Opinion-Editorial: Guest View

History important in moving ahead

David S. Son

History bonds and gives identity to a community. As grandparents may readily remind you, Albany was founded in 1836 as a marketplace, primarily for cotton, along the northernmost navigable point on the Flint River.

However, over time Albany’s economy became more varied. By the 1890s, motivated farmers of Albany, and Southwest Georgia in general, began to plant pecan trees, a more profitable product for market. By 1910, pecan agriculture flourished. With the known success of this crop, the Albany District Pecan Growers’ Exchange was built in 1922 to assist the commerce of the pecan growers.

The Exchange served the pecan growers of the area with a place to bring their collected pecans and receive payment. Furthermore, as Georgia suffered from an ominous boll weevil epidemic which devastated the hardworking cotton farmer in the early 1920s, pecans became a more reliable source of wealth, a fact that has lasted to the present as pecan agriculture continues to prosper.

Today, the Albany District Pecan Growers’ Exchange still stands on Roosevelt Avenue, but, sadly, is not in use. Nonetheless, it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and signifies a pivotal change in the agricultural economy of Albany’s past. There are numerous buildings in the city of Albany that hold a place in the Register, and rightly so. These registered buildings, and those of our nation, are visual reminders of who we are and where we came from. They tell a narrative of the past that should and must not be forgotten.

Historic places are valuable because they give character to the community — character is what distinguishes one from another. And, proximity to historic buildings allows us to hold something in common with fellow residents, only to encourage friendly attitudes with one another. Moreover, familiarity of well known historic places fashions pride and simply makes people feel good.

In 1966, our federal government enacted the National Register of Historic Places. The 1966 National Preservation Act states that buildings and places are to be officially listed which demonstrate the “spirit and direction of the nation.” The U.S. Department of the Interior is responsible for enforcing this law and claims it “provide(s) official recognition for the nation’s heritage and encourage(s) public participation of historic places.”

For a place to be listed on the Register, the Department of the Interior uses the criteria of “historical context” which is “based on knowledge of time, historical theme, and geographical area with which the property is associated.” Although in most cases these historic places are to be older than 50 years to qualify, there can be special cases to this rule, particularly if they hold “exceptional importance.”

The economic argument for historic preservation is legitimate and should not be overlooked. Preserving places creates jobs, such as those in renovation and maintenance. Preservation increases the value of properties within a particular district, which was the case with efforts made in Tifton, Rome and Athens. Also, it makes business communities come alive through commercial revitalization, attracting new store and restaurants to an area. Finally, in regard to economics, it attracts tourists who then spend their money on lodging and food, enriching the local economy.

As recognized, historical preservation is a valued endeavor. And, the strongest argument is morally irrefutable: if we destroy the past, we will take from our children a birthright leaving them without roots in an ever changing present. Therefore, honoring the past through historical preservation will form a unified commitment to helping our children understand what happened before, giving a lasting inheritance for generations to come.

David S. Son is a history instructor at Darton College.