John Marshall School. Image courtesy: Wausau School District
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Three unconnected pieces of real estate.
In Fairfield, Connecticut stands Burr Mansion. If you’re a fan of the musical Hamilton, you know Aaron Burr. This is the mansion that his family lived in when he retired from public life. It’s in a historic district, along with Independence Hall and the First Congregational Church. Some of these buildings are older than our country.
My old home on the west side is the first residential home in Wausau to have a metal roof. I needed a special permit, and approval from the fire department. Since then more than a hundred homes have metal roofs. So, in a small way, my former home is hisotric. In an earlier time, there must have been a first home that had electricity or indoor plumbing in town.
Lastly, John Marshall School in Wausau. It is a 100-year-old building on Wausau’s east side. It is certainly an old building. But aside from its longevity, it’s not clear if there’s anything historic about it.
Which brings me to Wausau’s Historic Preservation Commission. They have eyed John Marshall School as a historic site.
What’s the problem? Once a building is deemed “historic,” there are a myriad of restrictions on the property. If I owned the Burr Mansion, it could be painted exactly one color: white. The roof: brown shingles only. The circular driveway leading to the front door must be gravel, not paved. There are limits on cutting down trees and the types of flowers that can be planted. I might prefer to build a classic-looking home in some other part of town.
What does this have to do with John Marshall? The Wausau School District continues to debate whether elementary schools will be closed. If John Marshall is listed as historic, it couldn’t be torn down by developers. Repurposing the building becomes much more difficult. Taxpayers might be stuck with a building that can’t be used for anything, and might sit empty. That’s why things that are deemed historic, really should be.
Chris Conley.
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