Destroying History

The county Board of Supervisors have wasted no time in beginning the destruction of two historic buildings to make way for the "progress" of a shell building which, as far as the public knows, has no company interested in occupying it.

Well, supposedly they are moving them intact to another place, a historic preservation area, on Greenfield. I and many others expect the structures to fall apart when the real effort to remove them is underway. Hopefully we will be wrong and the supervisors will be right.



The structures as viewed from the industrial drive into Greenfield.



These old buildings have been on this high knoll for at least 150 years. The buildings have never been open for public view. The idea is to move them to a historic zone within the industrial park, where a display of some sort might eventually come to fruition.

This has been the plan for 20 years, so I am not holding my breath on the construction of this historic preservation area. During this time, the county did little to protect and preserve these structures, instead leaving most of the buildings exposed to the weather.

 

I am unable to climb the hill to reach the buildings due to a health issues, so I used a zoom to take these shots.

Greenfield was once the home of Colonel William Preston, a Botetourt County statesman and a Revolutionary War hero. These structures that the supervisors are tearing down are pre-Civil War and include a slave dwelling and kitchen.
The Botetourt Center at Greenfield is a 922 acre site the county purchased for $4.5 million in 1995.  The land was divided into an industrial area, a parks and recreation area, and a school area.  The county built Greenfield Elementary School and the Greenfield Education and Training Center in 2000.  The county completed a couple of ball fields and built a $3 million sports complex at the Recreation Center at Greenfield.  Two industries located in the industrial area; one left, so there is one building there for sale. There is also a "pad-ready" site that a business could build a structure upon. It's been available for several years with no takers.



A view from the road. Note the construction vehicles already in place to remove the structures.



When the property was purchased, county officials heard citizens’ concerns about the historic nature of the property and said the historic areas would be protected. A document provided by the county shows that there were several 20th century structures, including a couple of barns, which no longer exist.

The farm was called Greenfield Plantation, named so in 1761. William Preston moved from Greenfield to Drapers Meadows in 1774. He represented Botetourt County in Virginia’s House of Burgess in the 1760s, before there was a United States.  He was a pioneer and a soldier who defended the Virginia frontier during the Revolutionary War.
Preston's son, John, also a Revolutionary War soldier and a Botetourt County statesman, became owner of the Greenfield farm after William Preston and his wife died. The Preston family owned Greenfield through seven generations and sold the land in the late 20th century.

The Greenfield mansion burned in 1959, and it is thought that part of the original log structure existed until that time.

The kitchen that is being torn down measures 16’ by 18’ and faces the southwest wall of the original mansion, which no longer stands.  The slave dwelling is log saddlebag double slave house located west of the house site. It has two log pens which are joined by a stone chimney.  The log walls are exposed on the exterior and chinked with whitewashed red clay.

Part of the structure is protected by an early 20th century porch.

 

The house foundation is the remains of a structure built in the antebellum era.  Historic photographs indicate the structure was a two-story brick dwelling before it burned.  There is also an outbuilding dating back to approximately 1834.

One of the two known cemeteries on the property contains a number of Preston deceased.   Another cemetery has been portioned off with white fence and is said to be the burial grounds for the black servants to the Prestons.

Even though the county has not yet created the Greenfield historic area, the structures being demolished were often visited by folks who venture to Greenfield to walk the fields or the Cherry Blossom Trail.

Sunday Stealing: Christmas Questions

From Sunday Stealing

Christmas Questions

1. Have you been naughty or nice this year?

A. I think that depends upon whom you ask. I am generally a nice person. This year I have become a bit more opinionated than in previous years, I think. I'm a little tired of so much stupid. It burns.
 
2. What do you want most for Christmas?

A. Good health. Acceptance of the fact that I have curiosity and not great passion. Here's an interesting video by Elizabeth Gilbert about accepting yourself as a curious person and not a passionate one. Watch it and see if you learn something. It's about 25 minutes long and well worth the time if you're still searching for something.
 
3. What is your favorite Christmas movie?

A. It's a Wonderful Life. It is interesting how it resonates so well today.
 
4. How many Christmas cards do you normally send out?

A. About 60.
 
5. Do you still get a stocking?

A. Yes. My husband and I have a little game where we fill stockings for one another.
 
6. What is your favorite Christmas song?

A. Do You Hear What I Hear? Here's a Mannheim Steamroller version of it, sans words.
 
7. What is your favorite Christmas TV special?

A. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (the original version). I fit in with the misfits. I'm independent!
 
