How important do you think it is to protect old buildings?

Historic buildings provide a physical link to our past. This link allows us to develop a sense of orientation about our place in history. We can learn from the past, and through safeguarding our historic buildings,can continue to benefit from the accomplishments of our ancestors.

Of course ,most people would be hesitant to knock down a historic building in favor of creating a new apartment complex or an office block to meet the rising needs of a growing population and a change economy. This is where the question of what is "historic"and value to a particular community comes into play .Age is a decisive factor for a historic resource,but it must be defined in relative terms.

Historic buildings are an important block in the flow of our culture through time: a child visits a historic civic building to learn more about what it means to be a native of his or her hometown ;a city resident on a historic farm learns about pride and dedication in working the land. Historic buildings are studied to tell us about the use of materials and resourceful solutions in everyday living.

Historic buildings are vital for our prospective future. These assets need protection. We can not afford to lose the physical materials ,ideas ,skills and understanding of our past.