 | The Cavalier daily Friday, May 11, 1973 |  |
Preservation Forum Affirms
Need For Historic Cultural Sites
By ROSS HETRICK
CD/Bob Humphrey
Frederick Nichols, Mike Gleason and Mrs. Hiram Ely At National Historic Forum
In accordance with
National Historic Week, the
appreciation and restoration of
historical sites was the prime
topic discussed at an open
forum in Campbell Hall last
night. Featured speakers were
Architecture Professor
Frederick D. Nichols; Mike
Gleason, chairman of the
Albemarle- Charlottesville
American Independence
Bicentennial Commission; and
Mrs. Hiram B. Ely, spokesman
for Green Springs. Inc
"We (farmers and housewives
that had answered the call to
preserve Green Springs) do not
know why a building is
historically significant, but we
can look at it and see that it
should not be lost,"
commented Mrs. Ely.
Besides the proposed prison
to be built at Green Springs,
Mrs. Ely also informed the
group that there are now plans
to convert 3,500 acres of the
area into strip and open pit
mining. This would further
take away from what she
described as "14,000 acres of
unspoiled, unblemished vistas."
40 Slides
After giving these
introductory remarks, Mrs. Ely
showed the audience 40 slides
of some of the sites which have
made Green Springs an
historical showcase.
Some of the slides included
Boswell Tavern, where Patrick
Henry met with many of his
law clients when he was a
lawyer in Green Springs.
Mrs. Ely said that some
people contribute the
remarkable preservation of
these sites to the "gentile
poverty" of the area. "The
people never had enough
money to louse things up,"
Mrs. Ely said.
Mrs. Ely was preceded by
Mr. Gleason, who outlined
what was being planned for
Charlottesville during the
bicentennial celebration.
Mr. Gleason pointed out
that the celebration would
need to be festive since "the
American people are a festive
lot. This week is play your
accordion week and next week
is pickle week sponsored by
the pickle packers of
America," said Mr. Gleason,
giving illustration of American
festive mood.
Precedence
Mr. Gleason, however,
made clear that history,
education and culture will take
precedence over tourism.
Events such as courses in
history and sculpture contests
will be promoted according to
Mr. Gleason.
He described the
celebration with the word
"unity." He hopes the
bicentennial will bring people
together to understand the
historical and cultural side of
their country.
The audience was given a
brief introduction to Virginia's
historical sites by Prof. Nichols
| The Cavalier daily Friday, May 11, 1973 | |