8. What is your favorite way to wrap gifts?

A. With paper.
 
9. What do you look forward to most at Christmas?

A. Getting it over with. Well, not really. Some years, maybe. I like seeing family and friends, and I like the mystery of gift-giving. I like the decorations. I don't like the cold so much anymore.
 
10. What did you do for Christmas this year?

A. Same as every year. Put up a tree, placed some doo-dads around the house, wrapped presents, made fudge, went to a few parties.
 
11. Who do you want to kiss under the mistletoe?

A. My husband.
 
12. What kind of Christmas tree do you have?

A. We now are the proud owners of an artificial pencil tree.
 
13. Did you take part in a Secret Santa?

A. No.
 
14. Did you go to any Christmas parties?

A. Yes.
 
15. How early do you wake up on Christmas morning?

A. Usual time, sometime after 6 a.m. or so.


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I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Grandma Got Run Over!

Saturday 9: Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (1979)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

*I am surprised that song is that old. I feel positively ancient now.*
 

1) According to a marketing research firm, this song is both one of the most played and most hated songs of the season. Do you like it?

 

A. I do, yes. Not on Christmas Day, but I like it before then.

 

2) In this song, Grandma's troubles start when she drinks too much eggnog. Do you like eggnog?

A. No. My husband is a big fan of boiled custard, though. Which is somewhat like eggnog but not.

3)  In the song, Grandpa recovers from losing Grandma by drinking beer and playing cards with Cousin Mel. Will you be celebrating the holidays with cousins?

A. Maybe.

4) When did you most recently drink a beer? Was it in a bottle, a can or a glass?

A. It has been so long since I drank a beer I couldn't tell you. It would have been over 30 years ago.

5) The lyrics refer to "pudding of fig." In "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," the carolers demand figgy pudding. Yet despite its popularity in holiday songs, Sam has never tasted fig pudding. Have you?

A. Can't say that I have. I've eaten pudding, and I've eaten figs, but not figgy pudding.

6) Thinking of holiday sweets, would you prefer a gingerbread cookie or slice of pumpkin pie?

A. Gingerbread cookie. I would like to have one like the Gingerbread man on Shrek, that talks and everything. That would be fun. I could name it Elmo!

7) This song was recorded by a duo named Elmo & Patsy. It occurs to Sam that she has never met anyone named Elmo. How about you? Any Elmos in your life?

A. I do not have anyone actually named "Elmo" in my life, but my husband's nickname for our nephew is Elmo. I do not know why. He has called him that since he was a baby. The young man's name (he's 20 now) is actually Christopher.

8) Do you need snow to get "into the spirit?"

A. It helps.

9) Random question: Are you going to get/have you gotten a flu shot this year?

A. No. I have received the flu shot a few times, but generally I don't. I'm in the high risk group and should but I usually am sick after I receive the shot, even though "they" say that doesn't happen. When I had the pneumonia shot a few years ago, it was months before I felt better. That one I expect I'll have to have again at some point, because of my asthma. My doctor does not push flu shots, either, which tells me a lot. If she thought it was important for me to have it she would say so, but instead she only gives flu shots when people ask for them. I value her opinion.

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I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

The Church Cantata

Last Sunday, my husband and I went to the cantata at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. I was in the mood for some choir singing.
 
I also figured my father and my step-mother would be singing in the choir, though other than that I had no idea what role they would play.
 
My father turned out to be the narrator for a little story about a mother with a deaf child who showed up in the town square on Christmas Eve, looking for the doctor who could help. The jaded newspaper reporter (my father) saw the woman meet the doctor (the newspaper reporter's wife) and all ended well.
 
Mostly the choir sung and I was happy with that.
 
I sat in the back row, which is never a good spot to sit if you are going to take pictures. I'd have sat closer had I known my father and step-mother were so involved. Oh well.

The church at dusk.



Our former neighbors and companions on the back row. I wasn't actually
trying to take their photo; I was trying to turn the flash off on the camera.



My father in his outfit.

My step-mother is the one with the angel wreath.

I was really too far back to get decent shots.

The mother with her young son in the skit.



