The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 63, July 1959 - April, 1960 Page: 184
684 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
have everywhere seen a definite trend toward decentralization of
business into outlying community centers. Above all, the indi-
vidual citizen will have to face up to the choice, which is hard
for any American to make, of whether or not he will be willing
to sacrifice any of his ideal of complete convenience to less ma-
terial pleasures, whether or not he will be willing to walk an extra
two blocks to park and have the satisfaction of knowing that may-
be he has helped to prevent the destruction of some old building
that he and future generations may enjoy.
Unfortunately, there are some persons in every community,
often men and women of influence, who regard this growing
interest in the attempted preservation of the state's visible heritage
as something to keep old ladies busy when the children have
grown past the bothersome stage. For them, here is a quotation
from a source with a national reputation in the business world,
the Kiplinger magazine, Changing Times. In the March, 1958,
issue, there was an article entitled "Don't Let the Bulldozers De-
molish Historic Places in Your Town." This articles quotes Thom-
as Fuller's saying "An hour may destroy what an age was a-build-
ing," and then starts as follows:
It is fascinating and instructive to examine the houses of early
Americans, to picture their way of life, to note the architecture
of their courthouses and churches. ... Yet if the present trend
continues, such historic buildings will soon be hard to find. ..
Since 1941, more than one-third of the historic and architectural
monuments known to have existed in that year have been demolished.
Yet such wanton destruction is not necessary. When historic build-
ings are saved and put to good use, results can be both good
esthetically and financially. Property values are raised and sightseers
attracted.
Sooner or later, but perhaps too late, Texas Chambers of Com-
merce and Better Business Bureaus are going to realize what a
factor these old houses can be in the mad scramble for the tourist
dollar. In other parts of the country, New England and the Deep
South, for instance, the value of old houses is understood and
exploited. Since the whole community benefits financially from
the money spent by visitors, some relief from taxation is generally
granted the owners of the older examples of architecture, to
recompense for the greater revenue that might be received if the184
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 63, July 1959 - April, 1960, periodical, 1960; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101186/m1/246/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.