Historic Preservation Terminal Projects

Permanent URI for this collection

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1

Open Access
From Wagons to Houses: House Moving in Oregon, and New Treatments for Old Ideas
(University of Oregon, 2012-06-18) Borth, Holly Renee
"Structural movement is recognized as an important aspect of historic preservation." This is the very first sentence journal article author Bill Lee used to begin his article about the move of the Czech and Slovak Museum and Library (CSML). Lee goes on to say, "The elevation or re-location of historic structures in order to preserve them is now an accepted alternative to destruction and loss." And yet the move to which these comments refer was for a structure built in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1979. This structure, the CSML, would have great difficulty fitting into any landscape, no matter how much consideration the architect may have put forth. A flood in 2008 necessitated it be moved, and Bill Lee's belief that he acted in accordance with preservation ethos is fair. In those two statements, Lee stated his bold beliefs about how moving historical structures is an aspect of historic preservation; unfortunately, acceptance of structural moving within the preservation are not as in tune as Lee makes it sound. Professional preservationists still have a negative attitude toward moving historic structures, when, in truth, it is not nearly as severe as what is often the structure's only other option--demolition.