August 29, 2007
Rhode Island's Plymouth Rock
What a story! And what a lede:
It could have been Rhode Island's Plymouth Rock. If only it hadn't been accidentally dynamited 130 years ago.From the Providence Journal. The Roger Williams statue in Prospect Park has also suffered from vandalism and neglect, which is particularly shameful considering that its base also houses Roger Williams' remains.Off Gano Street in Fox Point there is a weathered, solitary monument in Slate Rock Park that serves as the one nod to the founding moment of the Rhode Island colony.
"The Landing Place of Roger Williams," the monument reads. On one side, a plaque states that Williams first crossed the Seekonk River and landed at that site, atop a ledge called Slate Rock, in 1636. The other three sides of the monument are barren, with large holes where other plaques have been ripped out.
Despite its name, there is no slate or rock of any sort to be seen in Slate Rock Park. Unfortunately, in 1877, Slate Rock itself was mistakenly blown up, by city workers trying to uncover more of the rock and preserve the symbol of Williams' arrival . . .
Posted by David on August 29, 2007 8:49 PM
The shameful neglect of many historic sites in this nation reflects in my view the inadequate educational system that places "style" and cpolitical correctness above content. Who we are is the result of our past and protection of hisotric places and features reflects our understanding of that past. Fortunately the picture is not completely bleak and there are many positives across the country, but more must be done. Rhode Island, of course, has another very interesting structure, the origin of which is still in dispute, the Newport Tower. One would hope that the Tower is better maintained than the Roger Williams site.
Posted by: Donald Wolberg on August 30, 2007 7:49 AM
It would seem that the neglect of Roger Williams' relics has little to do with political correctness: one can hardly find a more PC figure in all of 17th-century North America than he.
Posted by: David on August 30, 2007 2:19 PM
Excellent point of course. Then the neglect is either stupidity and/or lack of interest and no public support group. It should be relatively easy to put together a "Friends of Roger Williams" group and by subscription get enough dollars to rehabilitate the site and likely embarass public officials to ensure that the site is maintained and secured. Heck, I'd contribute as the New Mexico Chapter of the Friends...
Posted by: Donald Wolberg on August 31, 2007 8:52 AM
cronaca.com