From Preservation Online, the online magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

www.preservationonline.org

Dear Preservation 911,

The little town of Petersburg, Tenn., has historical significance, with some 137 buildings in its historic district. One of these, the 1883 W. H. Marsh and Company department store, will be erased from this listing unless something can be done quickly.

Because of a failing roof, it is slated to be torn down in two weeks. Is there any action that can be taken to stop this from happening? Interest in restoring Petersburg is finally increasing, but not quickly enough to save this piece of history. This building is a major portion of the town square, and it will be a great loss if it is torn down. Please help.

Thank you,

Mark Woodfin

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Preservation 911 is a message board open to all readers. While National Trust staff will respond to the extent feasible, this will not be possible in all cases. We encourage other readers involved in state or local preservation to respond with advice or assistance. To contact either a regional office of the National Trust, a statewide or local nonprofit organization, or your state's historic preservation office, click here for a state-by-state list.

The National Trust's regional and field offices bring the programs and tools of the Trust to communities across the country. They offer technical assistance through consultations and field visits and financial help through small grants. They hold educational programs for professional preservationists and work to foster policies that help historic places. They also provide leadership on issues that concern entire regions, such as saving historic schools, fighting sprawl, and revitalizing cities.

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