"Today at the historic village where I work we were talking about some of the Victorian buildings present.  We talked about the ornate details on such buildings and how they fell out of favor with the 20th century and the push for modern structures. We were discussing this because so many haunted houses and spooky places in popular media were such structures that people abandoned or no longer wished to live in.  Some of ours will be staged for October night visits.

     The discussion also included how architectural styles impacted the labor movement. More skilled laborers (and perhaps higher pay) were needed for these details.  With the influx of poor Irish immigrants as workers, more modern structures could be built more quickly. Many of the descendants of these Irish workers are proud of the contributions that their ancestors made to the area.

     For me, the discussion reminded me of the valuable lessons that I learned during the summer.  The use of architecture, history and culture was interwoven right here in New Jersey from the lessons in the Delta.  Again, thanks. 

             Bilqis, 2024 A Sense of Place Landmarks Workshop Participant