Dear Editor:
The Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation announced their 30th annual Endangered Sites List on May 19th in front of the Butts House at E. Clay Street and North Market Street. We announced four historic resources that are endangered in the Roanoke Valley including the 1820 brick Butts House that was built by J.C. Deyerle and now owned by Roanoke College. A crowd of 25 people including members of the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation and many concerned citizens of Salem attended the Press Release event in 90+ degree heat. The public’s interest was palpable with lively discussions long after the announcements were over. It was reassuring to know that so many Salem citizens came out in the heat to voice their opinions and to hear about the four endangered sites across the Roanoke Valley, with two sites in Salem. The purpose of our yearly Endangered Sites List (since 1996) is to draw attention to these threatened structures and to make the public aware of their importance, because if you don’t know the value of something, then you can’t save it.
Sincerely,
-Anne S. Beckett
Co-Chair of the Endangered Sites Committee
Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation
Roanoke, VA
roanokepreservation.org
