Jan. 31, 1892: Rev. John E. Barry, pastor of Concord's St. John's Church, announces that his French parishioners may form their own church.

The next day, Rev. Joseph-Noel Plante arrives from the North Country to celebrate Mass at Phenix Hall. He announces that the new church will be called Sacred Heart. A brick chapel will open on Pleasant Street two years later, and the Gothic structure will be built in 1934.

Jan. 31, 1952: The Concord City Council debates plans for the construction of Storrs Street to relieve traffic downtown. There is no name yet for the new street, so it is referred to as Concord's "Baby Bypass."

Jan. 31, 1986: On a frigid night, thousands gather in the State House plaza for a memorial service for Christa McAuliffe. "Her teaching has not ceased," says Rev. Chester Mrowka.

Feb. 1, 1859: The Concord Railroad passenger station, including the offices of the Concord, Montreal and Northern railroads, the telegraph office and Depot hall, is destroyed by fire.

Feb. 1, 1925: The Granite Monthly magazine editorializes: "The many murders in the state which take place with no possible prospect of punishment for the perpetrators is causing a call for a state police force."

Feb. 2. 2001: WKXL, Concord's local radio station, is about to make dramatic changes to its programming, the Monitor reports.

Party Line and Coffee Chat, two locally produced call-in and interview shows, will be off the air, replaced by a syndicated talk show hosted by New Yorker Mike Gallagher.

Feb. 2, 1996: President Clinton visits Concord's Walker School and speaks to students at the Capitol Center. He praises Concord schools for innovative use of computers in the classroom.

Feb. 3, 1944: On the Senate floor, U.S. Sen. Styles Bridges rises to defend Reader's Digest against a Democratic senator's complaint that the magazine should not have published an article critical of the Roosevelt administration. Reader's Digest is published in Concord and printed at the Rumford Press.

Feb. 3, 2002: With just seconds left to break the tie, Adam Vinatieri kicks a 48-yard field goal to give the Patriots their first Super Bowl victory in their 42-year history. They beat the St. Louis Rams, 20-17.

Rundlett Middle School student Derek Graham, 11, will reflect the next day, "(Tom) Brady's still my favorite player, but that Adam Vinatieri dude's coming up. I never really cared about the kicker before, but now I guess I better."

Feb. 3, 2003: Concord High School running phenom Rachel Umberger accepts a full scholarship offer to Duke University, according to running coach Barbara Higgins.

Feb. 4, 1908: In Concord, the St. Paul's School ice hockey team defeats the Harvard freshmen 9-1. Captain Hobey Baker "played a wonderful game," scoring three goals, the Monitor reports. Baker will later become a college hockey star, and the trophy awarded to the nation's best male collegiate player each year will one day bear his name.

Feb. 4, 1932: Skating on an outside rink in a preliminary match at the Olympic Games in Lake Placid, N.Y., Douglas Everett of Concord scores the U.S. goal in a 1-1 tie with Canada.

Feb. 4, 2000: Thousands of students got into the act of voting through the Kids Voting New Hampshire program, the Monitor reports. In Concord, 1,589 kids voted alongside their parents and, like their elders, chose John McCain and Al Gore as their favorite candidates.

Feb. 5, 1942: Dudley Orr, the state tax commissioner, is pictured on the front page of the Monitor riding his bicycle to work. In a time of severe gas and tire rationing, he says, it is important for public officials to set a good example. He has no problem getting to work but is not fond of pedaling back up the hill to his home at 125 Centre St. (next page »)