Longtime resident not ready to accept school board decision

To the Editor:

Regarding the fate of the old Libby High School, I'm not ready to accept the school board's decision to raze that beautiful old red brick building and make the location into a parking lot - like the "powers that be" did to the old Moose Hall when Jenkins Motors decided they needed more space to park their cars.

The public had no say in the fate of that old historical building either; so a building that held a lot of happy memories for Libbyites was razed for a parking lot! Now, Jenkins is gone and so is the Moose Hall, with nothing to show for what could have been an historical monument of Libby's past.

Is the public going to remain silent and let 4 people on the school board let the same mistake happen again?

We can't afford to make the same mistake twice as Libby is running out ofold red brick buildings to preserve. Once it's torn down - there's no replacing it; historical value and esthetic beauty and fond memories - all replaced with a parking lot.

It's easy for newcomers to Libby (as compared to Libby natives who were born here, or raised here and actually attended the old Libby High School) to say "tear it down." They have no sentimental feelings toward the building where we natives spent 6 of our formative years (junior high and high school). That is why they put it to a vote, the people of Libby said "don't tear it down." But our wishes fell on the deaf ears of the school board. What part of no do you not understand?

Do we still live in a free country where the will of the majority rules or do we now live where our fate is decided by the vote of 4 people? Is that democracy? I think not!

To me the old Libby High School is Libby's "hallowed halls of ivy," and it would be a crime to demolish it. There are some things you can't put a price tag on, as respect for the beauty of the old Libby High School.

I remember learning these words there: water, water everywhere, and all the boards did shrink! Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink!" from "the Ancient Mariner, I think) Reminds me of the recent situation in New Orleans, etc.

Another quote I recall is from Shakespeare's "Hamlet" where he says "I smell something rotten in Denmark." I smell something "rotten" in Libby when the will of the Libby natives is overruled by newcomers who never had the privilege of attending junior high and high school in that building; so therefore have no qualms in razing it.

But once destroyed, it can never be replaced, nor the aesthetic values for which it stands, and the City of Libby will be the poorer for its loss.

Edna Baeth Johnson