Lots of eating afterwards.

More eating.

This handsome young man is my husband's cousin, Lincoln. I am not sure of the kinship. Some kind of
2nd cousin once removed or something, maybe. He's James' grandmother's brother's son's daughter's son, whatever
that is. He just graduated from college and is looking for work in the sports management field.

Santa came to visit, too.

Thursday Thirteen #425

CountryDew's 13 days of Christmas . . . (so far)

Day 1: Send out Christmas cards. Make a list of friends and relatives to buy for.

Day 2: Determine what to buy them.

Day 3: Order most of it online.

Day 4: Make a grocery list for cooking.

Day 5: Go to the market for chocolate chips, sugar, flour, marshmallow crème, etc.

Day 6: Get the first of the packages.

Day 7: Buy a new artificial "pencil" tree. Decorate the house!

Day 8: Go back to the market for the things I forgot the first time.

Day 9: Wrap up all the presents. Wonder what happened to the things that you're missing.

Day 10: Go to the church cantata. Sing some Christmas carols.

Day 11: Tell a friend you love them. Purchase some other presents.

Day 12: Go back to the market for more ingredients. Finally! Start to cook!

Day 13:  More wrapping, more cooking, and Thursday 13! And another week to go!

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 425th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

The Last Leaves of Autumn

If you look closely, you will see that the trees are trying to bud back out - in mid-December. We've been unseasonably warm and the fauna thinks it is April. I hope the upcoming cold weather doesn't damage the trees.

Another Letter to the Editor

This ran in the 12/09/2015 edition of The Fincastle Herald. For the non-local readers, the man mentioned in the letter is one of our county supervisors. He wrote a letter the week before saying he felt like he had to honor a 20-year-old agreement with county citizens, when they voted on a referendum for the industrial park and its historic assets over which we are currently having a major discussion. He also said that he was losing friends over this issue.

Editor,

I appreciated John Williamson's explanation of his reasoning behind his persistence in bringing in a shell building at Greenfield, but I remain unconvinced that moving historic structures to do that is the only way to go about it.

As someone who opposed the Greenfield project from its beginning, I personally do not care if 20-year-old ideas are implemented now. Projects such as this should be living and free-flowing. In fact, the supervisors completely revised the document within the last year by voting to rezone most of Greenfield from a Manufacturing District to a Research and Advanced Manufacturing District (RAM). That's a new zoning designation they created and implemented solely to promote development of some sort at Greenfield.

This action tells me that this 20-year-old plan the supervisors are leaning on as an excuse is malleable. Saying that the historic part must stick to the document while the rest is manipulated by county officials' whims is disingenuous, at best. Obviously the plan can be changed.

The monument to Colonel Preston that is now beside Greenfield Education and Training Center was to be part of the historic area. The supervisors say they are moving historic buildings because they don't think people will drive or walk a short distance into an industrial park. Apparently, they think people will walk across four lanes and up a hill to a school to see this monument when they visit the proposed historic site. Isn't this a double standard? People who love history will go anywhere to see what they want to see, and true historians want to see things intact and in situ.

Shell buildings belong in the 1990s, when Botetourt County had a booming building industry and a better economy. Shell buildings are old-school, old-fashioned, and out-of-date. Not one single person I have spoken with believes this building will be anything other than a rusting eyesore 10 years from now. Some company might move in (or it will sit empty). The company will take the county's incentives for however long they last, and then leave. That's what the citizenry thinks of shell buildings. If anything else happens, it is pure luck.

The supervisors should take the time to come up with new, creative, and inventive ways to enhance and increase our economy - maybe by bringing in multiple smaller businesses, and supporting the ones already here. Pulling ideas from 20 years ago is not forward thinking. Keep your promises if you feel you must, Mr. Williamson, but how about doing it with some innovation?

The supervisors could take the money they must spend to move these historic structures and give it back to the state so they don't feel hampered by that 10-year-old road construction agreement. Or perhaps someone should talk to our state delegate, who, I feel sure, could make that monkey do a somersault and at least give the county additional time.

Finally, in my circle, people can disagree and be adults about it. We don't have to agree to be kind to one another. I have greeted Mr. Williamson with a friendly smile and a warm hello for 25 years, and have no intention of changing that, even though we definitely disagree on Greenfield.

