As many of you know already, my interest in history has recently turned more toward historic preservation. in the past few years, I've worked on a couple projects in that vein, and more and more I feel like that's what I want to do with my degree.

Which brings me to an article that a co-worker loaned me from the DAR magazine. Apparently, Benjamin Rush's country estate (which he called Cottage Farm) was denied inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places by the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission because "even if Rush did build or occupy the house.... what did he do at this property that contributes to his importance?"

The article points out that the house was promised to his wife as a wedding gift, and when he was forced to sell the property to settle bad debts, he destoyed all records of owning it and refused to talk about the house ever again. The article also notes that the 12 years in which Rush occupied the property correspond with his most important professional publishing efforts.

So what is historic? What deserves preservation and what doesn't? The issue raises other questions also, like whether a potential restoration should preserve or reverse an 1830s-era addition to the front (seen in the pictures above), which has no connection to Rush at all. I haven't decided what I think. Just points to ponder....