Special offer

The remnants of history around us are disappearing every day!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Richard Weisser Realty

Old Fayette County GA SchoolhouseThe squeaks of chalk on slate now still
Gone is the clamor of the children’s trill
No more ink or leaf or dog-eared tome
The old schoolhouse has gone on home!

                        (R Weisser 2011)

Like the old schoolhouse in Fayette County Georgia, many old buildings that have outlived their usefulness are just fading away.

Perhaps I am overly sentimental. After all, progress is usually considered to be a good thing, especially in the world of real estate.

Historic preservation is costly and most of these sites are located on private property, but there is something about these place that have fallen out of their “time” that intrigues me and stirs up images of my own past.

And as we plunge deeper into the 21st century, the term “20th century” will gain more and more historical significance.

Time moves on. People come and go and places change.

But it doesn’t hurt to look back every now and then.

Cindy Edwards
RE/MAX Checkmate - Johnson City, TN
CRS, GRI, PMN - Northeast Tennessee 423-677-6677

What would we be if we didn't look back?  Memories help form us and in the end, that's what we are left with. Great shot and sentiment.

Nov 27, 2011 01:29 AM
Ralph Janisch ABR CRS Broker
Janisch & Co. - Conroe, TX
Selling Northwest Houston to good people like you!

In some ways it's quite sad the future generations won't get to experience the richness of our experiences such as those you mention but....... they will have experiences and sights and sounds that they will look back on and reminisence about just as we do.  But sometimes I wish for some of the "good old days!".... 

Nov 27, 2011 01:29 AM
Michael Thornton
RadnorLake Video - Nashville, TN
Nashville Area - Photography & Videography

Good morning, Richard. I know what you mean. It was sad to see Captain Samuel Ryman's (he built the Ryman Auditorium) house torn down to make way for commercial development...

Nov 27, 2011 01:33 AM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

I know exactly what you mean. Someday soon, I'll write a post about the same topic with regard to torn down historical sites in my own neighborhood. T-mobile stores and delis have replaced buildings with fascinating historical allure. I love your poem.

Nov 27, 2011 01:35 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Cindy...

I probably look back a little too much! Thanks for being the first to jump in this morning!

J & R...

But I often wonder is their looking back will be the same, as their life is filled with more electronic illusion than deep rooted reality. Thanks so much.

Michael...

And once it's gone, it's gone for good. There is no going back. Thanks my friend.

Jill...

So sad to lose so much local character only to replace it with "everywhere America." Thanks for the nice comment.

Nov 27, 2011 01:45 AM
Mark Delgado
houses for rent, Solano County & Glen Cove - Benicia, CA
Benicia and Vallejo, Property Management, rental h

I just love old homes. Like yourself I am handy with a camera so I always make a point of capturing the old homes that I see. Someday I'll figure a way to share those photos do that I can help those old homes live on. 

Nov 27, 2011 01:51 AM
Loreena and Michael Yeo
3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX
Real Estate Agents

Like you, I have photos of my area that I'd never get again. We are developing so quickly. I guess we both will be busy capturing memories of our town.

Nov 27, 2011 01:53 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

It is more of a challange than ever nowdays with the 'New is better' attitudes of society.

Nov 27, 2011 02:02 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

My hubby would love this post as much as me...he is a history teacher :-)  Have a great day!

Nov 27, 2011 02:16 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Mark...

It's important to catalog them so they can be properly identified! Thanks.

Loreena...

And I'll bet a website with old local photos would get a lot of visitors so these could be very useful for business THX.

Bill...

We do live in a throw away society. Thanks.

Kristin...

I love history! I'm glad that your husband lives it every day! Thanks.

Nov 27, 2011 02:35 AM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Richard very true post.  Looking back keeps us grounded.  I cringe with each historical building that is torn down in the Q.  They know not what they do!

Nov 27, 2011 02:52 AM
Don MacLean
New England Real Estate Center Inc. - Easton, MA
Realtor-Homes for Sale- Easton, Mass 02356

Richard, There is a fine line between overly sentimental and an appreciation for a time when things were built, designed and stood for something different.........................and usually more.

Enjoy the day

Nov 27, 2011 02:56 AM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Hello Richard,

One has to know their past to see how far they've come.  Wonderful blog, it's a shame that we don't preserve more of our history with our old buildings.  Thank you for sharing this wonderful photo and commentary.

Nov 27, 2011 03:44 AM
Marge Piwowarski
Phoenix AZ Horse Property - Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix AZ Horse Property, LLC

Richard,

Someone started a facebook page about "growing up in our town" for the small town where I grew up.  There are hundreds of members now, possibly more than the total population of the town ever was!  Old photos, memories of pranks, of school teachers, of little country schools, of the town physician and more.  While I can attest that lots of boomers are into nostalgia, a surprising number of other generations are fascinated by "how it was".

Nov 27, 2011 03:46 AM
Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Richard,

Apparantly, society's values today place a low value on preserving the past. Once they're gone, there is no chance of getting them back.

Rich

Nov 27, 2011 04:00 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Richard!  I too, hate that preservation has lost it's value in our society.  As well, these old buildings do bring back memories and thoughts of our granparents and great-grandparents and how they lived and were educated.  MOST days I yearn for those simplistic times again!

Nov 27, 2011 05:54 AM