Sunday Stealing: Why?

From Sunday Stealing

Why Do You Want To Know That Meme, part two

25. List 3 activities that you can only enjoy by yourself.  A. Well, I can't wait to see how this one gets answered. But for me, reading books, playing the guitar, and writing.
  
26. If you could live in any biome* (and survive) which biome would you live in? (*a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g., forest or tundra.)  A. I rather like the Blue Ridge Mountains, where I am now.

27. How do you like being roused in the morning? A. My radio wakes me. I don't necessarily *like* it but that is how it goes.

28. How was your day? What did you do? A. I am answering this on Saturday, and fell and ill winds have blown about my homestead today. My efforts to cook and bake have been stymied by misfortunes and interruptions, plus a lot of pain. So much for making fudge.

29. What did your last text message say?  A. I don't text.
 
30. Do you respond to texts quickly?  A. I don't text, so I guess not.
 
31. Who was the last person you called?  A. My husband.

32. List 5 things that are on your wish list.  A. To feel the anger in the country simmer down to a lower level, to have better health, to eat a hot fudge Sunday, to have a hug, and to not worry.
 
33. If you were famous, what do you think you would be famous for?  A. Probably something idiotic.
 
34. Winter or summer?  A. Summer.
 
35. What is a quality that all people should have? A. Kindness.
 
36. If you could have a large collection of one item, what would that item be?  A. Money.
 
37. What have you been thinking about lately?  A. The county's decision to tear down historic structures and build a "shell building" in their place in hopes of luring in some elusive company.
 
38. What is the secret to a happy life? A. Haven't figured it out yet.
 
39. What are some phrases you say often?  A. "Interesting."
 
40. Favorite food?  A. Chocolate.
 
41. What is your wish for the world?  A. That people learn how to get along and stop judging one another.

42. What are some of your greatest fears?  A. Being homeless and living under a bridge.
 
43. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer?  A. Photos.
 
44. Most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen (in real life)?  A. My husband's smile.
 
45. Spicy food: Like or dislike? A. Dislike.
 
46. Scary movies: Like or dislike?  A. Dislike.
 
47. Do you like to travel? A. Sometimes.
 
48. Any regrets?  A. I'm 52 years old. Of course I have regrets.
 
49. Do you like rain?  A. Yes.

Saturday 9: Chuck E.'s in Love

Saturday 9: Chuck E.'s in Love (1979)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here. 

Oh, one of my favs from back in the day! "How come he don't come and PIP with me down at the meter no more?" Hard one to play on the guitar, too.


1) In this song, Chuck E.'s friends look for him at the pool hall and the drugstore. If we want to find you on a Saturday afternoon, where should we look?

A. At my house, generally. Boring, I know.

2) The lyrics tell us his friends know something up with Chuck E because he's even combed his hair. So here's a question about your hair: do you usually use a blow dryer or let it air dry?

A. I blow it dry. Occasionally I let it air dry just to give it a change of pace.

3) In this song, Ricki Lee sings that she spotted Chuck E. at the Pantages, a grand old Los Angeles theater. Nearly 100 years old, the Pantages was originally a movie palace and was renovated in the 1980s for concerts and theatrical productions. Tell us about a cool landmark in your town.

A. Roanoke, my nearest city, is known as the Star City of the South because it has a huge star on Mill Mountain. It has always been the Mill Mountain Star to me but I think they call it the Roanoke Star now. Roanoke likes to change the name of things. Anyway, the star was built in 1949 as a gimmick to bring in shoppers. The star is made of neon. It changes color from red, white, and blue, depending on time period and whims of city council.

I think it is the largest manmade neon structure in the world, but I wouldn't swear to that.

You can see what the City of Roanoke looks like from the star on the StarCam.

Here are photos I took in 2014.

The view from the Roanoke Star.

4) "Chuck E." is a real person. Chuck E. Weiss is a blues musician and DJ who hung around with Ricki Lee and her boyfriend . . . until he fell in love. Have you ever had a friendship fall by the wayside when one of you entered a romantic relationship?

A. Long ago, like, high school years. These days friends just fall by the wayside because people move, have other interests, or have no time. Most of my friends had children, but since I was unable to do that, it created a bit of a chasm. I couldn't really talk about the price of diapers.

