"Old" Concord, Minnesota
In 1854, “Yankee Settlers” built a log cabin in what would become Concord, Minnesota. The town was platted in 1856 and in May of 1858 the township was incorporated . Reportedly the early settlers came from Concord New Hampshire.Concord developed quickly. By the Civil War, 60 men from Concord served the Union. There were approximately 200 residents of the town proper, but the surrounding farms supported the growth of the town. The Business Directory of 1882-1883 lists 18 stores, including two churches, two hotels, two saloons, two general stores, a grist mill mill. shoe store, post office, blacksmith, Masonic Lodge and doctor's office.
The railroad passed by Concord. I've heard that some towns didn't want the noise and confusion of having a train station in their town, so the railroad bypassed them. I'm not sure if this was the case in Minnesota, but by the late 1880's West Concord developed around the newly rail lines. Fow many years there was rivalry between Concord and the upstart West Concord. West Concord was derided for being built in a swamp. The residents were called "Webfeet" and Concordians used to joke that you could only see the top hats of of the Webfeet because they sank so deeply into the mud.
The rivalry between Old Concord and West Concord wasn't a fair fight. The railroad lured almost all of the local businesses to West Concord. The new town was built up out of stone quarried from the old town. The largest population center in the area was 30 miles south - the city of Austin Minnesota. had a population off around 5000 in 1900. The Austin Daily Herald, ran a delightful column called the "Concord Weekly Blast". Volume 1 published on March 14, 1908. The subheading read "Published by other newspapers for the present."
The rivalry between Old Concord and West Concord wasn't a fair fight. The railroad lured almost all of the local businesses to West Concord. The new town was built up out of stone quarried from the old town. The largest population center in the area was 30 miles south - the city of Austin Minnesota. had a population off around 5000 in 1900. The Austin Daily Herald, ran a delightful column called the "Concord Weekly Blast". Volume 1 published on March 14, 1908. The subheading read "Published by other newspapers for the present."
The news included:
"The residence of the Buck Smith property is being remodeled. Kind of looks like old Buck had something up his bonnet."
"Willie Forlong, son of the Editor, has purchased a fine new biccycle."
"A.W.Edson expects to take a trip to Austin some day next week for a short visit with friends."
"Mr. sand Mrs. E.B. Smith are visiting at the Frank Smith hiome."
"An automobile was seen on our streets today."
"A new screen door was put on Gen. Crandel's Grocery store today and adds much to the looks of the place."
"We learn that Austin police practice once a week at revolver practice. It seems to us that this is an unneccesary waste of bullets as Austin has no burglaries."
and finally,
"Our merchants are laying in quite a stock of cigars as they are looking for good business during the coming months, our county election being this fall." Perhaps this last item was because the column was financed by "Frank Cronon, Cigarist, Promoter."
"The residence of the Buck Smith property is being remodeled. Kind of looks like old Buck had something up his bonnet."
"Willie Forlong, son of the Editor, has purchased a fine new biccycle."
"A.W.Edson expects to take a trip to Austin some day next week for a short visit with friends."
"Mr. sand Mrs. E.B. Smith are visiting at the Frank Smith hiome."
"An automobile was seen on our streets today."
"A new screen door was put on Gen. Crandel's Grocery store today and adds much to the looks of the place."
"We learn that Austin police practice once a week at revolver practice. It seems to us that this is an unneccesary waste of bullets as Austin has no burglaries."
and finally,
"Our merchants are laying in quite a stock of cigars as they are looking for good business during the coming months, our county election being this fall." Perhaps this last item was because the column was financed by "Frank Cronon, Cigarist, Promoter."
Today, Concord is an "unincorporated community." All that remains of the once bustling town The Concord Church of Christ, a graveyard and a meat locker. There was no one in the church or graveyard, so I wandered into the Concord Store and Locker.
Today, Concord is an "unincorporated community." All that remains of the once bustling town The Concord Church of Christ, a graveyard and a meat locker. There was no one in the church or graveyard, so I wandered into the Concord Store and Locker.
Back in the day, every small town in the area had a bar, a gas station and a meat locker. The current owner Josh had been working there since he was 16. It used to be a grocery store, "but all the big stores took away the business." Deer hunting continues to be an important part of rural life in Minnesota and a meat locker, cleans, dresses and stores the venison that many people depend on to get through the winter.
