.... An' even den, yuh wouldn't know it all." —Thomas Wolfe, 1935 In a message dated 12/7/2009 12:13:27 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, a state historic site in Asheville, poses an interesting example. It suffered a catastrophic fire, believed to be arson, in 1998. The restoration was exacting and exhausting. Ummm.... on a society-wide level, perhaps ... a total waste of money? I mean, Thomas Wolfe? How many writers in the United States do we have of the stature (or presumed significance) of Thomas Wolfe? Say ... 500? More? Not to mention philosophers, right wing talk show hosts, inventors, sex pioneers, etc. Is it really worth it to self-insure say, 20,000 buildings, for a total rebuild in case of flood, fire or Palin presidency? George Washington - OK. Jefferson - OK. Frederick Douglass - yup. But even those are close. After reconstruction, the thing being presented is not the thing itself, it is only our perception of the thing, materialized. And, anyway, did that physical thing, original or reconstructed, really have an effect on the person in question? If Wolfe had grown up in a Queen Anne instead of a raised ranch, in Beaux-Arts instead of moderner - or whatever - would that have changed his output? If not, then it is of what value, exactly, in terms of understanding his work? I would rather stand on the ruins. "You shall not make for yourself a graven image..." I think that is as it should be with regard to the house itself; interpret the fire in the modern visitor center <http://www.wolfememorial.com/center.html>. Or better yet, burn down the visitor center. Good God, man, have you gone mad? Leave the visitor center, since it has the gift shop. Burn down the replica. Good working title for revisionist history of American historic preservation: "Burn Down The Visitor Center". Will cross-post to Presevation-L, Conservation-L, Pyrate-L, Go-To-LL, etc. c -- **Please remember to trim posts, as requested in the Terms of Service** To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to: <http://listserv.icors.org/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>