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July 30, 2010

Letter: Unique piece of church architecture threatened by wrecker's ball

To the editor:

After reading the recent front-page story headlined, "Court refuses to hear appeal over housing in church," I became very frustrated.

I believe the Boston Archdiocese and its contracting firm, the Planning Office of Urban Affairs, have once again caused much concern for artists whose main interests are focused upon preserving our ecclesiastical architecture in this historic city.

When the archdiocese took all of the St. Joseph's Parish property from its people, including the cruciform church, a school, a brick rectory and a convent, it did not take steps to preserve the church's unique architecture even though it was designed in the newly-formed International style — still a rare form of cruciform art in this country.

It calls the proposal to build apartments on the site a "humanitarian" project, even though it's at the expense of Salem losing this historic church.

How is it possible the destruction of a house of God can be called a humanitarian project?

I believe that this is another example of financial greed and artistic ignorance, as well as a grave mistake.

I believe that St. Joseph's Church is to Salem what Cologne Cathedral is to Cologne, and what Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel is to Rome. Have we not learned well from past mistakes like the destruction of Salem's old train depot and armory?

Such buildings can never be replaced.

I believe that as long as our spiritual and municipal leaders continue to remain artistically ignorant and financially greedy, Salem will lose even more of its uniqueness until it finally becomes just an overly crowded city without a history of its own.

Anna Della Monica

Salem

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