A recent trip to Winchester revealed a town in the midst of change. Winchester typifies an American rural community complete with an abundance of strip malls, a brick-lined historic district and an younger college crowd. This town is not only expanding in all directions, but an upscale presence has been sneaking in recently. Pictured here is the courthouse, showing a slightly different time than the church behind it.
The Handley Library stands out as incredible moment to architecture, especially for this area. Completed in 1913, it was commissioned to architects J. Stewart Barney and Henry Otis Chapman from New York. More information can be found here: nps.gov/history/NR/travel/VAmainstreet/han.htm.
Just an incredible building! I need to make the trip back soon as it as closed on the day I visited.
2 comments:
Otis-- Otis the man was probably the Otis in Otis Elevator Yes Virginia there was a time when people spent money to erect an edifice that would be perhaps a monument to them --a testament to their love of country and community and those less fortunate that others may pull themselves up with their boot straps and well they sure don't build like that anymore well where are the stone masons the stone carvers--- no, jobs today people want instant gratification -- do you want fries with that?? and they don't want to work hard and do they really want an education ?? So like why drop out of high school well if the kids there weren't trouble makers or led to believe the football will be the holy grail to an NFL career maybe just maybe buildings will be built to look like that
Snarky, another interesting perspective (given you are the same commenter from previous posts). Beautiful buildings stand out as a means to leave a legacy. I agree with you and feel that short term vision leaves us with a disposable culture. Japanese businesses have been known to create 100 year business plans. They have some cool buildings too.
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