I recently watched on PBS a documentary called “Brigham Street,” highlighting the wonderful, irreplaceable and, sadly, partially lost architectural history of what is now South Temple in Salt Lake City.
I had to agree with every sentiment expressed by the narrators of “Brigham Street”—one of whom was our own Craig Paulsen of Spring City, whom I like to think of as a preservation contractor and whose standards are very high — that the built historical environment is of great value to us all in understanding how life changes and is shaped by history, and it also allows us the pleasure of looking at these lovely buildings, born of a time when everything made was beautiful, from everyday tools, clothing, textiles, furniture, containers, etc., to modes of travel and buildings of all kinds.
Yes, beauty was more readily found all around us before the advent of plastics and artificial things. Be that as it may, I am heartened by the recent increased interest in restoring and preserving houses and other buildings in Sanpete County, a place that I love and have been happy to call home for the past 37 years.
During that time I have seen the demolition of many fine historical buildings, which is always a sad loss to me, as well as to the character and quality of our Sanpete towns.
It is my hope that people will be more sensitive to and appreciative of our threatened architectural heritage and will take the steps to turn the tide from demolition to preservation and renewed usefulness.
Sherron Andreasen
Ephraim
