Ralph Waldo Emerson was a famous lecturer and author of
essays. Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1803, he later
graduated from Harvard College in 1821 and began lecturing in
1833. A former Unitarian Clergyman, Emerson settled in
Concord, Massachusetts the same year. Emerson’s first series of
essays were published in 1841.
Ralph was first married for only 17 months. During the brief marriage to his first wife, he was newly
ordained as a minister of the Unitarian Church. His wife’s sudden passing led Emerson to question
his core beliefs, being so deeply affected by her death. Emerson later resigned as minister due to
his “different” spiritual beliefs which he would not be allowed to profess.
Ralph Waldo Emerson did eventually re-marry and had four
children. Ralph and Lydia raised their children in the Concord
two-story house. Their oldest son, Waldo, sadly died at a
young age from tuberculosis. Today, many of the same toys
the children played with can be seen in the house which is still
owned by the family’s descendents. Clothing and other
personal items are displayed throughout the home, along with
a treasure of artwork. One can almost feel the Emerson’s
going about daily life, especially when the lecture gown
displayed in Emerson’s bedroom is first seen.
After Ralph Waldo Emerson began publishing his essays, his
fame brought many famous visitors to the house in Concord.
One such visitor was Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau frequently tutored and entertained Emerson’s
children during his visits. In fact, it was Emerson’s land near Walden where Thoreau built his one
room cabin to closely co-exist for two years with nature. Henry’s story of an attempt at simplifying
his life was later published as a one year journey entitled, “Walden.”
The house today possesses many of the same items that the Emerson’s and
their descendents formerly used in the home. The house did suffer fire during
the days of Ralph and Lydia, but it only served as a reason to remodel and
expand the home a bit. In 1882, Ralph Waldo Emerson died, followed by his
wife ten years later. Their graves can still be found at Author’s Ridge in the Sleepy Hollow Cemeteryin Concord. Is the home of Ralph Waldo Emerson
haunted today? Do the memories of many years of living still possess the
home? You decide…
