Local Landmark Falls

One more gorgeous building that was worth looking at gone. Hope you guys don't break an arm patting yourselves on the back.

So sad to see a historic building gone. I hope that little extra farm land will be worth it to the Clarks.

seems like they could have just maintained with little electricity- and cut down the cost

The county tried to GIVE it to the historical society and they wouldn't take it!!! Pretty to look at from the outside, but have heard theives were a recent problem for the Clark's.

I am sure it will be good for the "Clarks" to have the extra farm land! Good For them!! For all the complaining going on here it seems like you would have bought it the day it went up for auction.... Then you could have saved this beautiful old building, paid taxes, maintained it and tried to keep it up for our young children to see.... But you didn't.....

For those of you who are complaining, remember, this property was up for public auction, you could have purchased it and kept it up. You have NO idea what was going on at that place. Other than having 24 hr law inforcement there, this is what needed to be done. Please, know the facts before you hurt someone with your words.

Looks like a good site for another gas station.

Sarcastic Mode=ON

My question is where did the money from the sale go? Over half a million and it was not put on any "books".

I am not a Clark, related to one, or really even know them, but I do know that they tried to get the historical society to take action and they didnt want the cost. So before you pass judgement on the Clarks maybe you should make a call to the historical society. They are making a living farming not preserving old buildings.

I am not opposed to the closing and removal of the building I just wonder why they did not recycle? The windows (glass), lumber that was salvageable and most off the brick? Having had brick masons in my family I know it can be reused. Why did they burn it? Was it the cheapest way of removing it? These are questions not accusations, so dont everyone have a cow.

nice air pollution, but they were probably subsidized by the ag dept. for this and a easy way 2 get rid of abspetous and other toxic waste.......Poor Farmers!!!!!!

I am amazed at the comments from people that have no knowledge about this situation and what really was going on out there. If you don't know the facts, just be quiet and keep your opinions to yourselves.

Tear down the courthouse next, it's falling down anyway, and way to expensive to maintain.

That was a beautiful building. Whenever I passed by, I would think about back in the day, what a difference it must have made in so many unfortunate lives. To have had such a place to turn to, when one had nobody else...

The stories that old place held. What an impressive place that must have been! A totally self-sustaining farm, where one could maintain one's dignity, by helping to work the farm.

I personally would never have been able to afford it, but what a shame that nobody stepped up to save such a historic landmark.

I too thought it was a beautiful place and wish that someone could have restored/made into condos or something. I have no dog in this fight, but the people that want to complain do not know what they are talking about. Recycling is not a simple procedure and can be very expensive to do. Most of the material would have had very little value - remember this material was over 100 year old in most cases. However, one reader brought up an interesting point that I think the Banner-Graphic should look into. What happened to the half million dollars (was this the sale price)? If it's missing, do we care enough to find out where it went?

Yes, the windows were recycled (taken out early last week) along with the metal, iron, and steel found in and out of the home. Plans are being made for the brick as well.

When the home closed and was put up for PUBLIC auction the cost to heat this historical home was over $1,000 a month (2 years ago)! Not many people could afford a gas bill of this nature each month. Maybe this is part of the reason the historical society did not want to take on such a huge project.

For those concerned with the toxins...an inspector came to the site and gave the "all clear." There were no toxins, harmful chemicals, or abspetous present. Perhaps questions regarding this matter should have been addressed with the Clark's before making outlandish comments about harming nearby families. I believe the Clark boys have children of their own; I highly doubt they would do something that would put their own children in danger.

Typical Putnam county finger pointers coming out of the woodwork, proclaiming what "should" have been done. Whatever.

In an age where farmland is a commodity, you'd think people would be happy that a little MORE farmland was added, rather than taken away. Then again, you can't make some people happy, ever.

Everytime a story like this is in the paper I cringe because the comments of a few make the rest of us in Putnam Co.look like a bunch of uninformed rednecks. Get the facts before you go running your mouths and embarrassing the rest of us with your stupidity.

A. Who deserves credit for the photos.B. Its obvious that there wasnt a community discussion of this destruction beforehand...doesnt media cover these issues before the fact?

I was lucky enough to get to look inside before they tore this awsome old place down. There was so much damage there was no way the place could of been restored or even used. So much danger everywhere. People have been going in and destroying for too long. For safety of the community the Clarks I feel were very smart for taking it down. That place may have been a historic mark but it also was a danger to everyone who may have tried to goin without permission. I was lucky enough to get permission. And if anyone knows or have met the Clarks you know they are great and kind people. Thanks for letting me see it before it had to be taken down.

Correction...12,000 a month for propane two years ago!!!!

Glad to hear that what could be recycled was recycled. Not surprised that they were thorough enough to make sure they wouldn't be releasing anything bad... Thankful they were willing to take on the job and get some more farm land to use in the end. Thank you Clark's for taking on something no one else would touch and taking care of it.

now where will i go?

for everyone who is upset: pay attention and vote. the comissioners sold it because they didn't want to deal with it. the money from the sale (much less than what they were expecting) was supposed to go to the general fund according to gene beck. I asked him before the sale.

Somewhere, Arnold Ziffel is spinning on his spit.

it was their property, if someone is upset with what they have done, They should of bought it.

I live in the area and sort of know the Clarks.I know them to be great people and very hard working.I would have thought they would have tried to sell it themselves before destroying it.I never noticed a for sale sign going up after they bought it.I know several people who thought it would have made an excelent Bed and Breakfast and that could have been a simple sulution for the great old building.But nothing lasts forever and as sad as it was to see it go, it wasn't my burden to keep it up or to decied to destroy it.I'm sure it was a hard decision for the Clarks to make.We all will miss the stately old building but progress wins out again.

I got the chance to view the inside of this place late last year and I am not surprised that it was torn down. The renovation alone would cost more than anyone in this county would be willing to fork out. Yes its a shame that it was torn down but its better for it to be torn down and the land put to good use then for the building to just sit there and go unused.

Pay property taxes on an 8000 square foot empty building or pay property taxes on an empty lot? You do the math. The building would of taken million or more to bring up to today's standards. I hated to see it go but they made a wise financial decision.