Days 19 and 20: Concord, New Hampshire

On Friday, I took an early train from Providence to Boston and then took a bus to Concord, New Hampshire to visit my college roommate, Chris Porter, and his wife Margaret, who's a historical biographical novelist. They live in a former municipal water pumping station built in 1890 with a recent residential addition in a pleasant neighborhood of mostly older colonial homes.

Visited the 1819 New Hampshire State Capitol, which includes a 400-seat House of Representatives, the largest state legislative body in the country. Margaret is a former state representative, so she was a good tour guide. Also toured Concord, including the Main Street lined with Nineteenth Century red brick storefronts, and St. Paul's School, a well-known quintessential New England prep school.

On Saturday morning, took part in a very popular New Hampshire tradition, attending a Presidential primary campaign event at a home in Chris and Margaret's neighborhood. This one was for Mayor Pete Buttigieg from South Bend. It was well-attended and the weather was great. I was told that there are dozens of similar events in Concord in a given primary cycle; some residents are diligent about attending many of them before deciding who to vote for, and others are more selective.

Margaret and Chris Porter 

New Hampshire State Capitol

Margaret pointing out her former seat
in the 400-seat House of Representatives

Presidential primary campaign event
for Mayor Pete Buttigieg