Concord, Staten Island, New York
One of two Concords in New York state, the town of Concord on Staten Island was originally named Dutch Farms back when Ralph Waldo Emerson's brother, Dr. William Emerson, settled here. Ralph Waldo visited often, and in 1843 when his brother was looking for a tutor for his son, Ralph Waldo recommended his 25 year old friend, Henry David Thoreau.
By most accounts, Thoreau had a mixed time living with the New York Emersons. He rose early and went for long walks around the island, enjoying the different flora and his first taste of life at the edge of the sea. Like an eager tourist, he also walked much of New York City, but he wrote to Emerson "I don't like the city better, the more I see it, but worse." Young Emerson was an uninspired student, and Henry visits to publishers in the city were often fruitless. Henry grew restless. He wrote to his family, "I carry Concord ground in my boots and in my hat and am I not made of Concord dust?"
As winter neared, Thoreau returned to his beloved hometown and it would be another year and a half before he would head out to Walden Pond. That would also be the year the town of Dutch Farms, changed its name to "Concord." I think that RW Emerson was so famous (perhaps the most famous non-politician American alive at the time) that just having his brother living in the town was a great honor, so they renamed the town.
By most accounts, Thoreau had a mixed time living with the New York Emersons. He rose early and went for long walks around the island, enjoying the different flora and his first taste of life at the edge of the sea. Like an eager tourist, he also walked much of New York City, but he wrote to Emerson "I don't like the city better, the more I see it, but worse." Young Emerson was an uninspired student, and Henry visits to publishers in the city were often fruitless. Henry grew restless. He wrote to his family, "I carry Concord ground in my boots and in my hat and am I not made of Concord dust?"
As winter neared, Thoreau returned to his beloved hometown and it would be another year and a half before he would head out to Walden Pond. That would also be the year the town of Dutch Farms, changed its name to "Concord." I think that RW Emerson was so famous (perhaps the most famous non-politician American alive at the time) that just having his brother living in the town was a great honor, so they renamed the town.
Emerson Hill felt a bit like Wellesley, MA where I grew up. It is a semi-gated community with meandering one-way streets, mature trees and a mix of old stalwart houses and macmansions squeezed into lots with far too small a footprint. There are Italian villas with artificial palm trees and at least one Chinese palace. We arrived at the site of Judge Emerson's house, The Snuggery, but it had burned down long ago and the current home was surrounded by an iron rail fence.
We stopped in town for lunch at what looked like an Italian restaurant, but it turned out to be .....
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one of the most complete delis ever! The lady with the smile and the ravioli gave us some of the local history. The town of Concord was bisected by the construction of the Staten Island Expressway. The southern half includes communities like The Emerson Hill Civic Association. The northern half was largely Dominican.
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We couldn't find a five-star restaurant, but ... |
We did find a two-star barber shop!
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