Discover Concord: The Mystery of Ponyhenge

A wonderful outcropping of rocking horses has become a bit of a hidden institution in Lincoln, Massachusetts. The unofficial name, Ponyhenge. Little is known about why or how the first horse was placed in the fields, but now more than 48 bucking broncos have joined the herd. Winding down the two-lane country roads with bucolic fields falling to the right and left provides part of the attraction. Signature New England stone walls hem the drive the nearer you get to the henge. If you are looking to unwind and have a bit of fun, just getting to Ponyhenge can provide a sense of calm.

©Andrew Quinney

Head towards Route 126, then onto Waltham road (which then turns into Old Sudbury Road) and there you will find Ponyhenge. Sitting politely, tucked into the side of the road, is a group of children’s rocking horses arranged in concentric circles. The arrival of rocking horses began years ago, though no one knows (or is saying) how or why. Over time, the ponies have grown in number year after year. They are varied in style and material. Some are classic solid wood rocking horses with yarn manes and wood rockers. Others are large plastic horse figures decorated with looped stirrups, footrests, and handles near the bridle to help little ones hold on tight while riding their pony. The springs in the base provide the giddy up for young riders. The ponies range in color from hot pink to blonde/chestnut bodies with ivory and sky-blue saddles. Some have a theme — a silver knight in shining armor, a Gene Simmons KISS face, and a lone rocking duck are just a few. Each is adorable, unique in its own right and ready to be admired!

©Anne Lehmann

At times, magically, the herd has changed its formation from concentric circles to what appeared to be a straight line of horses set up to begin a gallop off to the races. Local lore says that this realignment happened during the start of the Triple Crown race season. Given the proximity to the road, it is amazing that no one has been witness to (or has shared the knowledge about) the changing of formation.

It is nice to see a bit of childhood nostalgia available for everyone to enjoy. Walking around Ponyhenge brings back memories of childhood rocking horses and merry-goround horses that have a joyful element to them — a bit of fun and whimsy.

Subscribe to Discover Concord for more stories like this!

If you subscribe by April 30, 2021, give code “Wacky Wednesday” and Discover Concord will donate $5 to the Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle with every subscription!

Wacky Wednesday: Verrill Farm tomato seedling coupon with $25 purchase TODAY

Stop by the Verrill Farmstand on Wednesday, April 28th and receive a coupon for one Verrill Farm tomato seedling with a $25 purchase!

Coupon must be presented when picking up the seedling, beginning May 17th.

 

The Charles Williams Scholarships

The  Charles Williams Scholarships And The Concord Free Public Library Corporation History of the Scholarship:

Among the duties of Trustees of The Concord Free Public Library Corporation is the administration of a very special endowed fund, The Charles Williams Fund, who provides an annual stipend for scholarships awarded to college-bound Concord students who demonstrate an interest and aptitude in the Visual Arts and in Music. The Williams Fund is an ancient fund, dating to the Reconstruction era just after the end of The Civil War. The Fund is named for Library benefactor Charles Williams, a contemporary of the Library’s Founder, Williams Munroe, as well as of leading Concord literary figures of the time, including Louisa May Alcott and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Charles H.S. Williams was born in Buffalo, N.Y. in October, 1838. He lived in California until he was 13 years old. Charles was the scion of an illustrious and learned family–his father was Attorney General of a young California, the California of the Gold Rush era. Charles came East to attend college, first at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, then transferring to Union College in Schenectady, New York. He studied law, and went into practice in Poughkeepsie, New York. He married the former Miss. Sterling in Poughkeepsie. After practicing for some years, Charles changed course and studied Theology. He also relocated to New England, settling in Concord. He was ordained as a Congregational Minister and served as Pastor of the Trinitarian Church in Concord from about 1868 to 1870. He underwent a change in his theological views, and stepped away from the church, going back to the practice of law. He returned to New York and practiced there for a few years, before eventually moving his practice to Boston, and settling once again in Concord. Here in Concord, he was a member of the School Board, and was well-regarded for his abilities as a speaker and a thinker.

