About a year ago the Concord Monitor posed this most vital question: “How does society determine which important buildings in the community are worth saving?” This question was easily answered when the community possessed a historic, engineering, and architectural treasure like the Concord gasholder, a unique, one-of-kind landmark, the only such structure remaining in America, and likely the world.
It has been most encouraging to see real leadership and activity this past year as the city has provided some financial resources for structural analysis, set up a special committee to find a preservation solution, and supported its Heritage Commission in securing a listing for the gasholder on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other citizens who care about this icon and the story it tells of our city’s achievements and history have also organized to build public support to save it. “Save Our Gasholder” (sites.google.com/view/saveourgasholder/home) provides illuminating history of the gasholder, the efforts being made to save it, an opportunity to sign a petition in support, and, very importantly, a way to donate money to help with the work that still needs to be done.
In addition to being a capital city landmark, visible from heavily traveled Interstate 93, the gasholder is as much a part of our South End neighborhood as our schools, our homes, and our beloved Ward House, and it has been since 1888. It’s the last in a collection of remaining buildings that were the heart of Concord’s energy and transportation manufacturing in the 19th century.
We all have a stake in saving it – our elected officials, our business and community leaders, our citizens, even Liberty Utilities, its current owner, which could burnish its own legacy by passing it on to the community in a restored condition. In the hands of the city, or a not-for-profit organization, many opportunities for its maintenance and upkeep are possible through funding sources like LCHIP and the Conservation License Plate Fund.
Time is running out for the gasholder. It would be tragic to end this most challenging year watching the magnificent
gasholder fall to the wrecking ball. Time for all who can help save it to step up.
(James McConaha lives in Concord.)