5) Rickie Lee was once married to a French musician named Pascal Nabet-Meyer. Say something to us in French.

A. Oui. No?

6) When her popularity was at its height, Rickie Lee appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone twice. Who have you seen on a recent magazine cover?

A. Oprah Winfrey. I get her magazine.

7) Rolling Stone called Rickie Lee "the duchess of cool." Who is the coolest person you know?

A. Hm. I know a lot of cool people. But I will go with my friend Dreama K., who is a local artist. You can see her artwork at this blog entry I wrote in 2013. Another cool person is my physical therapist, Audrey. She has been putting up with me weekly for 18 months while we try to get me functional again.
 
Here are a couple of pictures:

Ms. Dreama herself.

8)  1979 was a good year for Rickie Lee, what with her big hit record and the Rolling Stone covers. But it was a terrible year for The Who, because eleven of their fans died during an Ohio concert. What's your favorite Who song?

A. Whooo are you? Whoo ooo whoooo? And Pinball Wizard.

9) Rickie Lee moved to New Orleans, a city she fell in love with after a visit. Have you ever gone to a vacation spot and wished you could just stay there forever?

A. Can't say that I have. There's no place like home, there's no place like home. I live in my ruby slippers, I guess.
  
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I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

December Flower

This is one of the flowers I bought this spring. It died out and then, with no cold weather to speak of, it came roaring back and is now in full bloom, here on December 11.

I can't remember what this was. Perhaps some kind of dahlia but I wasn't expecting to have to recall it's name again. (If you know, please leave it in the comments!)

So far it has been quite warm for this time of the year, at least here in my area. Great for my electric bills, but not so much for germs. We have lots of viruses and bugs going around, so be careful out there!

Thursday Thirteen

Oh . . . Achoo! It's that time of year, when we spread our germs and sickness abounds. Here are some ideas about not getting sick - and what to do if you do.

1. Wash your hands. A lot. This is the best way to keep from getting germs. Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth, too.

2. Carry anti-bacteria cleaner stuff in your car. Use it as soon as you leave a public place.

3. Take Vitamin C. Check with your doctor if you're on other medications.

4. Stay away from people who are sick. Don't shake hands, kiss, hug, or otherwise get close. (Sorry spouses, you get to sleep in the spare room.)

5. Don't touch stuff like public toilets, doorknobs, etc. Use tissues or maybe even wear gloves to keep from getting those icky germs on your hands.

6. Get a good night's rest, exercise, and eat right to keep yourself healthy. A good immune system will go a long way towards keeping those pesky germs at bay.

Now, if you get sick - here's what you do.

7. Stay home! I know you need the money and you don't get sick leave, but please, stay home. Don't spread your germs. This is especially important if you're in the food or health care industries.

8. Rest. This means go to bed and sleep, not clean the house and putter around. You can sit up and watch a little TV but you really should just go to bed and stay there.

9. Drink lots of water or other fluids. You need to keep hydrated. If you're running a fever or have things running out of the other end, this is especially important.

10. Use a humidifier to help keep your sinuses moist.

11. Try chicken soup. Grandma did know a thing or two, and chicken soup can open up your head and make your belly feel better.

12. Take a pain reliever if you need it for muscle aches, headaches, fever, etc. Of course check with your doctor if you're on other medications.

13. Lastly, don't over do it and give yourself time to recover. Going back to work too soon can cause rebound illness, and prolong your agony.

Stay well, and keep on keeping on!

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 424th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

A Big Fat Hawk

This bird was a long ways off when I spied it out the window. It was at the limits of my long-range camera lens when I took these photos, so they are not as clear as I would like.

The hawk was huge. I don't know how it flew!

Lighting Candles

I have a number of friends and acquaintances who are ill at the moment. Apparently, something terrible is going around.

One person I know has been down for the count for at least 10 days. Others have coughs, colds, depression. One is terminally ill.

When this many people in my circle are suffering, this becomes one of the times when I offer up prayer.

On Facebook the other day, I had a little discussion about prayer. In particular, it was the idea that simply offering thoughts and prayers to the families of mass murder victims does little to solve the problem. This became a bit of a national discussion after the last murders, when one of the New York papers proclaimed in a headline "God Isn't Going to Fix This."

