It’s OK around here to tear down a historic building but not a tree

To the Editor:

It's amazing to me how you don't dare cut down a tree in Athens County lest you destroy the "view shed," a completely made up, ridiculous word that means nothing, but it's OK to raze historic buildings to make way for more housing that may or may not be occupied.

The proposal to raze the BellaVino store on Stimson Avenue in Athens was approved by the City Planning Commission. This building was featured in Hocking Valley Bank's excellent calendar this year, named "Recycling the Athens County Way," as one of the repurposed buildings in this county. According to the calendar, it was a stable for the Athens Brick Company that operated on Stimson Avenue until about 1920. There are still four original brick company houses on Stimson Avenue, one of which has also been "repurposed" as the Athens Bicycle Shop. The original fa ade of this building has been pretty much maintained.

I've never understood the mindset in this county where it's OK to destroy our historical structures, including Indian mounds, but it's not okay to cut a tree that would die anyway and then replace itself.

A few years ago, my husband and I went to England where we toured the Tower of London, saw Christopher Wren churches, and were driven to Stonehenge along a highway where thatched-roof ancient houses were common. We also visited the Bath Abbey, an old church that in this country would have been torn down years ago.

I have seen buildings in Holland and Germany that were bombed in World War II and rebuilt because they were so old and their history was valuable to the people.

Where is the Athens County Historical Society & Museum on this issue? Or should we just take a picture, tear the building down and forget about it?

I for one will be keeping the picture of that building that was in the Hocking Valley Bank calendar. Thank you, Hocking Valley Bank, for continuing to celebrate the heritage of Athens County in your wonderful calendars. I wish that Athens city had people on the Planning Commission who had the same priorities.

Debbie Williams
Monserat Ridge Road
Millfield