[MassHistPres] Boston Globe editorial

[james hadley]

Thanks for the alert. Very upsetting piece, indeed.



It is perhaps even more important to read the comments following the article. Few writers are sympathetic to the Historical Commission - most show outright hostility towards it . Only one or 2 comments indicate that the writers know something about the history involved in either the place, or the style. 
What is apparent is the need for more written explanation and discussion of the importance of an architectural heritage to our general culture. This is probably the major failing of the architectural profession, both at an academic level and within the professional associations - the AIA and the BSA included. All groups are far too narrowly focused on internal issues such as energy, design innovation and (seriously) preservation techniques. Architects are, in fact, concerned with preservation - many, like me, are passionate about it; unfortunately they (we) are not good communicators.
Architects talk to other architects; preservationists talk to other preservationists. The greater public is somehow left out of the discussion.
And it shows.
James W. Hadley AIA
Former Chair, Orleans Historical Commission

From: swermiel at verizon.net
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 12:08:32 -0400
Subject: [MassHistPres] Boston Globe editorial

I’d like to call the attention of listserv members to an editorial in the Boston Globe last week, “History deserves respect, but overzealousness has a price.”http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2014/10/13/beverly-loring-house-history-deserves-respect-but-overzealousness-has-price/zXl3z3U0vOZGuuAxQ0eYeI/story.htmlThe editorial deals with the sad case of the Loring House in Beverly, a National Register-eligible property that will be demolished.The editorial suggests that the Beverly Historic District Commission was stuck on trivial matters, such as not destroying the house’s façade, and this drove the owner to a drastic act. Yes, zealotry is wrong, but was the BHDC unreasonable? Did it act improperly? We don’t know, and the Globe doesn’t know, because the Globe never did any real reporting. Yet it produces an indicting editorial, essentially warning all historical commissions against doing their jobs.I wrote a letter to the editor, which I’ll be glad to share with members if you want to read it. If this editorial bugs you too, I urge you to let the Globe know. --Sara WermielHistory of technology/historic preservation consultingJamaica Plain, MA
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