The last road trip
Soon after sweeping through all the small Concords in the Midwest in the summer of 2024, I began planning for what I hoped would be my last major road trip to go back through Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. I had been to the larger Concords in most of these states, such as Concord, North Carolina, and Concord, Pennsylvania, but I had missed eight smaller Concords. Most of these Concords were tucked away in remote corners such as Appalachia.
Liz joined me for this final journey, so I looked to book rooms in bed and breakfast places. We book a roundtrip ticket to Richmond -six days and five nights.
Liz joined me for this final journey, so I looked to book rooms in bed and breakfast places. We book a roundtrip ticket to Richmond -six days and five nights.
Day 1 - A most inhospitable Concord
The last Concord quest began with a mystery.
Both Wikipedia and Google Maps confirmed the existence of a Concord in Gloucester County, Virginia, yet there was no further information available online. Most counties have a detailed history documenting their settlement, including the establishment of the first churches, stores, and schools. Gloucester County, however, had none of that. There was no county historical society, and I couldn’t even locate a local library. The town of Concord appeared to lack a church, cemetery, or any commercial establishments.
Both Wikipedia and Google Maps confirmed the existence of a Concord in Gloucester County, Virginia, yet there was no further information available online. Most counties have a detailed history documenting their settlement, including the establishment of the first churches, stores, and schools. Gloucester County, however, had none of that. There was no county historical society, and I couldn’t even locate a local library. The town of Concord appeared to lack a church, cemetery, or any commercial establishments.
Exploring a Concord without any preconceived notions can be exhilarating. Strangers become friends, stories emerge, and images develop into illuminating patterns.
Not this time.
Old Concord Road is a half-paved, half-dirt, single-lane road that branches off from a dead-end cul-de-sac. Prominent "No Trespassing. Private Road" signs greeted us. Liz was eager to comply (“Let’s get out of here!”). I, on the other hand, was unsure. There was a Concord to be visited, and I wasn’t about to let a few—or a couple dozen—signs dissuade me. So, I turned down the dirt road. Every large tree and driveway was plastered with signs reading “No Hunting,” “No Trespassing,” and “Private Property.”
Not this time.
Old Concord Road is a half-paved, half-dirt, single-lane road that branches off from a dead-end cul-de-sac. Prominent "No Trespassing. Private Road" signs greeted us. Liz was eager to comply (“Let’s get out of here!”). I, on the other hand, was unsure. There was a Concord to be visited, and I wasn’t about to let a few—or a couple dozen—signs dissuade me. So, I turned down the dirt road. Every large tree and driveway was plastered with signs reading “No Hunting,” “No Trespassing,” and “Private Property.”
|
|
|
I wish I could say our intrepid spirit paid off, but there was no friendly guy on a lawnmower or crazed loony with a shotgun. There was no KKK hideout, nor was there an eerie Concord cemetery. In fact, there were no signs of life, save for the hum of a second-story air conditioner. There were no faces peering out the curtains.
Concord in Gloucester County, Virginia, is a small summer community with homes that have seen better days.
I take pride in being able to extract a story even when I have no contacts, no information online, or in local records, but this Concord seemed to just be creepy. We drove in a loop down Concord Lane to Old Concord Road twice.
I learned two details about this Concord: someone collected skulls and antlers, and everyone wanted privacy.
We stopped briefly to look out over the James River. Ominous clouds gathered in the distance.
This time, I had to agree with Liz. It was time to hightail it out of there.
Day One continued.
I have never spent much time in Virginia, but as a historian, I felt like I was a kid in a candy shop. In most of my other travels, I tried to stay focused on the task of visiting Concords, but for this last trip, I had built in a little extra space in the schedule to visit some of the historic sites. This blog will stay focused on Concords, but Yorktown was high on my to-do list. I had started volunteering at the Old North Bridge for the National Park Service. This was the scene of the first battle of the American Revolution. The Battle of Yorktown, six years later, was the last major battle of the war for independence. While exploring the national park, the ominous clouds transformed into a sudden downpour, Thoroughly soaked, we checked into our B&B.
Day Two - Three Concords, and a day we'll never forget.
We arose early to grab a quick breakfast and head west to Concord in Brunswick County, Virginia. The storm had bucketed down all night as the remains of Hurricane Hellene passed overhead. The clouds had parted, and we drove wistfully past Jamestown and Williamsburg.