Of course I don't know the particular situation in Little Rock, but here's
what I think.

I have found that local "historic commissions," even those that are part of
a "certified local government" program, are often - or at least sometimes -
populated by political appointees who can have very little knowledge about
historic preservation, especially the post-modern politically correct
version of historic perservation that we in the profession know.  Instead,
they often operate more as local arbiters of style.  Of course there are
some very good local preservation commissions in communities that have
resident professionals or knowledgeable citizens to draw from,  so please no
evil email from those of you that serve on these boards.

On the other hand, it might also be unfair for us to blame the preservation
commission.  They obviously have the support of the town's governing
officials since the police were involved.  Also they were only enforcing a
valid ordinance.  So, although this may seem extreme to us, I suppose we
have to assume that the Little Rock Community supports the ordinance, and
the Commission is merely the "front man" set up to buffer all the criticism
from the elected officials (and, alas,  to give the public the opinion that
"preservationists" are to blame for all that is wrong with society).
Besides, I'm sure this lady can appeal the Commission's judgement to the
city council.

By the way, that's my personal opinion, and does not neccessarily reflect
the opinion of my employer.

Linda Derry

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Lee
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2000 3:10 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HISTARCH Digest - 15 Oct 2000 to 16 Oct 2000 (#2000-261)


Hello -
 I usually lurk, listen and learn - but the snippet below from _Got
Caliche?_ has me curious as to a HistArchers general thinking about the
preservation commission's  actions in this situation?.Is there anything
potentially missing here that would explain to me this isn't overdoing it
a tad on the comission's part?
1) Are actions such as these really needed?
2) Is the neighbor out of line?
3) Is the comission overstepping it's bounds?

Just wondering, and thinking of starting a letter writing campaign to
defend this woman.

>>http://www.dallasnews.com/texas_southwest/191356_arbars_14tex.A.html 70
>>year old Betty Deislinger attended a historic commission meeting in Little
>>Rock and was arrested, then taken to the police station and fingerprinted.
>>Her crime? She had refused to remove burglar bars from her 1870s house, in
>>violation of an ordinance governing the historic district where she lives.
>>The warrant was issued on the complaint of Anne Gutherie, the city's
>>historic preservation administrator, who works with the commission. Mrs.
>>Gutherie, who lives next door to Mrs. Deislinger, did not return phone
>>calls on Friday.
>>
>>["Like a good neighbor, the historic preservation commission is there to
>>serve you." - Ed.]

Thanks,

Lee Hamovitz
UC Berkeley
American Studies