To the Editor,
Anyone who knows me knows I do not complain without offering an alternative suggestion.
Although my ideas may not be the best, or only ideas, hopefully they will add to the discussion.
I have not seen in the local media, yet but I received a call recently asking me to document the removal of the “cobblestones” on Caroline Street in Derby.
That section of the street is referred to by locals as “Cobblestone Hill”.
I was offended that they (city government) wanted me to document the destruction of yet another historical link to Derby’s past.
Derby recently lost Brownie Castle, which caught many by surprise. Now I wonder if the city had known all along it was being demolished?
Had it been known, maybe grants could have been accessed or even a “Go Fund Me” page could have been created to help those in need.
Regarding Caroline Street, I was told that after all these years the hill is damaging the blades of the plows. I was also told that the stones would be stored at public works to be used as some type of design elsewhere in the city.
For some alternative ideas, recently I was in Portland, Maine and saw cobblestone streets there.
Did anyone think of asking how they and anyone else with cobblestones handle the snow?
We live in New England where, even if one does not like it, it snows.
Is it really necessary to the scrape the streets to the point one can see sparks as the plows go by, even on the paved streets?
What about adding a very thick stiff rubber to the plow blade that does that street? How about closing that street in the winter and allowing residents of that street to park in the parking garage two blocks away?
Being a former parking authority employee, I can tell you we had people use the garage from upper Minerva, Elizabeth, Anson and Water streets, to name a few.
Or just plow the top section of Caroline so the residents could park there.
Has the city investigated whether grants are available to restore the street?
While recently researching Evening Sentinel papers from the mid 70’s I came across an article of a proposal to the BOA to restore the street. Maybe grants could be sought to do so.
What about developers? Have the restoration be a part of downtown development.
On social media there have been unkind words said about the hill saying it is a hazard, etc. Obviously it is not a street to speed on.
San Francisco has their Lombard Street and no one speeds down it.
I was an Alderman in this ward and, yes, I heard complaints.
I feel for the residents but the street was there long before them.
We lost Commodore Isaac Hull’s House, Brownie Castle, don’t know what will happen to Howe’s House, so will Caroline Street’s Cobblestone Hill be next?
“Once we forget where we came from we won’t know how to get where we want to go.”
Thank you.
MARKANTHONY IZZO
DERBY
