But we thought by now we also could hear: "It's a National Register building attached to our courthouse in the heart of the historic district. We have a responsibility to our heritage to ensure that it is well-treated and put to best use. Given the public interest, and the many historic professionals we've heard from, we will collaborate with others before final decisions are made."
I love walking in Charles Town, since historic efforts have been enacted the city. But we still miss a "center," as other historic towns have. The National Register jailhouse - with lovely rooms with fireplaces, winding stairway, etc. - is the best location for a multi-use center that compliments the courthouse, benefits the community by displaying its own history, brings money into our stores from visitors, and does justice to the architecture and coal miners' "treason trial" story. The historic architect should be thus directed. This is the county's chance to live up to its potential.
Anyway, since the jailhouse wasn't part of the county's big building plan in that block, destined to be replaced by a parking deck, why now is it suddenly a space solution? If the old commission had revised its grandiose plan years ago instead of fighting in court to tear down an historic structure, by now we'd have some building underway.
I've lived a long while. I know that communities, like people, have values, and that is what keeps them strong. So when I hear commissioners speak only about "county business in county buildings," I want to remind them that they are not business, but government, elected by the people to represent their views and reflect our values. And besides, heritage is "business" in a historic community.
Cassie Barrow
Charles Town, W.Va.
Keep it clean
To the editor:
I have owned land with more than a mile of road frontage for 30 years and take great pride in keeping small brush and the grass cut, trimming trees and fixing storm damage. It is very frustrating when people throw out bottles, cans, boxes, papers, tires, tree clippings and even dead animals, which spoil the beauty of our country roads. It is hard for me to believe that people don't know any better from the abundance of trash I see.
Recently when I visited England and walked down the country lanes, I rarely saw any litter. People tell me they visit other countries and don't see the litter that we seem to throw away anywhere we want. Think of the millions of dollars we spend cleaning up litter.
I went to a small country store more than 40 years ago operated by a son and his elderly mother. A young man came in to buy a candy bar, unwrapped it, and threw the paper on the floor. This elderly lady said to the young man, "Do you do that at home?" He replied, "I do!" Then she said, "Well, make yourself at home." I often think about this story when I drive around our beautiful country roads and see the litter that thoughtless people throw away.
The next time you have the urge to throw something on someone's property, let your inner voice say "don't do it." You wouldn't throw something on the ground where you live. If others refrain from littering, why can't we? Help beautify our roads.
Jim Shifler
Boonsboro
