Destroying the American Past

These observations appear just a fortnight after American Landmarks Week, part of the American Landmarks Celebration that lasts until November 30. In association with UNESCO’s “International Monuments Year,” the National Trust for Historic Preservation is sponsoring this celebration.

The valiant endeavours of the National Trust to save something out of the destruction of American buildings of historic interest and architectural importance need everyone’s support. I have upon my desk, by way of grim reminder, a recent clipping from a Virginia newspaper. There are two pictures, and their caption is “Progress.” The upper picture shows a venerable pillared mansion burning—set afire to clear the site. “Stately Ossian Hall, above, was built in 1730, and both Washington and Lafayette visited there.” Below is a photograph of dreary new split-level houses, crowded nastily together. “In 1959 it was razed to make way for a subdivision, a part of which is shown below.”

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Russell Kirk

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These observations appear just a fortnight after American Landmarks Week, part of the American Landmarks Celebration that lasts until November 30. In association with UNESCO’s “International Monuments Year,” the National Trust for Historic Preservation is sponsoring this celebration.

The valiant endeavours of the National Trust to save something out of the destruction of American buildings of historic interest and architectural importance need everyone’s support. I have upon my desk, by way of grim reminder, a recent clipping from a Virginia newspaper. There are two pictures, and their caption is “Progress.” The upper picture shows a venerable pillared mansion burning—set afire to clear the site. “Stately Ossian Hall, above, was built in 1730, and both Washington and Lafayette visited there.” Below is a photograph of dreary new split-level houses, crowded nastily together. “In 1959 it was razed to make way for a subdivision, a part of which is shown below.”