, who ran the theatre, had been here since 1934. Ella Anderson and Helen Young, who ran a used book store in a basement on Warren Street, eagerly shared their stories with me. I wanted to know everything about our city and to this day, I am downtown shopping or simply walking around at least four or five times each week.

Concord is about to undergo the biggest change in its history with the approval of the planned downtown renovation. It will forever change the look of our Main Street area and I have been very vocal, for years, in my feelings about downtown, what should be done and why.

I am not one of those naysayers who are reluctant to see change occur or pine for another era. Change is inevitable and important.

When the Eagle Square project came to fruition some 30 years ago, I was excited and became a regular at Callahan’s Steak House, which was a prominent feature in the Square. I also tried to shop in some of the rather pricey stores that filled the area, in the hope that indeed Eagle Square would be Concord’s own Faneuil Hall Marketplace, as it was touted.

Unfortunately, like too many other things that start with a bang, interest waned for a number of reasons and it never lived up to the long-range promise.

People often look to Keene or Portsmouth as examples of what they’d like to see Concord become. Frankly, Concord could and should stand on its own.

Keene is a college town and the school helps to drive the economy and success of Keene’s downtown. The once hugely successful Colony Mill Marketplace in Keene, has struggled for many years to find tenants and to remain viable, while Keene’s downtown has thrived.

Portsmouth reinvented herself, something I discovered when commuting there to work at a non-profit for several years.

As a Naval Port, the reality of Portsmouth in years past was somewhat checkered. Fights, murders and prostitution went along with the territory as much of the city’s history was unseemly.

Wisely, Portsmouth played on its history and old buildings, restoring Strawberry Banke and making it a tourist attraction, sprucing up and freshening old downtown buildings and shoppes and becoming very competitive with the nearby Fox Run Mall.

Concord, on the other hand, has seemingly avoided using a rich history and a position as state capital to its advantage.

Notable examples would include the destruction of the railroad station some 50 years ago but has continued with regularity as one piece of history after another is replaced by structures that are often dated before their completion.

When a lovely building on the corner of Main and Pleasant streets burned, it was quickly replaced by a squat, one story retail space that was in stark contrast with every other corner of the city’s busiest intersection.

The beautiful Parker School building was torn down to be replaced by the building that now houses the AG’s Office on North State Street and previously housed numerous banking institutions.

The Rumford Coffee House, which was on North Main Street, was easily torn down with nary a cry, and replaced by a modern office building that previously housed IBM.

The list goes on and on and in every instance, pieces of history that were the bedrock of what made Concord a “must see” for a slice of genuine history, were removed. The city missed many an opportunity to deftly maintain a rich history, which would have helped to stimulate an economy by bringing tourists to town to shop and experience, as they do in Portsmouth, a piece of Americana with all the modern amenities.

While filming “How to Marry a Millionaire” at 20th Century Fox in the early 1950s, Betty Grable, who had been the studio’s top star for over a decade told her co-star Marilyn Monroe, whose career was on the rise, “Honey, I've had my time in the spotlight, now it's your turn!"  

Maybe it is time for the next generation of residents to do what they feel is best for the city of Concord. It’s possible they’ll have the formula to restore downtown to its former glory.

I don’t know anyone who isn’t hoping it will work but there is also the risk that it will not or that it will end up being the “flavor of the day” or another novelty that starts with a bang and then fizzles. Unfortunately, something of this magnitude will not be able to be easily fixed if it doesn’t work out – witness Laconia.

There will be casualties along the way, no doubt. I know first-hand because the possible producer/director who wants to film my book is now hesitant about shooting it in Concord since the proposed schedule would wind up smack in the middle of the construction and, “It won’t be the same city you wrote about in your book any longer ...” he noted.

In some ways I feel I am mourning the loss of a dear friend I have known forever.

We may lose beloved businesses too and there is no guarantee that new businesses will offset any losses that are suffered.

However, ultimately we need to place a level of trust in the individuals propelling this venture and trust that their love for Concord is equal to the love, affection and caring that those of us who has questioned this project, have expressed.

As long as this is done with love for the community then we can hope the end result will reflect those feelings and reinvent the most amazing city on the Merrimack.