Save Terry mansion

Just for a second, suspend belief and imagine this: Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts decided to put the antebellum Terry mansion on the block. It has been made clear to Southern cities like ours that they can have our Terry mansion free of charge, whomever is first. They were advised the mansion is in reasonably good order but could without doubt, use a little TLC; might say it is imperative. Further, they were advised the mansion is capable of being moved in its entirety, not brick by brick, but as a single unit, and at our fair city’s expense, free of charge. How many communities would respond positively, do you think?

Blessed, we are, to have this absolute historical jewel in our midst, an architectural beauty so remarkably representative of its era, yet here we are, watching it disintegrate, leak by leak, dry rot by dry rot, loose brick by loose brick.

Have we, as a community, lost our collective minds? It seems so, given the indifference shown by those who have the capability of doing something about it. Sure, there is an ad hoc group working to save it (praise be), but where is there a community groundswell demanding this irreplaceable historic monument rightfully be preserved? It has not become apparent to me … sadly.

It is especially meaningful in my case since, as a child, I walked through its beautiful landscape for eight years taking a small shortcut on the way to St. Andrew’s grammar school. Childishly, I always wondered if I would be chastised for trespassing by one of the Terrys, but of course that never happened.

In my mind, watching the decay of this noble structure is reminiscent of a magnificent ice sculpture which initially stands pristine and proud in its splendor but then, inevitably, time and temperature takes a toll, and it begins disintegrating until just a puddle is left. Please, Little Rockians, shake the lethargy, do not let this remarkable building become a puddle. Please.

JAMES H. BARRÉ

Little Rock