Marcella Archibeque is spitting mad that she can't obliterate her own bit of Gulf Coast history; she wants her historic shotgun cottage scraped off the face of the earth and sent to the big trash heap where other architectural victims of hurricane Katrina have gone.
But it's exactly because this shotgun style home -- or what is left of it -- is designated as "historic" that she's having trouble getting it bulldozed by the Army Corps of Engineers.
In order for the Corps to carry out a demolition of the building, it must first get approval from FEMA. FEMA, in turn, needs the Mississippi State Department of Archives and History to sign off on the demolition. That arrangement, multiplied by thousands along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, inevitably leads to confusion.
Archibeque says she's been waiting since October to have the demolition approved. FEMA says it's waiting for the state of Mississippi to give its approval and the folks at the Department of Archives and History say they are waiting for FEMA to send them the papers.
Until the papers resurface, with the Department of Archives and History's signoff, not a single brick or board is going to be moved from Archiebeque's historical home, unless she does it herself. She is perfectly free to do that -- at her own expense, of course.
"What historical site?" snaps Archibeque, a wispy woman with shining crown of white hair, stabbing the air in the direction of an above-ground pool filled with branches and brackish water. "Does this look historical to you? You tell your readers if they want an 'historical pool' they can just come over and have it!"
Archibeque says she only learned "through the grapevine" that her house was on the historical registry -- the official listing of historically significant buildings. But given its current condition, that categorization strikes her as absurd.
"(It) isn't historical anymore because years ago it was modified, redesigned and now it’s a mess," she says. "There’s nothing historical about it; it’s hysterical now."
Bulldozing history
The devastating toll that Katrina took on Mississippi's rich architectural history is only now becoming clear. Jennifer Baughn, an architectural historian with the state Department of Archives and History said that the storm destroyed 366 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and "severely damaged" another 367, which "will most likely be torn down." That accounts for nearly two-thirds of the 1,114 buildings listed on the register before the storm.
READ RELATED STORY: A great 'bump' of historic proportions
Comparable statewide figures are not available for Louisiana, but its richest concentration of historic buildings, some 37,000, are located in New Orleans. Of those homes, 11,000 were "damaged or destroyed" in some manner, according to Sue Sperry, a spokeswoman for the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, a non-profit group working to help save the historic properties. However, damage varied greatly among the 20 historic districts found in New Orleans. Of the 16,000 homes and buildings controlled by the city, only 172 -- or 1 less than 1 percent -- collapsed or are considered in imminent danger of collapsing, the city's Historic District Landmarks Commission reported recently.
Waveland and Bay St. Louis alone had 576 homes on the National Register of Historic Places, but lost 238 of them. "Katrina took them in a heartbeat," says Charles Gray, director of the Hancock County Historical Society.
Another 40 historic homes are "marginal," or probably salvageable, but "I hold no hope they will be," he adds. "No one has any say about what they can do. We can go to them and beg plead, but we have no legal authority if the owner arbitrarily decides to tear it down."
Gray says bitterly that he spent 10 years "trying to get the damned City Council to pass a preservation ordinance," but the members always wanted changes and the measure never was passed. If it had been, Gray says, would have put some restrictions on the modifications of historical properties owners could make, but the payoff would have been that owners of these homes could have applied to the state for grants and loans to help rebuild them.
With so much demolition waiting in the wings, architectural experts fear that much of the Gulf Coast's history and charm will simply be bulldozed for the sake of expediency.
"A lot of these people figure they can’t afford to restore their historic homes," Gray says. "One person I know is spending $225,000 to put their house back on its foundation -- it's a little shotgun style house -- and very few people have the means to do to that. So it’s the cost factor persuading them to do go head with demolition."
Baughn, the state historian, adds, "It’s incalculable how much history is going to be lost (because of people choosing to demolish homes)."
Baughn said that "for years after Camille hit" people bemoaned the fact that they didn't think long and hard before just demolishing their properties. "We hear it all that time, 'I shouldn't have torn down my place,'" Baughn says. "It’s incredibly frustrating and heartbreaking to see the pattern repeating and people don’t realize it."
Baughn says that her department has tried to talk to FEMA about the possibility of the agency subsidizing putting houses back on their foundations, which is all many of them require to be saved. But FEMA has "made it clear that they will tear these houses down no matter what; they have no interest in saving them," she says.
Stuck in Historical Limbo
Mary Van Pelt knew all about the historical value of the 100-year-old home she lost to Katrina. That was a big attraction to her when she bought it 2 1/2 years ago. But Katrina took it all; there's nothing really to save except perhaps some doors, architectural moldings and the like.