Sadly, Mr. Williams’ life ended prematurely. On Friday, December 26th, 1880, just after the Christmas holiday, Mr. Williams set out from his home to go ice-skating. It was 3:30 in the afternoon, and the winter sun must have already been very low in the sky. He was supposed to be joined by a friend, who at the last minute was unable to join him, so he was skating alone near Nine Acre Corner when it was later surmised that he must have fallen through very thin ice. A general alarm was raised by his wife when he did not return home at the appointed hour, and many Concordians went out into the night to try to find him. Tragically, he was claimed by the icy river and the winter night. In his obituary (which ran multiple columns in the local newspaper), he was hailed as a leading citizen of Concord, and a friend to all. The article went on to describe Mr. Williams as someone who “possessed a mind richly stored with knowledge from many sources, to which had been added a culture which fitted him to any sphere which he chose to occupy.”

Mr. and Mrs. Williams were childless. Having no children of his own to inherit his wealth, Mr. Williams, working through the structure of The Library Corporation, created a fund that would benefit children of his fellow Concordians for generations to come.

It is interesting that although the Concord Free Public Library was literally in its infancy at the time of his death, he chose the Library Trustees to carry out his plan of providing scholarship funds to promising young students. The Williams bequest, which then became The Williams Fund, was notable and certainly ahead of its time in that Mr. Williams specifically indicated that scholarship funds should be equally available to young men and to young women.

The text of the Williams bequest is framed very much in the context of a time when instruction in music and the visual arts—drawing, painting, and sculpture—was a universally accepted dimension of the cultivation of a life of the mind, and the education of young persons. Mr. Williams’ bequest speaks of funds made available in the form of a prize or scholarship, and even refers to support for study in America or Europe, following the tradition of the 19th century “European Tour” described in the novels of Henry James and Edith Wharton.

For many years and up until the 2016 grant year, The Williams Scholarship was run as an “affiliate fund” of The Concord-Carlisle Scholarship Fund (CCSF) which enabled the mechanics of scholarship administration to be managed in concert with other CCSF affiliate funds. During that era, the Library Corporation through The Williams Fund provided financial support to Williams Scholars who attended universities and colleges all over the United States.

In 2018, The Williams Scholarship entered a new era. The Scholarship has been restructured to create two distinct awards, The Charles Williams Scholarship for Excellence in Music, and The Charles Williams Scholarship for Excellence in Visual Arts, both of which will be awarded by the Trustees of The Concord Free Public Library on an annual basis. Assisting the Library Trustees will be The Williams Scholarship Committee, appointed by the Trustees from the Concord community. Committee members, working with a Corporation Trustee Chair, will review scholarship applications, and will make recommendations as to award recipients. The Scholarship application, applications guidelines, and information about members of The Williams Scholarship Committee, will be available on the Library’s website.

Community Chest Community Quest

Concord-Carlisle Community Chest brings you a fun, family Spring event the weekend of April 30-May 2, 2021!

We typically gather in the spring for an indoor gala or fundraising event, but this year continues to push us to try new things. We are excited to have a community event – a Community Quest! – where family members of all ages can join!

Click here to purchase your ticket!

It’s a weekend of scavenger hunts, challenges, and chances to win great prizes from local businesses all in support of the Concord and Carlisle community. 100% of ticket sales are directed to local nonprofit human services organizations serving our neighbors most in need.  

  • Prizes available from:
    Blue Dry Goods (value $100)
    Brine Sporting Goods (value $94)
    Comella’s (value $50)
    The Concord Bookshop (value $99)
    The Dotted i (value $45)
    Discovery Museum (value $62)
    Joy Street Life + Home (value $108)
    Karma (value $115)
    Reasons to be Cheerful (value $20)
    Revolutionary Concord (value $100)
    Saltbox (value $100)
    Sorrento’s (value $30)

Ticket price is $100 per team and includes 1 entry into the raffle. Additional raffle entries can be purchased for $10 each. Challenges and instructions will be emailed to you on April 29. Get ready to have some fun while supporting your community!

Purchase your ticket today! 

Maybe you’ll be winner of one of these fabulous prizes:

Thanks to the sponsors:

 

 

Wacky Wednesday: Subscribe to Discover Concord and support the Scholarship Fund of Concord-Carlisle!

Subscribe to Discover Concord magazine and enjoy a full year of Concord history, legends, natural beauty , arts & culture and things to do – all delivered tight to your door!

We will donate $5 to the Concord-Carlisle Scholarship Fund for every “Wacky Wednesday” subscription through April 30th!

