Show Your Heritage and You A window to the past an anchor for the turbulent present present present pres pres- ent a catalyst for citizenship and a root to nourish the unpredictable un unpredictable unpredictable un- un predictable future Historic preservation can be beall beall beall all of this and more From Staten Island to San Diego citizens citizens citizens citi citi- zens in cities suburbs and periled open spaces are taking a new look at the potential of preservation They see It as a force to help unify a city and build citizen pride and participation through something held In common common common com com- mon educate young people to the heritage of citizenship give color and variety to what could be a bleak or monotonous en environment environment environment en- en strengthen the economy economy economy econ econ- omy by attracting visitors and providing jobs First families and millionaires millionaires million million- aires alres during the first half halt of this century were the saviours of priceless gems of the theAmer- theAmer American Amer- Amer Ican lean heritage such landmarks as Mt Vernon Colonial Williamsburg WillIamsburg Wil- Wil and the town houses of Boston Philadelphia and Charleston South Carolina Churches garden clubs and historical historical historical his his- societies struggled to rescue Greek Revival sanctuaries sanctuaries sanctuaries aries Indian burial grounds the adobes of Monterey the Vieux Carre of New Orleans the sights the spell the adventure of greatness greatness greatness great great- ness that can enrich and In In- In spire The efforts were of often often orten or- or ten no match for the inexorable roll of ot the bulldozer which to today today today to- to day chews up rural land at the rate of almost two a year Many historic buildings Including in including including In- In famous city halls are endangered Freeways urban renewal and suburban tracts have been the carriers of des des- What will be left to remind us of who we are asks a restless and mobile nation Entire Entire En En- tire Ure blocks and neighborhoods vanish with no evidence of the past to add spice and variety to give substance and Identity to the changing skyline There Is still sUll time in most parts of the nation and public opinion Is s growing to reverse the trend according to the American Institute of Architects Architects Architects Archi Archi- and other organizations Architects and other design professionals are available to work with city governments colleges clubs private de developers developers developers de- de and neighborhood associations as associations as- as to use new Federal funds and private vate grants for preservation The trend in preservation Is Isto Isto isto to use the old to enhance the new to renew useful life Ilfe for the historic place to make it a acen- acen center center cen cen- ter of activity The difference between the old and new preservation preservation Is the difference between a scattering of historic museums museums museums mu mu- and whole architectural communities or historic en environments environments environments en- en blending old and new In modern functional use explains George B. B Hartzog Jr Director of or the National Park Service San Antonio with its riverfront riverfront riverfront river river- front San Francisco with a chocolate factory Houston with Market Square Chicago withOld with withOld withOld Old Town show how to mix preservation with new construction construction construction con con- and public facilities Most com communities have good examples of ot period ar architecture architecture architecture ar- ar or sites and structures structures structures tures associated with men and events that hat counted points out the National Trust for Historic Preservation Owners of a huge shopping center in Fremont California landscaped and Illuminated anold an anold anold old farmhouse at a main intersection Intersection Intersection Inter Inter- section to keep alive aUve the history of the site Even resort projects projects projects pro pro- office complexes cooperatives cooperatives cooperatives op co and universities can retain evidence of the past to add diversity to new building The range of restoration and preservation work is as varied as America Preservation by new uses for foran foran foran an old building can be seen In Inthe inthe inthe the Victorian Carson House in Eureka California now a private private private vate club In Cannery Row book shops in Monterey and Inart in inart inart art galleries from old train stations Economic rewards can come from preservation Since a touring couple spends 31 to 36 a day and since that money turns over several times the value to a small city of or a historic landmark Is Immense The Thomas Edison birthplace birthplace birthplace birth birth- place In Milan Ohio population population population tion 1400 brings over visitors annually and accounts for up to a third of the business of 50 area motels Unlike pageants or festivals the his historic historic historic his his- landmark stands day Philadelphia figures at least one-fourth one of its Us year a tourist Industry is attributable to historic sites siles It is no accident that the most desirable sections of many cities sparkle with restored housing and stores A neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighbor neighbor- hood on I Its ts way up can be spotted by the degree of renovation renovation renova renova- tion according to community organizers city officials and architects Even if It didn't didn ot mean one dollar In new tax revenue or business the salvaging and use of ot historic places is a sound Investment for tor a city points out Michael Barker di director director director di- di rector of urban programs for tor forthe forthe the American Institute of or Ar Ar- Ar American cities badly badly badly bad bad- ly need a sense of community a feeling of belonging Historic settings that generate fun and participation can help mold the elusive thread of citizenship that concrete alone cant can't de deliver deliver deliver de- de liver he adds Generally speaking says the National Trust it Is beller to preserve than repair better betterto to repair than restore better betterto to restore than reconstruct Why The more integrity a building retains the better In Integrity Integrity Integrity In- In is a composite quality based on original workmanship original location and Intangible elements of association and feeling The real anything is hard to copy All structures worthy of or preservation cant can't sup support p 0 r t themselves as museums Ingenious Ingenious Ingenious Ingen Ingen- ious and fresh uses for old buildings are being discovered around the nation however To find the buildings building's true identity and then restore that life Ufe to it H the architect t will inspect diaries wills deeds letters interview persons seek court records photograph probe measure excavate uncover un uncover tin un- cover remove and replace He may have to build tools and train workmen before betor the job joh is complete Is it worth it Man has a craving responds re responds responds re- re a longtime me reconstruction tion architect Charles E. E Pe Peterson Peterson Peterson Pe- Pe terson F FAIA AlA of Philadelphia He demands links to his past He needs this for survival Excerpts from a pamphlet put pamphlet put putout out by the American Institute of ot Architects |