And so Van Pelt has asked that her property be demolished. But because her request is somehow "stuck" in the system, awaiting signoff by the Archives and History department, all Van Pelt can do is sit and wait and watch as her dream house forlornly awaits its fate.
But it gets worse.
Now working in Atlanta, Van Pelt has heard reports that her home is being looted, picked over by Katrina scavengers looking for anything they can carry away. Her beautiful French doors are broken or gone; the thieves apparently couldn't carry off the heavy old Franklin stove, "so they just shoved it around," .
"It feels like someone is picking my bones," she says, the pain of this final desecration evident in her voice. "After going through almost every emotion, this was the final blow, to hear that people are looting. At this point it’s bittersweet, (the demolition) has to be done so just go ahead and do it."
A pungent parade
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Marcella Archibeque our prayers are with you. I can't imagine what you are going through and I pray that everything gets straightened out soon for you and others. We have not forgotten about you, while it may seem we have. Please take care.
Kelly, Quincy, IL (Sent Mar 2, 2006 8:45:22 PM)
its her house, she should decide what to do with it. i see nothing wrong with that if others on the registery got to destroy their houses.
Abbey Newark, Delaware (Sent Mar 2, 2006 9:06:02 PM)
The other side of the story - and I mean no disrespect BUT till you've seen it and helped to try and fix it....well, it's easy to arm-chair quarterback. I think the answers must come from those that lived it-give 'em hell NOLA. I have been there - I've walked the neighborhoods of NOLA - I surveyed the historic district homes/businesses that are slated for demo - if the programs worked like they should...there also wouldn't have been demo tags (placed by the FEMA subcontracted company that also "supposedly" had a FEMO demo contract)on the residential and commercial properties that were TOTALLY in tack. Sure, everyone had some damage but NOT all parts of the city were swept off their foundations. Where's the common sense and the committment to community/history/the people - please God don't let it all look like McMansion Pleasantville---New Orleans deserves better!
Sadie, TN (Sent Mar 2, 2006 9:52:29 PM)
any thing historical should be salvaged...it's part of the heritage and culture of the south if it's fixable...use it in a new home....and give that place...a part of our past...by the way....looters should be shot!!!!
andy,ms (Sent Mar 2, 2006 10:46:56 PM)
My name is Will Edmonds. I and 19 others from our small church in the small comunity of Barnardsville NC just returned from a trip to the Bay St. Louis, Waveland area (In Mississippi where the Most damage was incurred NOT New Orleans!) where we went to help with several different needs in those comunities. One of which was actually helping to clear Mrs. Archibeque's lot. In fact she is one of the last few we were able to help on the wednesday (2-22-06) before leaving the area. THERE IS NO WAY ANYONE CAN ACCURATELY WAY IN ON THIS SITUATUION UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN THERE AND SPOKEN WITH THESE BROKEN-HEARTED PEOPLE AND "WALKED IN THEIR SHOES!" The government already has too much say in how we as "FREE" Americans live our own lives, but people want that same government to rebuild the entire region that does NOT belong to the government. The responsibilty of our government ends after ensuring that people have a way to survive and have the means to stay alive, and that people are being treated fairly and not being taken advantage of to the best of their ability. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF REBUILDING FALLS SQUARLEY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE IN THIS REGION, AND ON THEIR NEIGHBORS, AND THE LOCAL CHURCHES AND VARIOUS CHARITY GROUPS. IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO HOLD US UP THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILTY TO EACH OTHER AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST FIRTS OF ALL BUT ALSO AS FELLOW AMERICANS! ( A side note: America is directly responsible for much of the destruction in Iraq. That's why we need to spend money, time, and energy to rebuild another country! Katrina, and all of the other Hurricanes that devastated many places last year were in no way caused by or a responsibility of the United States Government!That's the difference!!!) God bless you all! Our prayers are with all of you who are suffering losses in the Gulf coasts!
Will Edmonds, Barnardsville, NC (Sent Mar 2, 2006 11:26:46 PM)
Sorry to have to say it again, because y'all are so passionately caring, but guys: this is Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. It's not NOLA, New Orleans, or Louisiana. Please! Even on a site dedicated to two towns in Mississippi, we seem to be invisible. This is OUR story! The hurricane HIT OUR COAST head on and no one seems to be able to hold that in their heads! 70 miles of our coast and as it says, hundreds of historic homes and thousands of others were destroyed. The Mississippi coast and it's people exist!
I'm glad you guys have a heart for New Orleans, but please, extend it a little to take in the fact that MISSISSIPPI got the brunt of the largest natural disaster in our country's history. There's nothing quite like being wiped off the map literally and figuratively, and no one acknowledging it. It's just getting a little old.
