Doris Kearns Goodwin, the renowned historian and biographer, faced a difficult decision after her husband passed away nearly six years ago. The couple’s beloved 19th-century farmhouse in Concord, Mass., no longer felt like home without him. After 20 years of memories and shared experiences, Ms. Kearns Goodwin decided it was time to move on.
“We were there for 20 years,” she said, reflecting on the house they had built together. From the three-car garage turned library to the tower inspired by her husband’s love of Galileo, every corner of the house held memories of their life together. But with her husband’s absence, the house felt too big and filled with reminders of him at every turn.
With the support of her family, Ms. Kearns Goodwin made the decision to put the house on the market and move to nearby Boston. She had always wanted to live in the city, and her youngest son had already settled there with his family. In 2019, she purchased a three-bedroom apartment with stunning views of Boston, where she began work on her latest book, “An Unfinished Love Story.”
Drawing from the extensive collection of letters, documents, and ephemera that her husband had collected over the years, Ms. Kearns Goodwin delved into the history of the 1960s, a decade that held particular significance for both of them. Setting up her new condo to resemble her study in Concord, she created a space where she could continue her work surrounded by familiar objects and memories.
As she adjusted to her new life in Boston, Ms. Kearns Goodwin found solace in the familiar pieces from her old home that now adorned her apartment. Persian rugs, family photos, and mementos from her husband’s storied career filled the space, creating a sense of continuity and comfort.
While the process of moving and downsizing was emotional and challenging, Ms. Kearns Goodwin found peace in knowing that her beloved books had found a new home at the Concord Free Public Library. And as she settled into her new surroundings, making friends with her neighbors and enjoying the cultural offerings of the city, she embraced this new phase of her life.
The transition from the farmhouse in Concord to the bustling city of Boston was not easy, but for Doris Kearns Goodwin, it marked a new chapter filled with possibilities and opportunities. As she looks ahead to the future, she carries with her the memories of the past, honoring the legacy of her husband and the life they built together.
