Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Robert Frost House Vandalized
Posted by: Lain // Category: Historic Preservation, Inappropriate Beer Drinking // 7:59 am
Our friends at babygotbooks reported on the Robert Frost House Party a few weeks back, but it’s just now that the New York Times has released a thoughtful article complete with an audio slideshow.
In summary–a group of teenagers got together with about 150 beers, a few bottles of liquor and some recreational drugs. They broke into the home and had a party. That white stuff is the residue from a spent fire extinguisher.
This incident also happens to be titled “Lain Shakespeare’s Worst Nightmare.”
Particularly chilling in the Times article is the kid at the end who shows the opposite of remorse.
(That beer pong table totally isn’t regulation size.)
Near the end of the article, one professor makes the point that vandalism like this gives us pause for reflection and inspiration for further celebration. It sure does. Even working in the field, I often wonder–why do we preserve homes of authors? Is it a worthy endeavor? Who cares about the man’s house, isn’t it his works that are important?
The article’s author, Dan Barry, sort of answers those questions by artfully linking the poetry of Robert Frost to the actions and words of the people involved. They’re a reflection of the landscape themselves, and their words echo the poetry of Frost.
Incidentally, this morning I strolled up to the Wren’s Nest to find that someone or something has tried to take the our screens off the windows.
They were strewn about the porch.
Not that the screens were historically accurate in the first place, but we had planned to take them down when we were good and ready, thankyouverymuch.
Related, especially to the Frost business: An Arsonist’s Guide To Writers Homes in New England.
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