chapter 412

1/16/2016

Shot Heard Around the World

Concord Massachusetts

We walked over this Old North Bridge on our trip visiting Colleen's daughter's apartment. Actually, I took this photo in 2004 after doing an Acura TSX swap to Peabody then staying at brother Dale's house in Walpole. It was cloudy, brisk, and not so charming in January. The site of the beginning of the American Revolutionary War and the founding of America as an independent country was a must see, however. Minute Man National Historical Park

Had stopped earlier in the private back room of the Main Streets Cafe for a quick bowl of chowder, New England of course, is there any other kind.  Best I've had in years.

Weather became a little nicer for a fine 1.7 mile walk around environmentalist Henry David Thoreau's Walden Pond was also on our agenda. He was of course a hero to my classmates at the College of Forestry at SU.  "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."  I thought I was the author of that, but come to find out I've been copying that for years from Thoreau. Walden Pond State Reservation . When we entered the 1716 Colonial Inn for a dinner of crab stuffed Cod, I mentioned I could feel spirits about. Our party dismissed my premonitions, but the link will explain all to the unbelievers.

Visiting Colleen's daughter Amanda was the prime objective. She teaches Spanish at this exclusive prep school, the Middlesex School in Concord, designed of course by my Olmsted relatives.  Actors William Hurt and Steve Carel graduated from there as well as Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. As Ambassador to South Vietnam he was associated with the assassination of President Diem and was Ambassador during the large build up of our war effort that resulted in my being drafted. Governors of Massachusetts and New Mexico also went here as well as the co-founder of Instagram.

The Terry Room of Eliot Hall was, of course, the highlight of the campus as well as the heart and soul. It's where students meet on projects. Every graduating student carves a plaque of his choosing to leave behind on the walls there.

Both Saint Lawerence University grads. Amanda's husband Ben is a Sales and Marketing Associate at Appleton Partners in Boston. A very knowledgable chap with deep New England roots.

Sunday breakfast at the on campus dining hall was very pleasant. Flags representing the countries of freshmen students from all over the world. I don't remember our Virgil High School cafeteria being quite so luxurious.

Then mid morning we took a little jaunt into the Museum of Fine Arts. Took the T subway at Porter Square to Park, picking up the Green Line.

The Dutch Masters exhibit created a mob scene so we did a quick run thru the rest of the exhibits. Renoir was a hit with the dance crowd.

My 2001 Walden Paddler Scout kayak originated from this part of Massachusetts. The interconnection between Thoreau and my Chicopee recycled thermoplastics kayak is made here ( note that my son spent time in the thermoplastics industry). A very complicated story of the Walden virtual company here. 

swap drive - kayak - history linked 

Walden Paddler award 

General Composites Winckler and Allott, involved with Walden kayak previously in Clifton Park 

First Walden production facility at Acton moved in 1995 to West Concord 

2005 Walden liquidated, now custom made

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