This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

Letters to the Editor i
Support Historic Preservation in BSL
I have been reading the recent letters to the editor from people who have voiced their objections to the proposed historic commission & adoption of historic guidelines & designated areas.
I am an owner and lover of old houses and want to help keep our history alive. I love the many sets of cypress French doors in my home and the gently sloping thresholds worn down by the many footsteps of previous owners. I makes me feel a part of the tapestry of the lives of those who went before me. I hope some day that someone will ask the same questions about my family history. Thus continuing that creative thread that weaves its way through the story of civilization. Every old house has a story. It’s painful to see old houses razed as they are often community landmarks and make the past present for all to see. These wonderful old structures embody ethnic traditions and local customs and remind us all of the advances in building technology. If we do not
honor them and learn from the past, they say we will be forced to relive it. Old houses evoke a sense of tradition and security, of closeness to the land and to the people who built them.
Several years ago, a very old house in the first block of State Street was torn down. Many people had attempted to buy it for restoration but were unsuccessful. Now it is a vacant lot. We need protection for our history.
The description and documentation of our heritage and history are a vital part of historic preservation. Historic preservation also fosters an appreciation of our diverse cultural heritage.
The economic benefits of historic preservation are also important.
Historic preservation provides an avenue to enrich and revitalize our lives and communities. It creates jobs, revitalizes downtown areas stimulates business and ultimately makes communities more
LETTER-PAGE 5A
Letter
Continued from Page 4A
vital. Preservation can offer tax incentives, funding possibilities, motivate community involvement and fosters community spirit.
Please don’t dismiss the historic preservation initiatives as an attempt to take
away property owner rights. We need to begin by taking small steps to save the past. Our futures depend on it.
Carol Strohmetz Bay St. Louis