In lieu of a News Roundup, why not check out what’s going on in architecture and preservation round the internet?

Bolivar County’s Burrus House (aka Baby Doll House, aka Hollywood), listed as an endangered place by the Mississippi Heritage Trust in 2001, has been renovated and Delta magazine’s article “The Baby Doll House Reborn” highlights its history and its architecture. Even better is the link to the house’s website (I don’t know that I ever would have imagined using the phrase “house’s website” in my younger years), which has pictures of the renovation and other information. Looks like a guided tour for $5 is in my future.

In a first that I hope doesn’t give any other state ideas, Georgia has chosen to fight its budget deficit in part by closing its state archives to the public. According to a statement by the Secretary of State, which oversees the archives:

To meet the required cuts, it is with great remorse that I have to announce, effective November 1, 2012, the Georgia State Archives located in Morrow, GA will be closed to the public.  The decision to reduce public access to the historical records of this state was not arrived at without great consternation.  To my knowledge, Georgia will be the only state in the country that will not have a central location in which the public can visit to research and review the historical records of their government and state.  The staff that currently works to catalog, restore, and provide reference to the state of Georgia’s permanent historical records will be reduced.  The employees that will be let go through this process are assets to the state of Georgia and will be missed.  After November 1st, the public will only be allowed to access the building by appointment; however, the number of appointments could be limited based on the schedule of the remaining employees.

Luckily for Georgia, the private Georgia Historical Society provides another avenue of research for many historians, but not to the huge collections of government agency records that the state archives holds. As the GHS director notes, the role of the state archives is important for public access to state records, not just some luxury disposable role–is a democracy that doesn’t allow its citizens to access its government’s records still a democracy? Time will tell.

Back when the AMC show Mad Men started, its meticulously detailed 1950s and 1960s aesthetic made a splash and probably made viewers aware of the beauty of this period in a way they may not have been before. DOCOMOMO asks, based on this premise, “Is Mad Men Good for Preservation?” The answer may surprise you.

Speaking of DOCOMOMO, if you’re interested in learning more about the national and international scene of Modern architecture, they have a few suggestions for blogs to follow. MissPres isn’t on the list, yet, but y’all already read us, right?

It’s sad what the National Geographic channel has come to, but I’m just passing on this episode of Abandoned about an “old” Mississippi homestead alleged to have items dating to the 1830s (the house looks about 1940s to me, and none of the pictures show anything much older). The show airs Sept. 28 at 7:00 Central.

And keeping up with Isaac aftermath, the Times Picayune ran this story about flooding at historic Mary Plantation in Plaquemines Parish, just after the house had been renovated from Katrina.

Finally, on a fun just-for-Monday note, what does the Eola Hotel in Natchez have to do with Louisiana Hayride scandals? Find out at http://andspeakingofwhich.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-natchez-eola-hotel.html.

Categories: Historic Preservation