Author: Sandra Douglas
From: Sandra Douglas
To: Board of Directors, Allegheny Regional Asset District
Subject : Re: Buhl Planetarium
Date : Fri, 24 Aug 2001 10:02:59 +0100
The Board of Directors of the Allegheny Regional Asset District.
I live in a small historic town in England and, for many years, have been
interested in conservation. When my attention was drawn to the proposed
removal of the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector and the 10-inch Siderostat-type
Refractor Telescope, from The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular
Science, I felt that I should write to you.
In the United Kingdom, the interiors of historic buildings, which are "listed"
by the Government, are protected: this includes such things as those artifacts,
which were made for the building such as chimney pieces. I believe that the
Planning Laws came about because it deemed necessary to protect our heritage
from the erosion that was taking place.
In the U.K., I believe that the proposed removal of such scientific instruments,
from the Planetarium, would be regarded as an application for "demolition" under
the Planning Laws. I do not know if American Planning Laws protect the interiors
of historic buildings but I would, respectfully ask you to consider the removal of these
Instruments very carefully
Some years ago, a Law Lord ruled that, in England, that in
planning, personal considerations should not be taken into account as the
building would survive individuals. I believe that we all have a duty to
preserve our inheritance for future generations. Please retain these
Instruments, intact, within the building, not only for posterity but also
for the History of Science. In England we, in the past, have lost much which
we later came to regret.
Sandra Douglas
Knutsford, Cheshire, England