unabridged version of letter Bill Paul wrote to the Enterprise
Watkinsville and Oconee County historic sites [Vinnie Williams, Oconee Enterprise, 9/27/07, p. A3] are not drawing tourists because their destruction is being encouraged by those who should be fighting tooth and nail to save these special places. Word gets around quickly and the public wants no part of it. The guilty parties are developers who don’t care and their supporters in the city and county governments. Those folks seemly have no vision of what should be protected, how to do it, and what the public really wants. Are they deaf?
The gateway charm at the intersection of Barnett Shoals Road and Main Street in Watkinsville has been replaced by some out-of-scale ‘thing’ which comes close to a spaghetti western stage set. The wonderfully wide sidewalks in downtown Watkinsville have been replaced by parking spaces. Now the sidewalks are so narrow that two people can’t pass each other without turning sideways. Who thought that improvement up? And then, there are those unfortunate turn lanes. Who's been to Helen recently? Let the traffic back up!
Awesome arts and crafts properties near downtown recently have been destroyed to make way for a generic [no doubt] apartment/condominium compound, and the mayor of Watkinsville is jumping up and down with glee as charm, heritage and history are being destroyed before his very eyes.
Time and again citizens have said that they don’t want Gwinnett County type development in Oconee County. But, Chairman Melvin Davis, Commissioners Margaret Hale and Commissioner Don Norris recently authorized a giant sprawl development proposed by a Gwinnett County developer and his ‘silent’ partner. This project will destroy one of the most historic sites in the area. Landscaper Ken Beall endorsed this destruction by waving some document before commissioners while declaring that there ain’t nothing there worth saving. Horse puckey!
Chairman Davis, Commissioner Hale and Commissioner Norris did not honor the land use plan which would have protected this property when they approved extension of a water line which will open nearly two thousand acres in the area to more sprawl and require the need for even more water. DUH!!!!!!
To make circumstances even more quaint, historic structures from around the county are being moved from their original sites to some cornfield in the name of preservation [?]. Maybe the new location will be beautiful but, i'll bet this ‘history village’ won’t have any pigs, chickens or cows. But, maybe, there will be a resident broom maker who will help clean house in a year or two.
On the other hand, Peggy Holcomb is a great person for her new job. She’s a cultural icon, loves the community for all the right reasons, and when dressed in one of those 19th century-styled flower sack dresses on a chilly day, she’s a sight to behold. She won’t mind telling in very plain terms which part of her is the coldest either. Peggy Holcomb a one person show and people love her pitch. Go get’em, Peggy! Call it like it is and they will come....destroy it and they will not.
post script
Sir....With respect for your authority to do so, i think you butchered the content and intent of my letter published in today's paper. You excluded essential paragraphs.In fairness, please include these in a future issue....
Time and again citizens have said that they don’t want Gwinnett County type development in Oconee County. But, Chairman Melvin Davis, Commissioners Margaret Hale and Commissioner Don Norris recently authorized a giant sprawl development proposed by a Gwinnett County developer and his ‘silent’ partner. This project will destroy one of the most historic sites in the area. Landscaper Ken Beall endorsed this destruction by waving some document before commissioners while declaring that there ain’t nothing there worth saving. Horse puckey!
Chairman Davis, Commissioner Hale and Commissioner Norris did not honor the land use plan which would have protected this property when they approved extension of a water line which will open nearly two thousand acres in the area to more sprawl and require the need for even more water. DUH!!!!!!
thank you very much.....bill paul
The gateway charm at the intersection of Barnett Shoals Road and Main Street in Watkinsville has been replaced by some out-of-scale ‘thing’ which comes close to a spaghetti western stage set. The wonderfully wide sidewalks in downtown Watkinsville have been replaced by parking spaces. Now the sidewalks are so narrow that two people can’t pass each other without turning sideways. Who thought that improvement up? And then, there are those unfortunate turn lanes. Who's been to Helen recently? Let the traffic back up!
Awesome arts and crafts properties near downtown recently have been destroyed to make way for a generic [no doubt] apartment/condominium compound, and the mayor of Watkinsville is jumping up and down with glee as charm, heritage and history are being destroyed before his very eyes.
Time and again citizens have said that they don’t want Gwinnett County type development in Oconee County. But, Chairman Melvin Davis, Commissioners Margaret Hale and Commissioner Don Norris recently authorized a giant sprawl development proposed by a Gwinnett County developer and his ‘silent’ partner. This project will destroy one of the most historic sites in the area. Landscaper Ken Beall endorsed this destruction by waving some document before commissioners while declaring that there ain’t nothing there worth saving. Horse puckey!
Chairman Davis, Commissioner Hale and Commissioner Norris did not honor the land use plan which would have protected this property when they approved extension of a water line which will open nearly two thousand acres in the area to more sprawl and require the need for even more water. DUH!!!!!!
To make circumstances even more quaint, historic structures from around the county are being moved from their original sites to some cornfield in the name of preservation [?]. Maybe the new location will be beautiful but, i'll bet this ‘history village’ won’t have any pigs, chickens or cows. But, maybe, there will be a resident broom maker who will help clean house in a year or two.
On the other hand, Peggy Holcomb is a great person for her new job. She’s a cultural icon, loves the community for all the right reasons, and when dressed in one of those 19th century-styled flower sack dresses on a chilly day, she’s a sight to behold. She won’t mind telling in very plain terms which part of her is the coldest either. Peggy Holcomb a one person show and people love her pitch. Go get’em, Peggy! Call it like it is and they will come....destroy it and they will not.
post script
Sir....With respect for your authority to do so, i think you butchered the content and intent of my letter published in today's paper. You excluded essential paragraphs.In fairness, please include these in a future issue....
Time and again citizens have said that they don’t want Gwinnett County type development in Oconee County. But, Chairman Melvin Davis, Commissioners Margaret Hale and Commissioner Don Norris recently authorized a giant sprawl development proposed by a Gwinnett County developer and his ‘silent’ partner. This project will destroy one of the most historic sites in the area. Landscaper Ken Beall endorsed this destruction by waving some document before commissioners while declaring that there ain’t nothing there worth saving. Horse puckey!
Chairman Davis, Commissioner Hale and Commissioner Norris did not honor the land use plan which would have protected this property when they approved extension of a water line which will open nearly two thousand acres in the area to more sprawl and require the need for even more water. DUH!!!!!!
thank you very much.....bill paul
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