Editor, OBSERVER:
The article "Goodbye Glue Factory" on March 11, this should have been named Goodbye Historic Property.
Did it occur to anyone in the village of Gowanda that the "haul road" used to empty the three retaining ponds of silt cut directly through one of the areas most important historical sites?
The property in question was owned by Ahaz Allen the founder of Hidi and was the site of the first "frame" house in the town of Persia, built in 1815. The three ponds are also located in an historic area once known as Mentley's Grove. It's amazing a property so rich in our local history was destroyed to make way for all new and improved recreation along the mighty Cattaraugus?
Really? What a shame.
I was born and raised in Gowanda and I'm thinking of moving home at some point so I try to keep up with local current events. I find this lack of concern for our historic treasures very disturbing. I live in an area where history is everywhere and Virginians are proud of that history.
There's not a country road anywhere in this state that battles or heroes or historic sites aren't recognized with a sign or some sort of tribute. What a shame Gowanda has chosen to overlook her treasures, allow them to be vandalized, destroyed, and forgotten.
LORI ANDERSON,
Richmond, Va.
HER EMAIL IS cats-cairn@comcast.net.
