Local History and Economics – Feb. 9

People ask me why I am always talking about local history, buildings and preservation.   Here are three often talked about benefits of historic preservation:

Local Uniqueness.   Historic commercial buildings, churches, schools and homes provide connections to the city’s past which add to our quality of life.  I think of that every time I drive past Franklin Elementary School/STEM Academy, the only “classic” Fond du Lac school building which has survived the wrecking ball.  We still have an impressive set of buildings and homes  in the core of our city.   The historic buildings are unique and give our city an identity. The Fond du Lac County Historical Society with its Galloway House and Village does terrific work to keep alive these important connections.

Economic Development.   Keeping up our historic buildings improves  the Fond du Lac economy.  Preserving or restoring old structures is a powerful  form of economic development, which is also a boost to the local tax base.  Preservation and restoration  benefits travel and tourism.  People visiting who grew up here want to visit places that they remember.   Businesses in these buildings create jobs and, if rented, provide opportunities for start-ups at reasonable rent.   I’m grateful for the work of Fond du Lac Downtown Partnership, a Wisconsin Main Street program, which has  historic building rehabilitations are part of its 4-point approach to economic development.

Community Empowerment.  A strong community has local color and generates interest.  There are few things (in my opinion!) more interesting than local history.   The work in Fond du Lac to preserve and restore historic buildings is part of what’s known nationwide as “the Main Street movement.”  I love this description of it:

_{The Main Street movement grew out of a recognition that a community is only as strong as its core. In an era when many people had given up hope about the commercial and cultural viability of downtown, and when suburbs, shopping malls, and big box retailers were dominating the American landscape, this seemed like an unlikely proposition. But, over the last four decades, the Main Street movement has proven that downtowns are the heart of our communities, and that a community is only as strong as its core.}

https://www.mainstreet.org/mainstreetamerica/themovement   I wish we still had the schools, the Carnegie Library and the courthouse – with the clock tower – and other buildings that are gone, but I have to move on, grateful for what we have.   If I can support efforts to preserve and restore what we have,  as a member of the City Council, I will do that.  

_{The photo is a postcard of Franklin Elementary School. I don’t know the date.}