New is nice...Sometimes. But, new can also be destructive, unwanted, and, in the case of preservation, the permanent and devistating loss of an irreplacable piece of history.
It first started to come to public attention with Urban Renewal. How many historic buildings and whole towns were destroyed in the name of "progress" and "beautification"? I am personally aware of almost a complete old canal town, destroyed by the wrecking ball, replaced by brown, block buldings. Why were they torn down? Especially against the outcries of the towns people? It was said they were unsafe. But, these "unsafe" and "unstable" buildings gave the wrecking ball a run for its money. They were so hard to take down, it actually put them behind scheduel.
Now, we deal with a whole new force. Big chains, such as Wallmart, Wallgreens, etc.,malls, developments (when there are plenty of "used" houses already for sale in the same area), and new ball fields replacing the old historical ones. In Massachusetts, the drugstore wars go on. (See Preservation Links.) Chains wanting to come in and tear down whole 19th century towns, to put in a mew store and parking lot.
Then there is New York University. They purchased a dwelling known as the Poe House. (See Preservation Links.) The last known existing home in Manhattan where Edgar Allen Poe and his wife Virginia lived. They were there less then a year, but it was there that it is said Poe edited and published his "The Raven and Other Stories", as well as working on 3 other major works, including "The Cask of Amontilado". Unfortunatly, it is not the University's goal to preserve this home. It is scheduled for demoloition in order to expand the law facilities.
There is currently a fight to save this historic home. Hopefully, preservationists will prevail, and the University will find a use for the house, not just the land it sets on.
There are many more historical places in jeopardy. Not just buildings either, but battlefields, cemetaries (although cemetaries seem have more maintenance/vandalism problems), burial grounds and landmarks all over the country. Old homes are in the way of shopping malls and highways, while old city buildings are said to hinder growth.
There is a lot that concerned people can do to help. Start in your own backyard. If you hear of a historical place in peril, you can start petitions, town meetings, etc. Many times, this "needed growth" is unwanted by residents, or they do want it, but are unaware of the destruction involved. Make your feelings known. If your town or historic society says their hands are tied,
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