FLS: America’s Most Historic City Deserves Better Preservation

fredericksburg_fromchathamTalk to me for any length of time about American history, and the conversation will inevitably turn towards my hometown: Fredericksburg.

There is nothing more awesome than being able to walk the streets and alleys, getting to know the monuments and walls, the old buildings and older buildings, places that endured the Revolution and places that endured “the War” as natives refer to the recent unpleasantness.  Fredericksburg is soaked in history and old stories, and much of that is lost over the course of time — whether folks have moved away, new friends come to live there, or the old memories and stories simply die away with the previous generation.

Councilman Matt Kelly has been the tip of the spear when it comes to preserving what makes Fredericksburg’s history so unique.  The Free Lance-Star has some excellent observations regarding the leveling of Fredericksburg’s history, including the delicate balancing act between preserving that history and the rights of property owners:

Some problems are unavoidable. For example, the state no longer dishes out money like it once did. With the recession still lingering, the largesse of foundations and individuals has dwindled and, most regrettably, some of the preservation resolve locally has waned.

Buildings, like humans, continue to age. That scenario and the recent demolition of an antebellum house at 401–403 Sophia St. has led Fredericksburg Councilman Matt Kelly to urge the city to hire a historic preservation professional.

Preservationists had hoped the original portion of the riverfront house, which appeared in Civil War photographs, could be saved. Instead, its owners quickly leveled it.

“Could we have saved the building? I don’t know,” Kelly said. Still, he argues that a professional city preservationist could have worked all possible options to save at least part of the structure.

Completely worth the read.  There’s such a great deal of Virginia history that needs to be preserved that unfortunately goes by the wayside, remains unnoticed, or is treated as “blight” by those who lack the taste or education to know what’s there.  Property owners with small wallets and big hearts know what needs to be done, but unfortunately the “do-gooders” can be overzealous in the crusade for preservation.  Occasionally, that relationship is in the converse, where property owners will hold history hostage to the highest bidder… which is also a shame.

Balances can and ought to be struck though.  Fredericksburg is a tremendous city with a great deal of Virginia history that envelopes Virginia’s colonial fathers, our Founders, the War, the rise of the railroads and the New South, plus the current blight of sprawl and the tremendous opportunities for economic prosperity affecting the community.

Fredericksburg is a great town, one made great by its history.  It’s worth preserving.

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