I recently attended the reopening of a historic building
in downtown Ipswich, Massachusetts, a screamingly historical town that was
settled by English colonists in 1633/4 on the site of a 14,000-year-old Native
American village.
The building – which housed a landmark business for the
downtown – had suffered a terrible fire. It had stood empty and boarded up for
almost two years while townspeople and government entities argued over what
could or should be done. Everyone had an opinion, and the building’s central
location made it the subject of endless conversation and consternation. It was
a real eyesore in a downtown that was trying its best to "come back."
Finally, a local realtor bought the building to house his
new offices, and hired a local architect who specializes in restoring old
buildings to design the transformation. A local bank financed the project.
The results? Simply spectacular! From the outside, the
building looks as if it’s always been there. Inside, great care was taken to
preserve what could be preserved and do all other work to reflect the building’s
original character and charm. At the same time, the interiors are bright,
comfortable, and workable for business people. It is a masterpiece of preservation design.
The president of the local bank and members of his staff
were present at the opening to join the celebration, and I said to him, “This
must be very rewarding for you. This was money well spent.”
“You have no idea how much this kind of project means to
us,” he said. And he meant it. This man, and his bank, are closely connected to,
and publicly aligned with, local history. Watching him marvel at the results of
his financing, I could see that he was, truly, moved. And he should be!
You’d better believe that “everyone” in Ipswich,
Massachusetts, knows exactly who financed this project, who bought the
building, and who did the redesign. The potential loss of the building to fire
really devastated the community. Now, it’s “back” and better than ever.
The bank, the realtor, and the architect
are all local
heroes.*
Do you think they will attract customers, cement existing
customer loyalty, and boost their stature in the community? You better believe
it!
And this is just one way for local businesses to connect
with local history and become local heroes.
Is there a preservation project in your community you
could support? Contact your historical society, historic commission, or
preservation group to find out.
People who live in historical communities care deeply
about their town history. Saving irreplaceable architectural treasures preserves
history, town character, and quality of life.
Getting involved in one of these projects will make you a
hero today, and you will also leave behind a legacy for tomorrow.
What’s not to like?
*Bank: The First National Bank of Ipswich
*Realtor/owner: Windhill Realty
*Architect: Mat Cummings, Cummings Architects
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2010 © Bonnie Hurd Smith
History Smiths works with service-oriented businesses to use history — their own and their community's — to achieve customer loyalty, referrals, and high status. Subscribe (above, right) to our free Ezine, Connections, where we share ideas and examples of businesses embracing history to achieve business goals.