SUBRSCRIBE!

 

Shop and Support The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle April 30 and May 1!

With Mother’s Day and graduations right around the corner, the weekend of April 30th and May 1st will be the perfect time to shop local – and to support The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle.

Our third annual Shop & Support weekend is an opportunity for our community to come together to support our local businesses, while, at the same time, assist with the unmet financial needs of our college students. The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle is the largest source of scholarships specifically for students in our community who need additional financial support to pursue their dreams of post-secondary education.

On April 30 and May 1, shoppers and diners are encouraged to look for the maroon, white and silver ribbons adorning participating businesses throughout Concord. These businesses support The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle, the largest source of need-based scholarships to students educated in Concord and Carlisle. Your support of these businesses will strengthen them and The Scholarship Fund!

 

Participating businesses this year include: Albright Art, Artinian Jewelry, Brine Sporting Goods, The Cheese Shop, Comina, The Concord Flower Shop, Concord Optical, Copper Penny Flowers, Concord Teacakes, The Concord Toy Box, Debra’s Natural Gourmet, The Dotted i, Embracing Wellness, Fairbank and Perry Goldsmiths, Frame-ables, Gräem Nuts and Chocolate, Joy Street Life + Home, JMcLaughlin, juju, Nesting, Reasons to be Cheerful, Revolutionary Concord, Sara Campbell Ltd., Verrill Farm.

 

Since 1966, The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle has supported more than 1,400 students from the Concord and Carlisle communities. For more information on The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle, please visit our website: www.thescholarshipfundofcc.org

 

Celebrate the Spirit of Concord!

Decorate your home or business to celebrate Patriots’ Day all around town. Post a photo of your celebratory decor on the Concord Together Facebook page and be entered to win one of three $50 gift cards!

This month-long celebration will continue for the entire month of April. Please have your decoration up anytime in April!

 

Find out more about it!

Village Art Room / Imagination Station: a Concord Treasure!

If you have not visited Village Art Room yet, now is the time! There is so much happening and the ways Margot Kimball and her volunteers are spreading joy and art to our community will inspire you and warm your heart.

Margot Kimball has been an active member of the West Concord art community for over 20 years making, displaying and selling art, teaching and organizing public art projects. Margot started the Village Art Room in the studio that she’s had for nearly 20 years with the excess art supplies and equipment that she amassed over my lifetime. “I believe that community is formed and ecology is improved when we share resources.”

The new resource space “Imagination Station” is open for business! Come by and get new and up-cycled art and craft supplies and inspiration. You’ll feel like  a kid at a candy shop  – dozens of bowls filled with colorful art supplies are waiting for you and just what you need to feel inspired!Take peak at the video of the new Imagination Station!

Looking for ideas of activities during April vacation week? Imagination Station is a great spot to stop & get ideas for fun art projects.April Vacation Week hours:Saturday, April 17th – Saturday April 24th: Open 1 to 5pm (closed Sunday)

Maker Space:

For $15 per person, you can work in the maker space during open hours. Just 4 people at a time. Masks required!! Purchase an art kit or supplies at Imagination Station and then go to the back of the room. More supplies and lots of equipment are available in the maker space.

 

.

People can buy supplies, new and upcycled, and art kits AND they can go in the maker space in the back and sit down and make stuff. Up to 7 people all together in the room. AND, if we have enough volunteers, during decent weather, we plan to have a table in front.All purchases and your donations of supplies support our community art outreach program, ART for ALL.

Do you know about Art for All?

Art for All is the community outreach program of the Village Art Room. Their mission is to strengthen the community by building connections through creative projects for everyone, regardless of circumstances, based on the belief that we believe that the making, sharing and experiencing art improves the lives of individuals, and of our community.

The Art for All program is mostly volunteer run. The primary goal is to foster real, face-to-face community, and our fabulous team of volunteers, teachers and staff has helped us succeed. We welcome others to join us.

