Smoke and Fire
Saturday, March 24, 07
An unfortunate effect of living here right now is watching pieces of history disappear in the name of progress (i.e. tourism $$$.) Growing up around "Century Homes" and the Western Reserve Historical Society in Ohio, scrutinizing boxes of family photos at every holiday and working for organizations that rehabbed old homes and maintained the character of neighborhoods gave me an appreciation for architecture, history and the people who came before us.
But money talks, and the current trend here is to build "seasonal" housing--McMansions and, in this case, condos--mostly for wealthy outsiders from Seattle, Arizona and California. Without jumping up and down on the soapbox, this trend has the negative result of displacing year-round residents and creating an affordable housing shortage where people who work here (and are trying to raise families) cannot afford to live here even with three or four jobs. Ironically, hardest hit are the people who work in the tourism industry at the hotels and restaurants--front desk, housekeeping, maintenance, chefs, wait staff--actually being strangled by the hands that feed them.
So, it's with mixed feelings that I've watched an old hotel go through it's demise across from the Surfcrest. It certainly wasn't in top form and needed extensive TLC. The former owner found it harder to maintain, so he sold it to the hotel chain next door for their expansion and new condos. The past two Wednesday evenings the CB Fire & Rescue has used the building for exercises, "Burn to Learn." Apparently they'll be eeking out another two sessions.
What happened this past Wednesday, though, was interesting. Neighbors from all around turned out to watch it go, but also shared stories and some brewskis by the light of the fire, later saying what a great time they had. They praised the great CB fire department and EMTs. Everyone laughed, "You know you're in a small town when a demo burn is the Big Event." They reminisced about other cabins and buildings now gone. Some found out that they have relatives in the same towns 100 miles east. People stayed to talk even as the fire fighters were packing up the trucks. Now that's progress...
An unfortunate effect of living here right now is watching pieces of history disappear in the name of progress (i.e. tourism $$$.) Growing up around "Century Homes" and the Western Reserve Historical Society in Ohio, scrutinizing boxes of family photos at every holiday and working for organizations that rehabbed old homes and maintained the character of neighborhoods gave me an appreciation for architecture, history and the people who came before us.
But money talks, and the current trend here is to build "seasonal" housing--McMansions and, in this case, condos--mostly for wealthy outsiders from Seattle, Arizona and California. Without jumping up and down on the soapbox, this trend has the negative result of displacing year-round residents and creating an affordable housing shortage where people who work here (and are trying to raise families) cannot afford to live here even with three or four jobs. Ironically, hardest hit are the people who work in the tourism industry at the hotels and restaurants--front desk, housekeeping, maintenance, chefs, wait staff--actually being strangled by the hands that feed them.
So, it's with mixed feelings that I've watched an old hotel go through it's demise across from the Surfcrest. It certainly wasn't in top form and needed extensive TLC. The former owner found it harder to maintain, so he sold it to the hotel chain next door for their expansion and new condos. The past two Wednesday evenings the CB Fire & Rescue has used the building for exercises, "Burn to Learn." Apparently they'll be eeking out another two sessions.
What happened this past Wednesday, though, was interesting. Neighbors from all around turned out to watch it go, but also shared stories and some brewskis by the light of the fire, later saying what a great time they had. They praised the great CB fire department and EMTs. Everyone laughed, "You know you're in a small town when a demo burn is the Big Event." They reminisced about other cabins and buildings now gone. Some found out that they have relatives in the same towns 100 miles east. People stayed to talk even as the fire fighters were packing up the trucks. Now that's progress...
Great photos! Especially the last one where the entire house is engulfed. Good article too. I really enjoy your work. kat
Reply to this