A weekly round-up of my favorite preservation related stories from around the web and in the news. Click on the title of each story to jump through to the original article/blog post.

JFK’s Childhood Home in Brookline, Mass – Here and Now

John F. Kennedy’s birthplace and childhood home on Beals Street in Brookline, Massachusetts. (Bill Ilott/Flickr) Image via Here and Now

Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson paid a visit to John F. Kennedy’s birthplace and childhood home, which is now a national historic site — the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site. Sara Patton, the lead park ranger, took him on a tour of the president’s home at 83 Beals Street in Brookline, Mass. The home was built in 1909, and the Kennedys lived there from 1914 to 1920. Patton said Kennedy’s father took out a $6,500 loan to pay for the house. Kennedy was a sickly child, and spent much of his early years in his bedroom with his teddy bear. His mother read books to him to pass the time. Patton says some of the values that were instilled into Kennedy and his siblings were evident in the house and its decor.

Why Do Old Places Matter? Continuity – National Trust

March on Washington, August 28, 1963. | Credit: National Archives and Records Administration. Image via The National Trust

Most people experience this connection between memory and place. The connection was acknowledged by John Ruskin, who wrote in The Lamp of Memory about architecture, “We may live without her, and worship without her, but we cannot remember without her.” But how important are places to memory? Does preserving old places—and the memories they represent—matter? Do the individual and collective memories embodied in old places help people have better lives?…

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Quadruples State Historic Tax Credits – Journal Sentinal

View along the Milwaukee River. Image via Metria Innovation Inc

Anyone who believes that historic preservation and Conservatives are diametrically opposed should take a look at Wisconsin.  Last week, Tea Party darling Scott Walker (who made news for his fight against teacher’s unions and a recall election) signed into law an increased tax credit for rehabilitating historic buildings.  “The passing of this legislation will revitalize downtown districts across the state,” Walker said in a statement. “Restoring these buildings will create a temporary and permanent economic increase for local and state economies.” GO WISCONSIN!

1896-1900: Victorian Era Footage from Cities Around the World – Wimp.com

Unidentified camera operators hired by the Lumiere brothers record footage from various cities across the world including Paris, New York, and Barcelona. Set to “Gymnopedie No.1” by French composer Erik Satie, this is a neat look into the past and at the buildings, streetscapes etc. in these cities at the turn of the century