Architecture Once Salvaged Then Sacrificed

Maybe TV's "Downton Abbey" has raised awareness of old-building-conservation.  However, its such a shame to think that within a mere few American generations, so many treasures have been lost.  Just think, older generations of Americans actually DESIRED to salvage and save the beautiful/historical furnishings, craftsmanship and creations that were threatened with destruction.  Those Americans actually made the voyages and global travels to scour Europe's rotting castles to cherry-pick, save, and restore innumerable threatened items.  The restoration-work was amazing!  And they even conformed their new custom-built homes to showcase the ancient workmanship.  Thus, they beauties were saved.

But after only 2 generations, and many tax law revisions, new Americans began dumping their properties or having the buildings torn down.  The story of California's Caroland's Chateau or Long Island's Oheka Castle are typical of newer unappreciative generations who lacked good taste, didn't value the construction or craftsmanship, and merely looked upon the needy homes as "eyesores" that deserved demolition.  Thankfully, both were miraculously saved and have been put to good public use.  In Charleston or Savannah, it would never be a question of whether to save/restore an old home or not.  But, in the land of greed/overdevelopment, old masterpieces are knocked down.

The above Gold Coast mansion (most recently a Religious Retreat House) was sold to a housing developer.  It's now being ripped down.

Too many of the current generation are letting the salvation (provided by earlier American generations) of beauty and craftsmanship be ruined.  Thus, all the previous work to save masterpieces will be lost.