Last Wednesday, I posted pictures of the beginning of the demolition of an historic building not far from my house. Alan commented, "Buildings don't last forever..." It's true of course but it's still difficult to watch any usable and historic building being torn down. (Like loosing an old friend.) I've been going back every day to see and photograph the progress. With this building reduced to a pile of rubble, the view of the back of a marvelous and iconic Tacoma building is now unobstructed. As I walked around snapping pictures the other day, this view through the claw of one of the pieces of equipment used in the destruction along with Alan's words haunted me. What building will be next to be torn down?
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What do wee keep and what do we discard? If no one uses grandma's china anymore, do we keep it simply because it's beautiful? Are things like buildings worth saving simply for historic/aesthetic value or do they become some sort of anchor keeping the ship of progress from sailing? There's a building boom in Tacoma and huge multi-family residential buildings have been springing up all over the place for the last twenty years but the pace of urban infill seems to be ramping up even faster in the current regional economy. What is the destiny of The City of Destiny? (Tacoma is locally known as the "City of Destiny" because the area was chosen to be the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad in the late 19th century.)
"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee." John Donne
Happy Dia de los Muertos and All Saints' Day.
Wednesday Vignette is hosted by Anna at Flutter and Hum. Do drop by her blog to join the fun.
What do wee keep and what do we discard? If no one uses grandma's china anymore, do we keep it simply because it's beautiful? Are things like buildings worth saving simply for historic/aesthetic value or do they become some sort of anchor keeping the ship of progress from sailing? There's a building boom in Tacoma and huge multi-family residential buildings have been springing up all over the place for the last twenty years but the pace of urban infill seems to be ramping up even faster in the current regional economy. What is the destiny of The City of Destiny? (Tacoma is locally known as the "City of Destiny" because the area was chosen to be the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad in the late 19th century.)
"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee." John Donne
Happy Dia de los Muertos and All Saints' Day.
Wednesday Vignette is hosted by Anna at Flutter and Hum. Do drop by her blog to join the fun.