Laurie (Sent Mar 3, 2006 12:28:41 AM)
I do not understand the "logic" behind not destroying a historic home when it has been reduced to rubble. actually, it is already destroyed, it just needs to be cleaned up. I live in this town and see the mess these people are dealing with. What does the historical society want us to save? Rotten boards, broken windows? If they want it let them come and get it and help clean up. It is sad, I agree, that these houses are gone, but let's get real. The people living here own the land and need to get on with their lives.
Reagan S (Sent Mar 3, 2006 12:52:46 AM)
I feel for the Victims of Katrina, I really do. But like one person mentioned here, the people of the Golden Triagle have been forgotten and completely overshadowed by Katrina. Rita did much damage to many areas and most as badly as Katrina, but the general public has not HEARD of Port Arthur or Port Neches or most towns in that area. YET, this is one of the MAJOR REFINERY AND GAS/OIL PRODUCING AREAS IN THE U.S.! With the energy prices rising every day there are people unable to go home to this area and therefore to their jobs in the Refinery Businesses. If there aren't sufficiant workers then the prouction will decrease which will raise prices. Again, our Gov't spends countless money on Iraq but has barely scratched the surface to help people in our own country, all along the Gulf Coast! Victims of both Rita and Katrina need to have normalcy returned. Even the barest thing such as electrical or plumbing. This is not a third world country, although sadly, some sections STILL look like it. And what is our President going to say? "Let them eat Mangos?"
Kathy Murphy, Houston, Texas (Sent Mar 3, 2006 5:03:57 AM)
Our prayers go out to all the people dealing with the bureaucratic red tape that is accompanying the clean-up process. These people have surely been through enough,your fellow Americans will continue to pray foryour homes to be rebuiltand your lives to return to normal.
Steven Tandy,Louisville,KY (Sent Mar 3, 2006 7:45:19 AM)
My heart and prayers go out to the people in New Orleans but let us not forget that they were not the only ones hit by Katrina. You hear nothing about the people in Mississpi and all along the gulf that was hit. I agree with the comments made about our government. We can help everyone else rebuild and go forward but not our own country. Remind me why we pay taxes again!
Martha, Charlotte, NC (Sent Mar 3, 2006 10:28:44 AM)
I just returned from my Mardi Gras homecoming and was shocked to see just how paralyzed the City of New Orleans remains six months after Katrina. I spent some time visiting a friend,who lives in the Lakeview neighborhood, two blocks from the 17th street canal. He has had his FEMA trailor for several weeks, but is still unable to live in it. A man came to make the toilet work while I was visiting. Randy, my friend, is a very able-bodied man and has started his reconstruction/demolition on his own. He has removed most of the flooring and all of the dry-wall but in order to REALLY move forward he needs the levee situation to be completely resolved so that he might be able to get the homeowners insurance that he will need in order to finance his rebuild. He is stuck in the mud.
I had a great time hanging out with Randy during Mardi Gras. He never bitched or moaned, but the pain in his heart was obvious. People like Randy are the type of Americans that I want to celebrate.
Bush has got to go.
Steven, Memphis (Sent Mar 3, 2006 6:40:43 PM)
Don't give up, It's all a big game of the rich and powerfull to stall as long as possable so they can get your land for nothing. Who is in office right now. go figure. I really feel sorry for you all.
Charlie Farrell Mims Fl. (Sent Mar 3, 2006 8:36:35 PM)
Hey Will Edmonds!! Hang on a minute! The reason our government IS responsible for helping the people in the Gulf Coast region is because the GOVERNMENT-BUILT levees failed! Remember the levees? Remember that they were built and maintained to withstand only a Category 3 hurricane? And remember that funding to repair and strengthen those very levees was cut out of the budget by the Bush administration. THAT's why the government is responsible for the damage.
Vicki - Vermont (Sent Mar 4, 2006 9:46:15 AM)
The U.S.A. is a "capitalist" country. The government isn't interested in your problems unless your a lobbiest with deep pockets. The governments actions speak louder than their words. Some people just aren't listening. Don't you get it yet? After Katrina/Rita/Wilma you saw companies coming to save the day; for a price, double or triple the amount necessary. Now that they have theirs, they leave without really doing anything, and you're on your own.This I guarantee you: As long as "we" let our elected representitives in state & federal government get away with their obscene pandering to Big Money lobbiest instead of representing their constituents, nothing will change. Simply put Hurricanes=$, Politics=$, Wars=$, Education=$, Security=$, Justice=$, Healthcare=$, $$$$$$$ etc. Anything/everything for a price=capitalism.
If all you people had buckets of money you wouldn't be in the position you're in, now would ya. Its your fault/not your governments fault. "Think Abramhoff", Think Tom Delay","Think casinos". The very first talk of rebuilding anything in Miss. or La. was about rebulding the casinos. Laws were changed and money set aside for that cause.(common people your S.O.L.)
