YOUR COMMENTS

I strongly feel that what I did was the right thing to do, and that's to get an injunction against those whose wish to to destroy the Kingston Historic District by making it go up in smoke and flames.
- Stanley Shalett, Kingston, NH 03848

here are people who would tear down all beautiful old buildings and make every street in the country look like Route 9 in Framingham, Mass.

A great ruling by Judge Nadeau.
- Bill Howard, Exeter

Not every old building is beautiful OR SAFE. For those who want this building to stay perhaps you should donate your time and money to maintain it.
- Kitt, Exeter

That's good info. Thanks for posting Alton.
- Joan, Concord

I know what building this is and it is NOT historic. It is an eye-sore, and I feel the training the departments would get from the burn would benefit the town and is more valuable than the building remaining there.
- Nate, Merrimack

I'm all for saving buildings of significance...but not just any old random building.

If a private person or company wants to maintain it, great. Otherwise, let it go.

And Clarence, I don't know if you've ever been to the south, but I have and they tear down anything older than 1980.
- Dennis, Manchester, NH

I am against Judge Tina Nadeau's ruling. As an explorer on the Kingston Fire Department, I have put alot of effort into preparing the building for the burn. I must say that the building might originally have been built in the 1850's, but has been repaired so many times that only the foundation is original. Also, the building is a hazardous problem because it is starting to lean. The timbers, which are 2x4's, are both not original and are rotted. The school system has contracted the company Habitatas for Humanity to salvage anything that could be reused. They took most of the aluminum storm windows and most of the wiring. The building itself has almost no historical value because it was most likely rebuilt in the 1960's. It is also in too much disrepair to be used. The school gave permission to the fire department so that they could use it for training. I know its sad, but all building will be eventually demolished. It's a part of life. When the fire department burns a building for training, it provides valuable training experience for inexperienced firefighters.
- Alton Veroneau, Kingston

I find it funny, that everyone who thinks we should "save" this building, isn't even from the town of Kingston. Have any of you even seen Gilmore cottage? or read the article? The building is NOT a historical building, contrary, it is an eye sore, and it is only going to get worse. It has been gutted on the inside, there is nothing of "value" historically or otherwise associated with the building. As a tax payer, who actually lives in this town, I for one am not happy to have an eye sore that I get to pay for! Yes, this IS the historical district, but this is NOT a historical building. Also, this building has nothing to do with Hannaford, this is not the location Hannaford was looking at. Please check your facts. Also, my thanks to the local fire departments for all your work preparing for the day, only to have the rug pulled out from under you.
- Traci, Kingston, NH

Speaking of historic homes, does anyone know what the plans are for the old Federalist style home on the corner of rt 111 and Hardwood Rd in Windham (across from the elementary school)? The home was once beautifully maintained and landscaped but has lately fallen into disrepair and all the surrounding trees have been cut down. Is someone planning on demolishing that one too? The place has to be almost 200 years old. It would be a shame for the town to lose such a wonderful piece of its history.
- William, Hudson

A sense of place is the only thing that distinguishes one community from another. Did we learn nothing from the the 1960's urban renewal debacle? If we continue to get rid of our historic buildings, we destroy our past and our links to it. Shame on the School Board, who should be educating our children about such things instead of destroying them.
- Sue Hunt, Alexandria

We should be preserving all that we can of our nation's history... not setting a match to it because it's a bother to take care of. I wonder if these people also abandon their own parents once they become old and in need of care. Great ruling and hopefully it stands... I might not live in this town but Hannaford's has no place in a Historic District. Move the eye sore elsewhere and allow the uniqueness of the past stand.
- Rose, Manchester

These "do gooders" like Mr Shalett have every right to save these buildings. However, they do not have the right to reach into my wallet to pay for it. You want to preserve the building, you pay for it!
- Mike Bodruk, manchester

As a homeowner it is not my responsibility, duty or mission to educate the public about how any any class of people lived. This issue is about private property. I live in an old house and I am preserving it because I appreciate the historic value of it and others like it, however I have no claim on anyone else's property. I like old houses but I like the personal liberties and freedoms provided by our constitution much more. My suggestion is that if an individual needs to have a structure saved he should buy it himself and then he can do whatever he wishes (within the law of course).
On another note, that the fire departments will receive from this controlled burn will be invaluable. It will help these agencies to save lives, which are truly irreplaceable.
- Bob, Deerfield

There are people who would tear down all beautiful old buildings and make every street in the country look like Route 9 in Framingham, Mass.

A great ruling by Judge Nadeau.
- Bill Howard, Exeter

Preservationism is not about preservation; it's about giving gadflies like Mr. Shalett control over property owners that they don't deserve. Of course that specific building could not be reassembled from the ashes. But if someone wanted such a building, despite its complete lack of historical significance, it would be easy to rebuild it. The assertion that the original building must be preserved rather than rebuilt implies that it's somehow sacred. Environmentalism likewise is not about actual impact on humans but on declaring certain resources sacred--again, for the empowerment of gadflies.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

The New England mentality towards structures is certainly different from that of the south and west a building as old as this structure is classic farmhouse type structure and is worthy of preservation. Not every historic structure is a Mount Vernon or grand mansion like the Breakers or Biltmore house. At the alarming rate we are destroying small early cape cods and structures like this a person will never know how real working class families lived.
- clarance, northwood

At the very least, the wood can be salvaged and used in other construction. It's hard to find timber of that quality anymore.
- Kim, Chester