Sunday, March 18, 2007

"Those that forget their history are doomed to repeat it," said Robert Bailey, museum administrator of the Harrison County Historical Museum.

As he looks around the Ginocchio hotel, where the museum is temporarily located, Bailey points out the ornate work on the stairwell.

"People don't do that anymore," he said. "It is real important to keep old buildings around to appreciate what has been done in the past."

Some may not give a second thought to demolishing a historic home to make room for a parking lot, but historical preservation is not only an important process, but it makes good economic sense.

More than 4,600 properties, more than 50 percent of Marshall's building stock, are over 50 years old, classifying them as historic.

"Through the rehabilitation of these buildings, property values increase and the city's tax base expands," Assistant City Manager Janet Cook said. "Heritage tourism generates local tax dollars."

Ms. Cook said, "Our historic buildings give our community character. They set us apart from any other place. Only Marshall has our unique courthouse in its beautiful setting on the downtown square. Only Marshall has the beautiful architecture of the Weisman building. Only Marshall has a New Town neighborhood surrounding historic Wiley College."