Benefits of preservation undeniable

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Is it just me?

Am I the only person who wants to check out the inside of Walnut Ridge Mansion – the dilapidated house on St. Joseph? Nobody seems to know too much about it or they won’t give it up if they do. This much I do know: It was built by J. Riely Gordon, a renowned turn of the century architect who did well by Gonzales. He designed the courthouse (1895), the J.B. Kennard House (1895) and, a couple of years later, Walnut Ridge.

I know it is said to be haunted by black-eyed children, was inhabited by a resident who refused several generous offers to sell and was originally commissioned by J.F. Smith. One person mentioned it had a fantastic chandelier which remains to this day. The mansion has its own Facebook page with no information on it. Someone may or may not still live there.

That much I know.

What I don’t know is how something so beautiful and Greek Revival can fall into such a state of disrepair. It’s a question I’ve thought a bit about after more than several people have told me what they think of the ongoing work at another historical building – the Randle-Rather Building, specifically, and preservation in general.

The Randle-Rather Building continues to undergo, I’m told by one county commissioner, what is a $3.4 million restoration. Those opposed to the work complain Randle-Rather will house county offices and take up a lot of parking. Nobody has told me it’s haunted.

Who’d have thought parking would trump ghosts?

My opinion is unqualified but my aesthetics aren’t. The ease or dis-ease of parking is not something I considered after seeing both buildings for the first time and weighed $3.4 million against nothing. That’s a hefty amount of money. But sometimes nothing weighs more.

Thrift is more often than not, a good thing. In the south, it’s a character trait. It’s understandable some would think pouring money into an old building was extravagant or foolhardy. But compare those two buildings. And compare the many buildings and homes in various states of despair or repair and the argument for historic preservation looks a lot better.

Property owners get a pass. I could argue that ownership connotes responsibility but I’m not about to tell anyone what to do with their home or their money. I’ll root for them if they take on rehabilitation and show them gobs of information on the economic benefit of preserving what is unique. We live in a county full of that type of potential. Thus, when a government or public entity can step in and compare the weights of money and nothing, I will almost always cheer the investment. The benefits of preserving the culture, heritage and legacy of things is undeniable. Sure, it’s costly. But it’s actually cheaper than ghosts whether they find a place to park or not.

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