One of the things that I love to do is go to “Open Houses.”

I went to one this weekend. I was surprised that it was so “reasonably priced.”

(Just as a btw, I don’t think any real estate in Newburyport, MA is “reasonably priced.” In fact I find the prices for homes in Newburyport, MA to be terrifyingly high. However, this one was “cheaper” than a lot of stuff out there for the same size.)

The real estate broker was very apologetic. She said you really had to love “antiques” to like this one.

Wow.

Hello.

Excuse me.

Yes, this particular place actually had all the original moldings, like beautiful dental moldings, and the real estate broker was apologizing.

Sigh.

What have we come to in Newburyport, MA?

I go to a lot of the “newer” Open Houses (replications or gut jobs) and they all look the same to me. Ironically, often one of the big features that is pointed out to me is the “moldings.” Only, often I know that the old moldings were ripped out and this is brand new, not historic molding.

When I see these “gut jobs” all over Newburyport, MA, it feels as if the soul of the place is being gutted too.

My gut is that these gut jobs are an indication of something else, besides a deep un-appreciation of historic preservation and all that could mean.

I’m going to have to think on that one, but when I see them, they always make me very sad and very angry.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport