History of Concord, New Hampshire, USA

State capital established in Concord

Concord, New Hampshire
The capitol of the state, and shire town of the county of Merrimack. It lies on both sides of the Merrimack river, in N. lat. 43° 12' 29", and W. lon. 71° 29'; and is 146 miles S.W. from Augusta, Me.; 97 S.E. from Montpelier, Vt.; 153 N.E. from Albany, N.Y.; 65 N.N.W. from Boston, Mass.; 103 N. from Providence, R.I.; 139 N.N.E. from Hartford, Conn., and 474 N.E. by E. from Washington. There are five ponds in Concord, the largest of which are Turkey, in the S.W., and Long pond in the N.W. parts of the town, on the streams passing from which are some valuable mills and privileges. The Contoocook river enters the W. corner of the town, and uniting with the Merrimack on the N.W. line, forms at its junction the celebrated Duston's Island. On the borders of the Merrimack, which is the principal river of this region, are rich intervale lands, highly valued by the inhabitants, and well cultivated. Soon after entering Concord, the river passes over Sewall's falls, or...

Concord, a post-town, seat of justice of Merrimack county, New Hampshire, and capital of the state, is pleasantly situated on the right bank of the Merrimack river, 60 miles N. N. W. from Boston. Lat. 43° 12' 29" N., Ion. 71° 29' W. It extends about 2 miles along the river, and three-quarters of a mile back. The streets are handsomely laid out. and many of them beautifully shaded. The hotels, most of the mercantile business, and a large portion of the manufactories are on Main street, which is nearly 100 feet broad and about 2 miles long. State street, also about 2 miles long, has on it the state prison, a massive granite structure, and the Methodist General Biblical Institute, founded in 1847. The state house stands in the midst of a beautiful common, planted with maple and elm trees. It is built of hewn granite, is 126 feet long, 49 feet wide, and 2 stories high above the basement. The other public buildings are the churches. 7 or 8 in number, 2 railroad depots and 3 banks....

CONCORD, the cap. of Merrimac co, and the state of New Hampshire, situated on both sides of the Merrimac river, 65 m. NNW of Boston, in N lat. 43 12 29. The state-house is a handsome structure; and the state-prison is also situated here. The falls of the Merrimac create a vast water-power which is turned to considerable advantage. By Concord river, which has been made navigable for boats, by the Middlesex canal,, and by a railroad, communication is kept up with Boston. Pop. 4,897.

Concord has had a narrow escape from a disastrous conflagration, but fortunately there was little wind and the steam fire engine companies assisted by the Concord Railroad force pumps succeeded in staying in progress after two hours' severe labor. The fire broke out about half past three o'clock Friday afternoon in Ford & Kimball's iron foundry about fifty rods below the lower railroad depot and destroyed the following property; Ford & Kimball's iron foundry, loss from $35,000 to $40,000, insured for $11,924; B. F. Duncklee & Co.'s maching shop loss $1000, insured for $1400; Mr. Kimball's dwelling house, furniture mostly saved, loss $3000. The house of Timothy Colby, occupied by three families, was also destroyed. - About one half of Ford & Kimball's valuable paterns were saved. The premises were located nearly opposite ex-Governor Gilmore's residence. Some valuable property, both north and south of and immediately adjoining the fire, was saved, including the flour store of Barrow,...

A correspondent of the Boston Transcript write as follows of the American House at Concord, N. H., which with other buildings was destroyed by fire on Saturday morning, 13th inst.

The hotel was a large three-story building, with piazzas on two sides, situated on the corner of Main and Park streets, the northeast corner of the Capitol Square. It was erected in the Spring of 1834 by Mr. John Park Goss, and was then famous because of the brief time in which it was built - six weeks and two days. The insurance on the house and furniture is stated at $10,000, in the Hartford and Aetna companies, of Hartford, Conn.

The American has, from first to last, been the headquarters of New Hampshire Democracy. Their last council fires expired there with the recent adjournment of the Legislature. This is the third large hotel which has been burned in Concord since 1851, the Eagle having been destroyed in that year and the Phoenix in 1857.