Historic Disintegration

You know, I didn't choose to live in this town. The choice was made for me. But there are aspects of it that are beautiful and that I've come to love and appreciate. And too often, I am watching those things be demolished one by one. The latest offense is the George Elmer Browne house at 162 Commercial Street. Here's a picture of it from about 60 years ago.



Browne (1871-1946) was a well-known artist from the early twentieth century and he ran an art school in Provincetown from about 1919 until his death. Here in a picture from 1918 he is recognized as one of the founders of the Beachcombers and an early member of the Provincetown Art Association and Museum and recognized as one of the leaders of the art colony. He is second from the right in the second row.



Here's a painting of his that hangs in Town Hall.



These images are from the Provincetown History Preservation Project website, a project the biped has been working on--but I digress. Here is the house today.



The real estate agency that occupied the building went to the Town and asked for a demolition permit. The Town said that this was a historic building and they should retain the shell. The biped and I biked by while they had a backhoe that was wielded in the most violent way imaginable, slamming into the back side of the building, recklessly tearing at a two story addition and destabilizing the building. After nearly destroying the house, the builder went back to the Town to ask for a demolition permit given the damage (that they caused??) and was fortunately denied. They will continue their work, however, chipping away bit by bit at this now devastated historic structure, the home of Browne and his art school, we believe, for many years.

Here's another view. Notice the central brick chimney has been completely ripped out, too.



Another piece of Provincetown gone. Just like the home at 531 Commercial Street that was demolished in secret. The builders and owners were penalized but ultimately got their way--and now have been paid back by being included in the Historic Home Tour sponsored by the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum. Another scandal.

But I'm just a dog. I shouldn't even care about these things. I'm not even supposed to have a sense of history. That's what people are supposed to have.