Historian chronicles Concord’s past and present
CONCORD, CA (Dec. 17, 2024) — When Joel Harris, a Concord attorney, historian, and former bookstore owner, learned that his friend Lynn Kuehl was in crisis just before the busy holiday season, he didn’t hesitate to act. Kuehl, the owner of Berkshire Books, was facing an emergency surgery to remove his leg due to a blood clot, leaving his beloved bookstore’s future uncertain. Harris stepped in, rallying a team of volunteers to keep the shop running until Kuehl could return to work.
“Joel immediately volunteered to help,” Kuehl recalled. “He said he had a lot of friends who would be happy to help us keep our shop going. Thanks to him and the volunteers, we had a very good December and made it through.”
This act of camaraderie is just one example of how Harris has dedicated his life to preserving Concord’s history and fostering its sense of community. As an author and board member of the Concord Historical Society, he has worked tirelessly to document the city’s transformation from a small town to a bustling urban center.
Harris has authored two books on Concord’s history: “Images of America: Concord” and the recently released “Concord: Past and Present.” The latter, published Nov. 11, showcases 120 historical places in Concord, pairing vintage black-and-white photographs with modern color images and accompanying stories.
Learning about your community
“You do learn something about your community through these books,” Kuehl said. “And I think Joel appreciates doing that—providing that information and helping people learn about the community.”
Harris is already at work on his third book, Concord After World War II, slated for release in the summer of 2025. This book, a sequel to Images of America: Concord, will focus on Concord’s evolution from 1944 to the 1990s. Interestingly, Kuehl played a pivotal role in shaping this project.
“The book the publisher wanted me to do wasn’t the one Lynn wanted,” Harris explained. “He wanted me to write a sequel to the first book that included things people remember from the ’50s to the ’90s. The publisher had a different series in mind, so we agreed to do both.”
As a former bookstore owner himself, Harris also shares Kuehl’s passion for connecting with the community through books. His work at Berkshire Books not only ensured the store’s survival during Kuehl’s absence but also reinforced his commitment to educating the public about local history.
“Joel has made every effort to ensure his books reflect the community’s interests and are as accurate as possible,” Kuehl said. “He genuinely enjoys talking to people about these things and helping them connect with Concord’s past.”
Through his books and actions, Harris continues to bridge the gap between Concord’s storied past and its vibrant present, showing how friendship and shared passions can keep a community thriving.
“Concord, Past and Present” is available at Berkshire Books, 3580 Clayton Rd. in Concord and on Amazon.com.
Keerthi Eraniyan
Keerthi Eraniyan is an avid writer and youth journalist from the Bay Area. She is Features Editor of The Californian, the student newspaper of California High School. She has written for local Bay Area and San Francisco newspapers. She loves to write and tell stories.