As a former New Windsor resident and active member of the New Windsor Heritage Committee, I was saddened by Saturday's story about the demolition of Brownie's corner.
The real message of this unfortunate event is that one of the finest, small town streetscapes in Carroll County has been violated. The vacant space created by the loss of 201 Main Street is equivalent to the town having a smile with a missing front tooth.
I take issue with my friend Bryce Workman's comment that "you can't preserve everything because time doesn't stand still." The fact is you can arrest time when you have responsible property owners who care enough to remedy the onslaught of years with a saw, a hammer and nails, and paint. The potent proof of this are the other well-kept houses on Main Street, as well as the countless 200- to 300-year-old buildings that dot the East Coast. Responsible maintenance produces results.
Owning an historic property is a sacred trust. Hidden behind the crumbling façade of 201 Main Street was one of the town's original structures, dating to the very early 19th century. As the property's stewards, the Whites had ample opportunities to fulfill their inherent obligation to maintain the building, and yet refused to do so for unnamed reasons. This represents not merely the "end of an era" as Shane White has stated, but a shameful crime against history. Each time we lose such a vital link to the past, we are all the lesser for it.
Frank J. Batavick
Westminster
