letter to the editor

Let's get innovative about funding school repairs

Mon, 04/01/2024 - 4:15pm

Dear Editor:

Unless I missed something, the new referendum that is soon to be voted on is for the middle school. The high school repairs have not been mentioned.

The high school is a mid-century building. Mid-century was a rare moment in history. Those of us growing up during that time likely took it for granted that wealth redistribution was equitable and the middle class was great as a result of policies initiated in the Thirties.

Then in the Seventies, everything changed, among the changes was that the states started centrally managing the economy. The wealth divide grew as a great wall to replace the middle class.

Architecture is a language that speaks of social values. The mid-century modern movement has endured as a classic in industrial design.

Midcentury Preservation says “It’s simple. It’s affordable. It’s Mid-Century Modern.” Those are values we should preserve, or sadly the appropriate term is “revive.”

There are societies and foundations dedicated to preserving mid-century architecture. I wonder if anyone at AOS98 has looked into these organizations.

Anyone can look them up

Chronicle Heritage specializes in historical property evaluation, historical compliance, historical preservation, archival research and more

Midcentury Preservation’s website has information about many organizations.

Many states have state organizations dedicated to preserving mid-century architecture.

Can we put the option on the table of preserving and maintaining this historical monument to that rare period of history and give it a fair and equal voice to options, including funding options?

Susan Mackenzie Andersen

Boothbay