Month: October 2020

The blight is in every neighborhood. Thieves have gained entry and extracted copper tubing. But there exists more to be reclaimed. The blight could be turned around to an advantage.  Even though barns serve as the most common source of reclaimed wood, the possibility of reusing house beams is real. In Amsterdam’s heyday, 1880 to 1940, when 29 millionaires resided in the city, many homes were constructed with rich embellishments and long-lasting hardwood. This fact should be acted upon by the city.To execute the plan, a knowledge of earlier construction patterns should be learned. Some local educational facility could offer the course. How to go about taking out the molding, newel posts and lighting fixtures would be part of it. Bricks are other sought-after items can be added to the list of potential profit. Next, storage of these reclaimed items could easily be found in one of the many empty factory buildings. Some of the advantages would be to lessen the cost to the taxpayers and the environmental harm that dumping the demolished structures causes. The recycled parts would provide sturdy and unique alternatives to the imported plastic products found on today’s shelves. The list would go on as to what is salvageable. Let’s capitalize on what is real and a detriment and turn it into a reclamation campaign.Jacqueline MurphyFort JohnsonMore from The Daily Gazette:EDITORIAL: Urgent: Today is the last day to complete the censusGov. Andrew Cuomo’s press conference for Sunday, Oct. 18Cuomo calls for clarity on administering vaccineEDITORIAL: Thruway tax unfair to working motoristsEDITORIAL: Find a way to get family members into nursing homes Categories: Letters to the Editor, Opinion What is the most abundant resource in our area?Broom corn is no longer tilled on the River Islands. The hardwood forests have been cut down for a variety of products, one of which was lumber for buildings. However, limestone that was cut from the earth hundreds of years ago is still being quarried for road construction material. But when honestly discussing what we have in surplus, Amsterdam’s abandoned homes are at the top of the list. read more