History Revealed by Flood in West Concord
From reader Patricia Cummings:
After several days of torrential rain, my husband walked around the neighborhood and could see that the stream that come down behind Mill Place West had overflowed into the parking lot. Mill Place West is so named because the brick building used to be the site of a mill. Across the street, on our side of the street, there had been another mill that processed wool. We have seen a photo of this mill, and the barefoot children who worked there, before child labor laws), and the older workers all lined up in a row, in front of it. The day the picture was taken must have been a hot one, as the windows were open and there you can see other children.
We had thought that those were the only two mills in this area. No!
To backtrack just a little, the rain saturated the soil on the side of the steep slope that runs down to the stream bed on our property. In knocking away soil, an old storm drain was opened up as well and water came rushing through that, as well as raging through the "Grand Canyon" that topographically re-fashioned our neighbor's backyard. The sound of the water was thunderous as it came ripping through, from both sources, forever changing the landscapes and taking trees, raspberry bushes, a pear tree, and anything else in its path, toward the Merrimack River.
We were so surprised to learn that the open culvert used to be the outsource for human waste generated at the woolen mill. However, we were enchanted to learn that two more mills existed downstream from our house. One of these mills made "kits" for fish barrels which were sent to Boston to be assembled for holding fish there, according to our neighbor. This new bit of information is very fun to know. We are constantly finding out more about the 1821 home we live in, and it means a lot to us because we both love history so much.
My husband took some photos of the devastation here and around the neighborhood. One can see them on our website, accessible from the front page right now: www.quiltersmuse.com
-- Patricia
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Mill Place West Apartments and More Flood Updates
The yellow "Caution" tape no longer surrounds Mill Place West Apartments, but the place looks like a ghost town. A large dumpster full of debris has been in the parking lot this week, with various vehicles coming and going during daytime hours. Via the grapevine, we have heard that extensive damage was done to the building by the recent flood.
With more rain in the state since yesterday, and a flood watch in effect for several counties, we don't know exactly what else to expect. The sound of rushing water in back of our house is new, but pleasant.
This morning, at daybreak, an opossum was seen scurrying across our backyard, evidently having found some tidbits of interest in the compost pile. The animal was much larger than expected, neither Jim nor I having seen one previously "in person."
Jim threw some grass seed over the banking that the last rainstorm collapsed. It is already sprouting. Previously, one of the owners of the house had used old railroad ties and a piece of metal coil wire to make "steps" down to the old millstream in back of the house. Someone also planted lilies and flowering bushes.
The back area of our acre lot has always been a haven for deer, beavers, raccoons, minks,and other species, as well as bird life. There were varying levels of trees and bushes. Now, some of those large trees have toppled over and were completely uprooted. They are leaning against the steep embankment. Jim was able to cut off the branches that encroached in the vegetable garden area by using a long handle pruner, and his chainsaw.
This flood event of 2006 has been an interesting phenomena to watch. I just wonder if the opossum got uprooted from his habitat, too.
Patricia Cummings
Found your flood account very interesting
I have made comments on occasion before here @ the Monitor Blog.
I vaguely remember the flood of 1935 or around that time.I was in
a carriage or stroller @ the time. I may have just heard my mom talk about it so many times that I think I remember it.>Whatever the case, I enjoyed your account of this latest flood.>I was born in Manchester, NH even though I don't live there anymore. Had to get away from the snow, brrrr!!>When I hear something is happening up there, I am still very interested.>You all got the rain and we NEED SOME here in FL.>Hope the change of your property hasn't disturbed things too badly.>Thinking of you all up there and praying you don't have any rain for awhile anyways.
missingkitties
The flood of 2006 has permanently reconfigured our backyard. We now have a "scenic view" of flowing water, visible from the backyard, and from the upper levels of our home.
In speaking further with our neighbor, he has told us that the mill, that was previously located where his home is now, was a place which made wool for Civil War uniforms, for the boys in "blue." He described a rock which is permanently stained blue. We assume that the dyestuff was indigo, a very permanent dye. His home is built on the foundation of a portion of the former mill.
Downstream, in back of our house, there was just one mill, not the two previously reported (sorry about that mistake). Our neighbor tells us that the mill created fish barrel kits for the seaport of Boston, as I had stated in my first post.
Apparently, West Concord played a larger part in the "Industrial Revolution" than we had previously realized.
I love all of these historical tidbits. One charming item that we found in the cellar is a "dance card." It seems that it may have been a custom to promise dances to various would-be suitors before a dance. Either that, or a young lady might use the fancy card to record the names of those she danced with, perhaps to save in a scrapbook.
Will share any further developments about the results of the flood, or any new information later.
Patricia Cummings