literary history

Ever since Keith and I moved to New England, I have wanted to visit one city in particular for a very specific reason.

The city...Concord, Massachusetts.

The reason...Orchard House.

Some of you are thinking this is incredibly AWESOME...and some of you are probably like, "Orchard what?". So, while Kree was in town, I thought we should consider the fact that we are both book nerds and plan a day trip to Concord, to see the home of Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women. Not only was Concord home to the Alcott's, but also Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. (oh my GOSH!!!!!!!!!!) I tried to contain myself, but it was very difficult. What glorious literary history!

We only had time to tour Orchard House. Unfortunately, we could not take pictures inside, but I can tell you all about it! The house was built in 1670, but the Alcotts did not move in until 1850. The house is the original with just some simple work/restoration to help shore up the foundation. 80% of the items inside are original to the Alcott family. After they moved out in 1878, they sold it to a friend, and then he sold it to the state to become a museum in 1911. Some of the things we saw: Marmie's checker board set, Beth's piano and the original hymn book she played from, Anna's (Meg's) marriage certificate to John, original photos of everyone, Louisa's writing desk, linen bag, books, bed, Amy's (May's) room where here original sketches and doodles covered the walls along with more of her drawings and painting throughout the house, Marmie's original "Order of Indoor Duties for the Children" framed by her bed...I could go on and on. It was very surreal.



Other things we saw...Emerson's house, Sleepy Hollow Cemetary where all the authors and their families are buried, and the Old North Bridge where the famous "Shot Heard Around the World" was fired that started the first battle of the American Revolution. Concord was a very quaint town, well preserved. I would highly recommend it for any travelor, book nerd or not.





p.s. i did not have time to proof this post. so, if there are spelling/grammar mistakes, my apologies. just know that i claim to be a book nerd...not a spelling nerd.