Now, about 30%-40% of you sheep out there(not naming names) will probably be angry at me for saying this given your disposition for intolerance towards anyone with a different viewpoint. The rest of you will hear & understand.
And for the record , my lifelong hometown in Texas was hit by Rita. 130mph winds. My house was damaged. I'm fixing it myself. Old Uncle Sam can give my money to some poor drug company or better yet he can help out our struggling oil companies.
Remember this:, "The Love of Money is the root of all evil.------In God We Trust!!!!!!!!!!" Thanks for nothing G-Dubbya.
Patrick Rountree, Orange, Texas (Sent Mar 4, 2006 10:41:24 AM)
FEMA strikes again!!! I hate seeing history erased, but if the home can't be salvaged, it can't. I don't understand, however, why FEMA isn't willing to save some of the homes by simply replacing them on their foundations. What stupidity, and what a tragedy.
Carol (Sent Mar 4, 2006 4:25:37 PM)
It is scarey. What Charlie Farrell says is what I've been thinking for some time now. Ever since the Supreme Court okayed loval governments to take private citizens houses in order to build, not roads, but beachfront condos or shopping centers, to increase the local tax base, I have been wondering what is happening to this country. This happened in New Jersey, I think, before the storm hit us. But what's to keep it from happening down here, since it is the law of the land now? I hope all the people on the Coast are treated fairly, and are not taken advantage of. But why did the Supreme Court rule that way? Our rights as citizens are being trampled on by the government. I almost said "our" government, but it doesn't seem to be working that way anymore.
Jane, Southern Mississippi (Sent Mar 4, 2006 9:22:31 PM)
To Will & Laurie,
Extremely well said. Having grew up in Waveland, I dearly miss my little town very much and it breaks my heart to see what has happened to it. I still have lots of family there. Your comments are right on the money. God Bless to all of those volunteers who help families put there lives back together. You'll never know how much your appreciated.
Dane R. - Charlotte (Sent Mar 5, 2006 12:23:41 AM)
I can not imagine how these people feel. I can read in shock at how they have been treated. ANd now how they can't start to fix or replace their homes. I did not notice something that happens up here, if someone is looting your home and gets hurt are you still legally responsable? I don't know what the answer is to keeping them out of damaged homes. Seems to me that might be a bit of leverage, see if you can hold FEMA or the Historical Society accountable if someone does get hurt. It would really be a shame to be a victim again by the system.
Michelle, Portland, Oregon (Sent Mar 5, 2006 3:29:53 PM)
Dear Ms. Archibeque,
Please contact me about the removal of your home. Weepingwillow3744@yahoo.com.
Robbie E., Sherman, TX (Sent Mar 6, 2006 10:54:54 AM)
I have been in MS for the past two weeks trying to arrange for my house to be "deconstructed" by Penn State University and The Green Project. They will save the old hardwood floors & the beams and maybe some other architectural details. So, some good news has come out of this and part of my wonderful old house will be used again & not incinerated or put in a landfill.
Mary Van Pelt (Sent Mar 6, 2006 6:39:11 PM)
I was just down at the coast this past weekend and progress is slow. We really do not need a bunch of idiots hindering the process. I saw lots of houses like hers that need to be cleared and new history started. There are plenty of "historic" places in Ms.
Afterall, we are the slowest growing state.
Teressa , Ms (Sent Mar 8, 2006 11:48:30 AM)
Amen Will and Laurie!!!! I too am from Waveland and I say what about us? New Orleans destruction happened after the storm, a day or two later. Ours happened as soon as Katrina's eye hit us head on! Thank you Will and your group! No words can express our thanks to groups like you!
ABM (Sent Mar 9, 2006 12:17:36 AM)
Ok about a year ago i lived on the GULF coast in Diamondhead MS i am so sorry for the ruin of your town.
Lindsey Emmens, Hot Springs, Arkansas (Sent Mar 10, 2006 1:47:16 PM)
I am an Australian, I read with horror what devastation the hurricanes bring in America, the fact that President Bush is "best friends" with John Howard constantly causes me worry.
If the non caring attitude that he carries towards his own countrymen is to continue, where will the world find it's morals?
We are supposed to be fighting for FREEDOM the world over, and yet those of us that own our own piece of land, don't get to say what we do with it?
God bless you all, may a resolution be very close at hand.
Sandy H, Mandurah, Western Australia (Sent Mar 13, 2006 7:58:56 PM)
Marcella, just build a small fire.....and leave....that should take care of it....if you want it gone....old wood catches on FAST!!!!
andy,ms (Sent Mar 14, 2006 8:24:51 AM)
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