One or two blurbs today.
History. We love our history in this Town. Believe it or not, the "We" includes me.
There is a difference however between historical fact, historical fiction and within that genre historical fantasy. But I digress, I think?
History can be very illuminating. Indeed there are those who believe it should even be more illuminating. So what if we have to shine a bit more light on the subject. If tastefully done, what is the harm. What is a few dollars more to create a brighter vision of what should have been, what could be.
Well for this one I have to ask, as usual, why? Because a light bulb goes on in someone's head?
If you haven't guessed, this is about Town Hall and the proposal to place standing street light poles, eliminate the existing hanging street lights and utility poles and wiring in front of the building for a more aesthetic view for those wishing to view the building.
What are a few more aesthetically pleasing touches to our Town Hall?
Anyway ...
History certainly dominates the landscape, especially at tonight's selectmen's meeting. Street lights for town hall; petitions, discussion expert reports on former schools built by the town's benefactor; a another correspondence about a portrait and a deed.
A bit of a head scratcher that one is.
To me, if you really want to tie the past to the present and future, it would make sense to keep reminders in place of what was and what is. The same reminders that exited at a former site. Moved to a new site, to preserve the legacy so to speak. A reminder to future generations that certain foundations were established by a benefactor, which have been perpetuated into the future.
But admittedly, it would be fair to ask who am I to opine that such things might serve a better purpose where they are to be seen by generations of the Town's children, as opposed to being added to the Town Hall collection, or elsewhere?
Let's leave all those heady issues about the past and future to those presently elected to decide on the same.
Enough thoughts emanating from this dull bulb for today.
Be safe.
What's aesthetically pleasing is in the eye of the beholder. What's historically correct is cut and dry. What's aesthetically pleasing and historically correct at the same time will not be agreed on by all. Neither will the price one's willing to pay to recreate one or the other or both.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if the monogram that was placed into the front wall of the high school was an original detail to the building, but if it wasn't it shouldn't have been placed there because someone wanted it there. I know it was paid for by a private party, but non-historical details shouldn't be added to historical buildings.
ReplyDeleteIt's one thing to alter something that's historical, be it a building, boat, etc., if the original materials are no longer available. But to enhance something that's historical for the sake of making it better? NO.
ReplyDeleteI watched the meeting last night, but I really wish I had been keeping better tabs on the Rogers School issue over the last few months.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I find it rather concerning that an appointed “advisory” committee essentially has openly turned into an activist group. To actually have members of a committee not only advocate for – but actually undertake – a petition drive is especially concerning. They should be in a position of RECOMMENDING appropriate courses of action to the selectmen. What we really have is a group of activists pushing an agenda under the guise of being a “committee”. That is actually disturbing to me.
It’s clear they want an RFP process. So when the Selectboard inevitably gives in, what’s to stop the advisory committee from implementing all of their other positions? It’s pretty obvious that they would impose a ton of restrictions which would actually hurt the redevelopment or reuse of Rogers School.
At this point, I don’t really care too much about the structure at Rogers School. I’ve said it many times before (when I sat on CPC): We, as a Town, cannot afford to protect all the historic things we have. We WILL have to make tough choices, and WILL have to pick the things that are worth saving, leaving others to fall by the wayside. Sorry, but I don’t think Rogers School is one worth saving. Not all of these structures can remain funded by the Town.
I think it’s high time this committee is disbanded. I have zero confidence that the Advisory Committee has the Town’s best interests at heart, but are rather pushing a single agenda. The Selectboard has enough information at this point to render some kind of decision. Let’s divest of the buildings already!
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