TERRE HAUTE —
In an April 13 article on the potential demolition of historic buildings at Fifth and Wabash for student housing, Mike Ellis says, “I love the old historic buildings and have always had a passion to see them saved and restored. I was an opponent of seeing the Terre Haute House come down and the new hotel go up,” he said. “I have been proven wrong with what that would do for Terre Haute.”
I think that Mr. Ellis is encouraging us to take the wrong lesson from the demolition of that historic site. The decision to demolish the Terre Haute House was one of the hardest, most heart-wrenching decisions this city has ever made. The loss of such a foundational part of our city’s history has wounded us, that we were not able to salvage and revitalize part of what once made our city great. That it may have been the right decision, that the building really was beyond reasonable repair, does not change the fact that this decision was seriously undertaken. The results, however good, have left a scar on our city.
The very last lesson we should take from this event is the cavalier attitude toward the destruction of our city’s past that Mr. Ellis currently displays. The demolition of the Terre Haute House should serve to us all as a warning that we are in very real danger of losing our city’s history. We cannot rebuild that history in new construction, or make “likenesses” of it. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
The demolition of the Terre Haute House was a shameful day for our city, when we realized how badly we’d failed in preserving and maintaining those things that make us who we are. By continuing this trend and demolishing more of our own history, we are tacitly saying, “We have failed. Our past is not worth saving. We would rather take the easy path of destruction, turn our backs on our own history, and become another rudderless Midwestern town, no grounding in our past, no vision for our future, no identity of our own.”
We try to teach our children the value of learning our history, understanding where we come from, and letting this guide where we can go in the future. We need to learn the same lesson. Someday our children will judge us a ship of fools if the only experience that remains for them of their city’s history comes not from actually living in that city, but from reading about it in their school textbooks.
— Robyn Morton
Terre Haute
Opinion
FLASHPOINT: Historic hotel demolition was shameful day for Terre Haute
- Opinion
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LIZ CIANCONE: Another beloved dog goes to heaven
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READERS’ FORUM: June 18, 2013
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MAX JONES: For loyal readers, a bit of news from the T-S newsroom
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GUEST COLUMN: One Million Bones exhibit meant to raise awareness, inspire action to end genocide
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EDITORIAL: Insisting on ISTEP quality lawmakers’ primary duty
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The Obama Debate: Is he a liar or incompetent?
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A Fathers Day Tribute: Transition — from child to father
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READERS' FORUM: June 16, 2013
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The Obama Debate: President has served us well
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RONN MOTT: Not hurried a bit by 21st century tech
Unlike so many of you, I do not get up in the morning and run to turn on my computer. In fact, if you need to reach me in a hurry, I would say that 19th century invention of Alexander Bell’s would be the best way. If you do email me or use some other electronic convenience, better give it a couple of days because I am not in that big of a hurry.
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READERS' FORUM: June 15, 2013
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EDITORIAL: And now we wait for justice
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READERS' FORUM: June 14, 2013
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RONN MOTT: Kill the Umpire!
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READERS' FORUM: June 13, 2013
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EDITORIAL: Remembering Sister Jeanne
Terre Haute is mourning the loss this week of an accomplished and beloved community activist and leader whose life’s work is an inspiration to all who strive to serve.
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EDITORIAL: Embrace the value of traffic planning
Never underestimate the value of a good plan to deal with a crisis, large or small, even if the final analysis of the management of a specific crisis is, “It could have been worse.”
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READERS' FORUM: June 12, 2013
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RONN MOTT: What’s happening?
I know I may have looked at these situations differently when I was in my twenties. The world, my life, my career, and the growth of my family all lay ahead of me. So perhaps now, many years later, I see it differently.
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READERS’ FORUM: June 11, 2013
• Great support for local cause
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LIZ CIANCONE: Withdrawn society not very social any more
My Best Friend and I went out for lunch the other day. It was a sit-down place with our own “server” (in my day I was called “a waitress”) and everything offering personal attention. The manager even came over to ask if everything was all right.
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READERS’ FORUM: June 10, 2013
• What is the cost of our austerity?
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EDITORIAL: It’s time to assess ISTEP
Later this month, the company behind this spring’s abysmal online administration of ISTEP testing for 27,000 Hoosier schoolchildren is being called to the principal’s office.
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Readers’ Forum: June 9, 2013
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FLASHPOINT: Storm chasers must heed warnings, remember why we chase storms
The tragic death of noted weather researcher and former Discovery Channel storm chaser Tim Samaras has shaken all of us in the meteorological community.
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Will you be happy if you win the lottery?
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RONN MOTT: The ‘wilds’ of Collett Park
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