You Don't Know What You've Got 'Til it's Gone

(Joni Mitchell)

On our last trip to Europe, Mark and I stayed at a hotel in Venice, that was five hundred years old. We walked on streets in Rome that were laid twenty five hundred years ago. In past trips we have wandered the medieval streets of Prague, it's buildings virtually untouched for hundreds of years. Then we return home to Florida, where a building from the early twentieth century is considered ancient and it takes an act of god to save it. I live in what is considered an old house here in Florida. It was built in 1960.

As a part of the 'Baby Boom' generation, I grew up in one of those new subdivisions that sprang up like dandelions on a suburban lawn. Even though our house was brand new when we moved in, the town we were perched on the edge of was settled in the 1850's, and was full of old homes, buildings, and businesses. One of those was Vogt’s Department Store, across from the old train station and Saenger's beer hall and garden. Vogt’s was one of my many stops on the way home from school every day. It was the anti Wal-Mart, staffed with old ladies who kept an eye on you throughout your visit and were always nearby. I assume it was to keep kids with sticky fingers from stealing, but at that age I just thought they were being really nice. Vogt’s was really nothing more than an old fashioned general store like you see on ‘Little House on the Prairie’. The clothes weren’t fashionable, the snacks were a little stale, and it had a funky old smell that I found fascinating.

It seems that there is an eternal battle between the developers and the preservationists. While I don’t want to live in a museum, I do wish that we could preserve the old buildings and find a modern use for them, like they do in other countries. Unfortunately for Vogt’s store, that won’t happen. The expense of restoring the remains of the old building was too much for the restaurant chain that had purchased the property, and they tore most of it down.

Former Vogt's Department Store

‘Boston Blackies’ restaurants says it plans to try to use parts of the old first floor for it’s new location in Tinley Park. Too bad most of the interesting architectural details were on the second floor. The cutesy first floor details were added recently to make it look more historical. On the bright side, Tinley Park will get another great, chain restaurant dining experience. And while you're there, be sure to try the ‘Boston Blackened’ chicken nuggets.