Saving Your Town From Death and Refusing to Label It “historic”
The easiest way to cause a town or a part of town to grow old is to label it as "Historic" Find ways to change this image by using words that promote growth and prosperity within it’s slogan.
The picture in the top left-hand quarter is a picture of Historic Downtown Rogers, Arkansas, my home town. As you can tell from the photo, it is a little pretty area of charm with little business and truthfully I feel that is set up to look like this picture for the rest of it’s years because of it’s slogan,”Historic Downtown Rogers”.
That’s fine if your goal is to keep this side of town looking old and full of destitute, but I am sure that is not the true idea. I am sure that the merchants and the shop owners would truly enjoy the business that could be obtained by just changing one thought about our great little downtown area. That thought is that they need to change is the idea of this little downtown area as just a historical place to remember to one of not only historical value but also of growth and never ceasing opportunity. Just change the slogan from “Historical Downtown Rogers” to something like “The Ever- Growing Historical Downtown Rogers.
These are just examples and ideas, but which one inspires growth and prosperity and which one just says “An Old Town” to you? Let me ask you this, When you were younger did you want to visit a town or a part of town because it boasted the term “Historical”? Was it the big and busy towns that you wanted to visit and shop in or was it the little small historical towns that grasped you attention when you thought about spending your money ? I can hear your answers already.
Now before we get too far into this idea let me explain that there is nothing wrong with remembering how great the town has been in the past. We should never forget all the great businesses and people that have put this little town in history books. It is very important for everyone, even a town, to remember their roots and struggles it took to get where they are now in life. Just like a person, a towns growth to prosperity should be documented, remembered and kept open to the public in museums, libraries, and on those fancy little historical marker signs. They are things worth bragging about. So, please understand that I am just trying to impose that the thought or the emotion about a town or one of it’s areas should impress the idea of advancement and not a staling of age.
Image via Wikipedia
Now with that disclaimer out of the way, Lets get to the whole idea of writing this page. I feel that my little home town is not the only one effected by this limiting thought. I believe that there are many towns out there that suffer from premature death or slow down by the thought of “Historical”. The people who named these towns and areas as historical had good intentions when they came up with the idea. Deep down inside no one wants their town to grow larger. They want it to all stay the same, but just like when it comes to parents and their children, you have to let them grow up to become bigger and better things.
Now, why not “historic”? It isn’t a bad term or anything. It’s just claiming that the town has been around for a long time, right? Like I mentioned before, the idea of age is not the challenge. The idea that it’s growth has to remain frozen in a certain time period is. Does the word “Historical” ring the idea of a busy advancing area or the thought of a small and old area?
Here are some of the rules and regulations of a historic site according to the Historic Landmark and Historic District Protection Act of 1978. For all of them check out this link: http://planning.dc.gov/planning/frames.asp?doc=/planning/lib/planning/preservation/pdf/dc_preservation_law_2007_05_(2).pdf
Historic Landmark and Historic District Protection Act of 1978
(D.C. Law 2-144, as amended through March 2, 2007)
Note: This unofficial version is for the convenience of the user, and is not intended to substitute for the D.C. Official Code
Alter or alteration
means:
(A) A change in the exterior appearance of a building or structure or its site, not covered by the definition of demolition, for which a permit is required;
(B) A change in any interior space that has been specifically designated as an historic landmark;
(C) The painting of unpainted masonry on a historic landmark or on a façade restored as a condition of a permit approved pursuant to this act; or
(D) Excavation or action disturbing the ground at an archaeological site listed in the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites or an archaeological site identified as a contributing feature in the designation of a historic landmark or historic district.
(Note: Paragraphs C and D were added by D.C. Law 16-185 on November 16, 2006)
Section 2. Purposes. (D.C. Official Code § 6-1101)
(a) It is hereby declared as a matter of public policy that the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of properties of historical, cultural and aesthetic merit are in the interests of the health, prosperity and welfare of the people of the District of Columbia. Therefore, this act is intended to:
(1) Effect and accomplish the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of improvements and landscape features of landmarks and districts which represent distinctive elements of the city’s cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history;
(2) Safeguard the city’s historic, aesthetic and cultural heritage, as embodied and reflected in such landmarks and districts;
(3) Foster civic pride in the accomplishments of the past;
(4) Protect and enhance the city’s attraction to visitors and the support and stimulus to the economy thereby provided; and
(5) Promote the use of landmarks and historic districts for the education, pleasure and welfare of the people of the District of Columbia.
(b) It is further declared that the purposes of this act are:
(1) With respect to properties in historic districts:
(A) To retain and enhance those properties which contribute to the character of the historic district and to encourage their adaptation for current use;
(B) To assure that alterations of existing structures are compatible with the character of the historic district; and
(C) To assure that new construction and subdivision of lots in an historic district are compatible with the character of the historic district;
(2) With respect to historic landmarks:
(A) To retain and enhance historic landmarks in the District of Columbia and to encourage their adaptation for current use; and
(B) To encourage the restoration of historic landmarks.
(3) With respect to archaeological sites designated as historic landmarks or contributing properties within historic districts:
(A) To protect historic and prehistoric archaeological sites from irreparable loss or destruction; and
(B) To encourage the retrieval of archaeological information and artifacts when the destruction of an archaeological site is necessary in the public interest.
(Note: Paragraph 3 was added by D.C. Law 16-185 on November 16, 2006)
As you can see,the ideas and goals behind claiming a place, home , or district as historical has many positive roots, but once a district is put on the list of historical sites the guidelines for giving the place a face-lift become more complicated. Yes, I agree that that this does add a few complications to actually giving the district a more up-to-date look, but if you read it then you know that it is not impossible. In fact my home town’s downtown has had many face-lifts and structure changes in the past few years and it is on the list. So it is more complicated, but not impossible.
So, what words would make a good slogan? Any words that give off the impression of an ever-growing community. Any words that convey the thought of prosperity, advancement, and success. Any group of words that show inspiration in the idea of staying with the times, becoming greater, and refusing to grow old and outdated. Words that show life like advancing, ever-changing, becoming, growing, unceasing, flourishing, opulent, flowering, blossoming, blooming, rising, succeeding, thriving, winning, achieving, sumptuous, prevailing, and any more words that you the reader may come up with.
When trying to come up with good slogans to increase visitors and taxes paid through purchases, one must use words that make people of all ages want to come to your area or town for these purposes. If you want to encourage more customers than site seekers to your area, then you have to convey more than just the idea of “Hey come look at our old side of town.” You have to give people not only the reason, but also the idea that your entire town is a great place to find all the latest and a wonderful place to visit to not only spend time in, but their money also.
I am writing this article to help towns and their chances for advancement in the now and in the coming future. Be careful of the ideas you convey when you label things that you want to grow with words that express ideas that mean the opposite of your goals and ideas. If you want people to want to visit, spend money, and add to the prosperity of your town then give off the impression that you have the newest and latest thing they are wanting to see, do, and purchase. You will not accomplish this goal impressing the idea upon peoples minds that your area is antique and unchanging.
I believe in the advancement of life and the Collective Conscious . It too has guidelines and rules that one must follow to use it correctly. We reap what we sow, as they say. If you put the right impression out there then you will receive what you are looking for. For more on the Collective Conscience and obtaining your heart’s desires check out this book written in 1910 by Wallace Wattles called “The Science Of Getting Rich” This guide is a practical, step-by-step process to prosperity that has worked for more years than the book has been written. Get a free copy of this timeless classic at http://thescienceofgettingrich.net
Until next time, Otis Fugit.
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