Learn more about Art for All in this video: Creating Community Connections

Here are a few of the other many things Village Art is doing:

Art Scramble

The West Concord District Cultural Committee commissioned Artists Create Change Together, ACCT, to make a 3 by 6 ft painting in celebration of West Concord and bluegrass music for Art Week, 2019. The painting was then reproduced as 288 3 x 3 images. Over 200 people, in and around West Concord, reproduced the squares onto 6 x 6 inch tiles, producing a 6 x 12 foot painting.The composite painting and the original painting was revealed on Saturday, May 4th, as a part of Art Week 2019, just before a bluegrass concert hosted by the Concord Conservatory of Music at the West Concord Union Church.The original painting of Art Scramble, of people and places in West Concord, can be seen in the display window of the West Concord 5 and Dime.Here is a quick video made by MMA on the topic of the Art Scramble 2 (in progress) murals.

Our Local Farms: a community created mosaic mural

The West Concord Cultural District has directed and promoted the Our Local Farms mural to develop a sense of history and identity, while also bringing beauty to the cultural district of West Concord. Six artists of the Village Art Room and of ACCT, (Artists Create Change Together) at the Umbrella Community Art Center made a paint and photo montage  that celebrates farms and farmers present and past in the vicinity of West Concord.

The montage is being made into a 6 1/2 by 11 1/2 foot mosaic outdoor mural comprised of 299 6 x 6 inch squares. Each square is painted by members of our local and extended community. The mural is being carried out by the Art for All program of the Village Art Room and largely completed. Sections of this mural will go up in the windows of local stores. A location for the final piece has not yet been decided.

Wonderful Wednesdays: Sadly, not available due to Covid 19. Adults and teens are welcome to join us at the Art Room on Wednesdays between 12:45 and 2:15. You may come as a volunteer, or to work on the current public art project, or to join the project of the day which is designed for the people from Minute Man Arc for Human Services who have a variety of cognitive disabilities. If you come to work on a project the fee is pay-as-you-can, $5 to $15 suggested.

 

 

Pandemic Memorial Heart

It is difficult to grasp how many people have passed from this world due to Covid-19, and most of them without the usual opportunities to be in the presence of loved ones during those last hours, days, and sometimes weeks. Making hearts to represent those lives, and contemplating the vastness of their numbers evokes a sense of awe. We hope this exercise and the art piece created will bring some solace as well to those left behind. Who knows, maybe the project brings solace as well to the many departed souls.

The Heart is 4 feet by 4 feet. It will have between 120 and 150 strips of red and black paper, each with dozens and hundreds of hearts painted, drawn and collaged by many community members.

We are also finishing up the Pandemic Memorial Heart, now on display at the West Concord Pharmacy. We have finished collecting strips of hearts for that and will be reassembling the Memorial Heart at 4.5 x 4.5 in the next few weeks. The Heart will be displayed later this spring at Emerson Hospital.

Here is the link to the video made by Minuteman Media Network: Pandemic Memorial Heart

Village Art is involved with so many community art projects and events – be on the look out for ways to get involved!

Village Art welcomes participation!! Their community outreach program, ART for ALL is volunteer run and they use donations of arts and crafts supplies as much as possible.

For donations of supplies, contact margie@villageartroom.com.

For volunteer opportunities, contact margot@villageartroom.com.

Regular Hours:
Tuesday: 12:00am to 4:00pm
Wednesday: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Thursday: 12:00 am to 4:00 pm
Friday: 12:00 am to 4:00 pm
Saturday: 1:00 am to 4:00 pm

Directions and parking:

The Art Room is located in the village of West Concord in Factory 152. The building is best known for housing Nashoba Brook Bakery. It is a low, brick building at the back of a parking lot off of Comm. Ave., right next to a car repair shop, E and S Motors. Go in the door on the far left, closest to E and S. The Art Room is just off the stairs as you go up to the second floor

Parking:

Unfortunately, you can’t park in the lot in front of the building as it is reserved for the Bakery and the tenants. You can usually find a parking spot on Comm. Ave. and parking is free for now, or park in the lot off of Winthrop Street and walk across a quaint walking bridge to the back of the building.

 

Village Art is truly a gift to our community!

Visit, volunteer and/or donate today!

Wacky Wednesday: Artinian Jewelery

This week’s feature is Artinian Jewelers, located 39 Main Street in Concord!

Artinian is a full service jewelry store specializing in their customers’ needs from a single watch battery to an elaborate diamond ring.

Learn about the Colby Davis Collection –  a mother and her two daughters have teamed up to curate a gorgeous collection.

Browse their beautiful selection of jewelry, watches and gifts.