Phony Brochure Available on Phony Historic Sites
From the Town Newsletter:
Historic Vienna, Inc., the town’s non-profit organization for historic preservation and restoration, has published a brochure on Vienna’s register of historic structures, sites and places (PDF). The brochure is available free of charge at Town Hall, the Vienna Community Center, Patrick Henry Library, and the Freeman House. The historic register was created in 1988 to encourage recognition of and interest in Vienna’s historic sites. For more information, call Historic Vienna at 703-938-5187 or email hviadmin@ci.vienna.va.us.
Guess how you get on this list? There are no rules! Guess how many structures or places on this list have been documented? None! And don't forget - participation on this list is entirely voluntary. If you want to pretend that your house is historic, simply send Laine a letter and she will then meet in closed session at the Freeman House to determine if you can be part of their club.
There must be a review board that looks at house or building changes? No, there is not. Consider:
"Mayor Robinson stated an additional proposed amendment had been drafted and incorporated to alleviate fears which had been expressed during the prior meeting that the proposed ordinance might by implication constitute an official designation under the zoning code and thereby trigger the establishment of an historic district around the property. He state the additional language was added to Section 25-2, Intent, relative to this issue. Mayor Robinson stated that he proposed to add additional language to the last paragraph of Section 25-2 as a last sentence, to read: "Listing of any historic structure, site or place in the Register as provided for in this Chapter shall not constitute official designation as defined and used in Article 26 of Chapter 18, of the Code of Vienna."
So you are saying this is entirely voluntary and in no way protects or preserves anything? Yes, that is true. Additionally, nothing on this list is on any State or Federal Historical Register. Why was this phony list created in 1988 then? The Town (read: Maud) needed "something" to prop up the Windover Heights Historic District since nothing was ever documented. They came up with this idiotic voluntary "register" just like they came up with the signs all over Vienna that point to a mythical "Historic Church Street".
How bad is the fraud? In the brochure "#4 Moorefield House" refers to a house no longer in existence. The brochure states:
The house fell into disrepair in the late 1900s and despite many efforts to save the structure it was dismantled in 2005. It was containerized and is awaiting a new location.
That is a lie and we have the pictures to prove it. Don't you like the use of the word "containerize"? More on the lie.
Can anyone explain to us why Laine Hyde and the rest of the nuts associating with this tax payer funded con are not historic frauds? Or maybe we should join in with the "big historic pretend"? Whether it’s true or not misses the point, right?
Comments
I am sick and tired of you people referring to my girl Laine Hyde as a historic con. She does as she is told and fills the slots I need filled.
Posted by: Mother Maud | November 25, 2006 07:12 PM
Anyone who wished to have their home on this list did not EVER have to provide a historical inventory or description or any significant reason whatsoever to be included on this list. The house I am living in was one of the very first homes to be included on this list, and when I went to the people who are in charge of this "Register of Vienna Historic Structures" and requested to see the application for my home, I was told that there was never any paperwork submitted. I was told that the address was included because the owners merely requested to be included because they thought it would increase the value of their home. Imagine that, a home that isn't even 30 years old!
I also inquired to see any other applications for the other named structures, and I was told there were none, and never were, that the list included structures based on the decisions of a few without any detail or written evidence as to why the structures/homes should be included.
Sounds like a bunch of busy bodies sitting around with nothing better to do but make up make-believe games to impress the citizens of Vienna into thinking that the Emperor really is wearing new cloths.
The only real historic structure was torn down and destroyed: the Moorefield House. What IS their motive in this petty deception?
Posted by: Concerned Citizen | November 26, 2006 08:49 AM
Moorefield Picture #19:
http://www.historicvienna.com/moorefield/DSC00189.JPG
Proves it was historically and carefully dismantled and is awaiting its new location. They have a sign to prove it. If you go to their site:
http://www.logcabins.net
You will learn that their sole intent is to gather some of the original wood and then build their own new structure under the guise of preservation. They will then sell it to make a profit I suppose?
Their "Phase Two" Statement reads: Remove the salvageable materials from the 1784 structure. Each item will be tagged with a rebuild identification number and specific location. Place on skids and store in a large trailer(s). Determine whether this rebuilt structure will be listed on the Virginia or National Historical Registry. Getting materials ready and then put into a storage container for later reconstruction will cost about $50,000.
Do you see any tags with a rebuild identification number or careful and organized placement on any packing skid in these pictures? Except for a skid of bricks, (no tags), the rest of the remains were not taken care of in a way that could allow the house to be reassembled.
Just like the Stevens House on Windover Avenue, they want you to think they preserved that house. If you look at the evidence however, you will be hard pressed to find any original shred of original wood or structure. Don't get me wrong, the house looks great, but it's not historic preservation. It's a brand new home. Ask them if an inventory was done, and did they stick to it?
You don't need to waste your time with the answer.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen | November 26, 2006 09:14 AM
Maud oh my! You and Laine forgot to include the cistern at 316 Windover Avenue!
Posted by: Tractor Man | November 26, 2006 02:03 PM
Where did they get the money to make up these bogus brochures? Is this really a non-profit organization, or are we all really paying for this charade? I for one am a bit embarrassed that we have "historic signs" pointing to Church Street. It is a dumbing down of true Historic Places.
Posted by: where's waldo where's the cistern | November 27, 2006 08:45 AM