Treat the Burgess legacy with the historical respect it deserves
By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
If you ask the folks at the Quadrangle in Springfield about the impact of being the site for the Dr. Seuss sculpture garden, I'd bet you a dozen delicious Donut Dip doughnuts that they would tell you that the number of visitors have increased.
Celebrating the history, personalities and accomplishments of a community or region has long been shown as a solid boost to tourism and community pride.
Dr. Seuss may have left his hometown a very long time ago, but he is still serving it well.
I've written several times about how we should have a regional transportation museum highlighting the area's significant contributions to the history of transportation. I was happy to hear about the plans to create a museum dedicated to Springfield's history that would expand the Quadrangle's offerings.
Perhaps that would be a place to honor another children's author from our area, Thornton W. Burgess. Burgess did have a link to the city as he lived in Forest Park for years.
You see, I've lost all hope that Mass Audubon is ever going to treat the Burgess legacy with the historical respect it deserves. Lori O'Brien's story that appeared in last week's edition reported the damage to Laughing Brook due to rains and floods and the apparent difficulty of re-opening the property.
Burgess' second writing studio has long been destroyed and his first one is not in good shape. I don't know how well kept is his former home.
Now the last time I wrote about this subject I received several phone calls and letters from people who supported what Mass Audubon had done: closed down the injured animal exhibits, shut down the visitor center and turned Laughing Brook simply into a protected area with trails for hikers that also offered weekend programs.
I'm sure I'll hear from them again.
The simple fact is that is not what Burgess wanted. That's not what the hundreds of people who donated their time and money to Laughing Brook wanted, either.
Burgess is certainly not as big a name in children's literature today as he was 50 years ago. He has long since passed and his books, although many are still in print, have fallen into the public domain. What still stands, though, is his role as a popular naturalist. For generations he was the gentle voice that many of us heard in childhood telling us about the world away from sidewalks and streets of the city.
I wish that Mass Audubon would simply admit that historic preservation and interpretation is beyond their expertise and seek a partnership with an organization that would help restore the Burgess legacy. He and his books are worthy of celebration and re-discovery.
This column represents the opinions of its author. Send your comments to mdobbs@reminderpublications.com or to 280 N. Main St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028.
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