I think that  what prayer does is give comfort to the person doing the praying, especially if it's the quick "I bow my head, say "hey, help these people," and you're done kind. That gives you an immediate feeling of doing something. Then you go on about your day. Maybe later you give the matter some thought and wonder if there is a solution, I don't know.

There is nothing wrong with that. If it brings you comfort and that is your way of praying, then that is your business.

However, I don't pray like that. Prayer for me is a long, drawn-out process, something sacred that I do privately and with forethought. I don't do it often for that reason.

Today I did my prayer ritual for my ailing friends. This takes me quite a while, because first I must cleanse myself with a shower. I don't want to go before the Higher Power feeling dirty. Then I have to sit in a space that I consider sacred or personal. I usually light a candle because I find the flame helpful in focusing. Today I lighted candles for every friend I knew who was sick. I watched the smoke on each candle, watching the blackness of the burning wax rise in the air. Most of the smoke went straight up and was soon gone; one had no smoke, and one smoked for a good while. Oddly enough, that was the candle I had designated for the friend I know to be the most ill. The one with no smoke was the candle I had designated for a friend who I had hoped was almost better.

Then I prayed. That is personal and I won't relay it here, but it consisted of thinking about each person, one at a time, asking for protection, guidance, and healing, and then snuffing out the candle before I moved on to the next.

I believe there is power in prayer. I think if at some appointed time, the world stopped and everyone prayed for the same thing, fervently and with all of their heart (and regardless of which god they worship, or even if all they do is think about it because they are atheist), that we could make a massive change. Maybe we could stop wars, end greed, create peace. But personally, I think it would have to be a solemn, serious issue, not a big concert in a stadium like I've seen some churches have. Prayer doesn't have to boring, I suppose, but I don't think it is meant to be done in a party atmosphere.

Generally when people ask for prayers on Facebook, if I feel moved to respond, I say "I am thinking of you," which, in fact, I am. Later, when I've made my preparations, I pray for the person.

Anyway, that is how I feel about prayer. I don't really think a prayer tweet does much good. You may think otherwise, and that's okay, because we can have different opinions and still be kind to one another.

We're The Seedbed of the Republic

This is a letter to the editor I wrote that ran in last week's Fincastle Herald. My husband signed this one with me.

Editor:
""The county government is not in the historical preservation business. We've got other things that we do but we support it," said Todd Dodson with the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors."

This direct quote from a supervisor from a TV news story is one reason why so many citizens are upset about the county's stubborn refusal to review its plans to build this shell building atop the knoll where historic structures stand at Greenfield.

If county officials are not interested in preserving the very things that make Botetourt the special and wonderful place that it is, what are they there for? Just as Mr. Dodson thinks the county should not be in the historic preservation business, there are those of us who believe the county should not be in the corporate welfare business (what they call economic development), either.

We are tired of paying taxes only to have the supervisors turn around and give the money away to corporations that have no roots here, and no reason to stay once their "incentives" are gone.

If the county wants to bring in business, they should look at those with good corporate morals. In January 2007, Gander Mountain turned down $1 million in incentives from Roanoke County.  According to a story in The Roanoke Times, Gander Mountain Vice President Tim Martin said, "We don't think subsidies or tax breaks ought to be a prerequisite for opening a store."

That is a company we can do business with.
There are corporations that believe in standing on their own two feet and not in coming in, raping a county of its assets, and leaving.

We suggest the supervisors look for those companies and leave the shell buildings alone. Any company that would locate in this shell building after learning the history of its construction and the "relocation" of two of the county's most historic buildings is not a company with the kind of morality that we and many others want to see in here anyway.

The supervisors' stubbornness in this action is bewildering. If building this shell building is such a good deal now, it will be a good deal six months from now. If it's not a good deal six months from now, then somebody should say why this must be done in such a hurry. The county has waited this long to do something with Greenfield - what is the rush? What would six more months hurt?

One cannot understand the complexities of these beautiful old structures and all of the historic and architectural aspects of Greenfield in a few months. Indeed, it has taken more than 20 years for people to begin to understand that we have historic resources here that rival those of any area in the nation.

We are The Seedbed of the Republic, to borrow from the county's most popular history book, and the supervisors would do well to remember that. All we can determine is that either the supervisors are not telling us all they know, or they merely want to destroy what we have for the sake of another pitiful economic dream. That is nothing but foolishness.