In late September, a gaggle of Eastonians paraded before county council to complain. Were they concerned about the gang violence? Drugs on the streets? A city falling apart? Nah, their mission was to save Easton's 1753 Bachmann Publick House, Easton's oldest building, tavern and home to Northampton County's first courtroom.This "living museum" has died. It has long since shut its doors and dismissed its staff. Unable to pay a $500,000 mortgage to the county, Esaton residents tearfully asked for time to develop a business plan.
Sixty days.
"For 1 1/2 years, we have waited. Now at the 12th hour, you come in with a business plan." Everyone kept hinting around about Lafayette College , and the evil Ron Angle pointedly asked whether Lafayette had a check. "You need a big brother at this point, and you don't have one."
That was four months ago, but what the hell.
Big Brother will finally come to county council tonight. According to a letter to the editor conveniently published today, "a plan to reopen the Bachmann as a museum will be presented to Northampton County Council. Dr. Dan Weiss, president of Lafayette College, will tell of the college's involvement."
In the meantime, Abe Atiyeh wants to buy the tavern and lease it to the county for a gazillion dollars a year as a prison treatment center. "It will still be a living museum. We can kill two birds with one stone. I've got shackles and everything," he claims. "We can grab a few inmates or homeless people and put them in the stocks for the kids. Every now and then we can whip one of them and one of the ladies can have a wardrobe malfunction and ... do any of you need any money for office?"
4 comments:
I don't even understand what the debate is here. Of course this building should be preserved.
It survived a long time as a tavern. That is the history that should be preserved. Let someone open the taps and let the place get back to business. NorCo has not performed well in its real estate ventures. The county should jettison this property immediately. I'll drink to that.
Here's the dillyo. Everyone says the building must be preserved and then walks away and lets it fall apart. Do you know how many frickin' times that building has been preserved? I actually was suckered into raising money for that place a few years ago by organizing footraces in Easton. I did it twice. I thought it was a rich person's charity both then and now. Someone has to come up with a plan that works, and now the county is paying to keep the place from collapsing. Instead of another parade before county council, we need an action plan.
A tavern? Why the hell not? A B&B? Sure. Something. Put restrictions in the deed to make sure the historic qualities are preserved and unload it. Give the buyer a good price since we in the county screw Easton when it comes to everything else. But Angle is right. Get rid of it.
Oh the debate is who should foot the bill. Old age kicking in.
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