Dear Editor:

Barbara Rumsey's recent letter about the potential loss of buildings near the Boothbay Harbor Golf Course dating back more than 200 years, puts me in mind of losses in the Cozy Harbor area of Southport at the hands of the same investor/philanthropist.

Currently being rebuilt is the Pratt’s Island bridge, which has had, since its original construction, lovely nature-smoothed stone abutments. The current project is hiding those stones behind concrete and granite. While perhaps the abutments needed shoring up and widening, that work could have been composed of concrete faced with stones similar to what have been there all along rather than a fancy granite facade.

Nearby, the former Pratt's Pavilion building was radically altered a few years ago and looks not at all as it did for almost 200 years. Even the name of the restaurant within it is confusing because it also is the name of one of the owners of the Island Store, who has no involvement with the restaurant, rather than echoing the name of the family that owned the property for several decades.

The region will be less for the loss and radical changes of these various properties. Heritage is important and needs to be given serious consideration. While the investments and contributions of the richest among us are much appreciated, their assistance in protecting the region's heritage would be as greatly appreciated.

Bruce Wood
Southport