University of Virginia Library

I am sure most of your readers
are aware of the danger now
threatening the Green Springs area
in Louisa County, and some have
already been active in its defense.
Nonetheless, I wonder how many
have actually been to the valley and
seen what the problem involved.

One emerges from the
surrounding woods into a sunlit,
bowl landscape of the greatest
beauty, ringed with handsome farm
houses, some dating from the
original settlement of the area in
the early 18th century, and none
later than 1860. These houses are
gems of American architecture,
worth preserving in whatever
setting, just as Williamsburg has
been preserved. But unlike
Williamsburg they do not need
restoration. They are still intact,
kept in flawless condition by their
owners. Most important of all, they
are in perfect harmony with their
surrounding landscape, without a
single disturbing element. In all my
travels I have never seen a more
delicate balance between human
activity, rural architecture and
natural beauty.

The effect is predictable.
Subdivisions will follow, hamburger
joints and pizza parlors for visitors
to the prison will pollute, the
owners will sell out and move to
other areas, the houses will
deteriorate, and in a few years a
priceless and matchless heritage of
beauty will be thrown away.

No reasonable argument for the
choice of this wonderful spot as a
prison site has yet been put
forward. There are scores of places
where the prison might go, still in
Louisa County. On account of the
great artistic importance of the
Green Springs area, the Department
of Art is circulating throughout the
College a petition requesting the
Governor to choose another site. I
urgently appeal to all Virginia
residents to sign this petition, either
in their Department offices or in
ours, or at the School of
Architecture.

In World War II the United
States Government sent me and
hundreds of others at the risk of
our lives to protect the natural and
artistic beauties of Europe. Are we
going at this late date to let the
heritage of our own homeland go
down the drain?

Now this equilibrium is about to
be destroyed by a hexagonal prison,
six hundred feet in diameter, and
sixty feet high, situated in the very
center of the valley so that it will
destroy every view from every
house.