[MassHistPres] Boston Globe editorial

[Marcia Starkey]

I think its acknowledged that many people are hostile to things they don’t
understand.  Public information is an ongoing challenge but must be an
ongoing activity as much as possible. Short posts on interesting places:
buildings, landscapes, neighborhoods could be welcome in most press rooms.

 

Marcia Starkey

Greenfield    

 

From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of james hadley
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2014 11:01 AM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Boston Globe editorial

 

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-hous
e-history-deserves-respect-but-overzealousness-has-price/zXl3z3U0vOZGuuAxQ0e
YeI/story.html

The 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 Wermiel

History of technology/historic preservation consulting

Jamaica Plain, MA


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