This doesn't make sense. Then again many things in life don't make sense.

"a year after it was declared historically significant, the building fell to the wrecking ball"

From my experiences, Massachusetts shows a lot of pride in their history. Razing a building soon after recognition makes no sense.

Was that $3.3 million paid OVER the table or slipped UNDER it?

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Joni Mitchell

Look at it the other way. If you owned the Ford dealership, how mad would you be if you were told that you couldn't sell your suddenly valuable property for $3.3 million because it had some vague historical significance? I'd be pretty mad. I think nostalgia is good, but like all things, it's best done in moderation. If it were the first Ford dealership ever? Sure, let's preserve that. Otherwise, let's let progress happen.

Sure, I get that.

This, from the article, "Harper Garage operated out of the building until at least the 1940s, after which a renovation removed much of the original detail, according to the report," makes preservation as a historical building less important.

Only the land that the dealership sits on is original. And probably barely at that.

Can you imagine how much oil and other car fluids soaked into the ground there after 100 years?

I admit that I am into historical preservation of old buildings and landmarks and public art.

I specifically purchased this 120 ish year old barn to preserve it. I think it was money will spent.

I had the flag added.

The original barn was modified (on the left)to accommodate an automobile sometime early in the 1900's.