Letters

The archivist takes exception

To the Editor:

Your article in the July 19, 2006 – Aug. 1, 2006 issue of Lagniappe (SHC Cemetery Showdown) quotes me as making a statement that I never made: “Of course, there were probably people buried all around there….People who wouldn’t have been allowed into the cemetery itself. People who were divorced. Blacks.”

Where in the world that statement came from I have no idea. I never even thought in those terms, let alone said them. I seem to be saying I think people were buried outside of the cemetery. Over all the years I have been familiar with the little “Spring Hill Parish Cemetery” I never thought of the possibility of non-Catholics being buried outside of its limits. To attribute the idea to me places me in the camp of Ms. Godwin, a camp I have not the slightest desire to inhabit.

Much of your article seems to me to lean in favor of the Godwin camp. That is hardly objective journalism. Your quotation from Ms. Wofford shows ignorance of the facts. And, by the way, Father Lewis could not be reached the whole week because he was out of town making his yearly silent retreat, a serious obligation of all Jesuits. I do appreciate the fact that you close with sound and serious quotes from Father Lucey (not Lucy).

Charles J. Boyle,

Archivist, Spring Hill College

Editor’s note: Lagniappe stands by our reporting of facts in this story, including all quotes, although we do regret misspelling Fr. Gregory Lucey’s name.

Park proponent pops up

To the editor:

I agree with Billy Curtright that “Mobile’s downtown is like a beautiful smile with missing teeth.” It is unfortunate indeed that our city has lost so many lovely and historic buildings. I do, however, respectfully suggest that he reconsider his stance against the Mardi Gras Park.

Three of Mobile’s most interesting structures frame the lot where the old Court House was: the old Market Place/City Hall/Museum; Christ Episcopal Church and Fort Condé. Granted, Fort Condé isn’t actually a historic structure, but it is an attractive replica of one, and there is a piece of the actual fort on the site of the old Court House.

The space is right across the street from the Riverview and would be an excellent place for the hotel’s guests and other visitors to stretch their legs. I don’t particularly care what kind of park goes in that space, but I certainly hope it will be a park of some kind, and a Mardi Gras theme is fine with me. The water display discussed sounded interesting.

If possible, I would suggest standing in the middle of that lot and looking around you. It would be very unfortunate to stick a high-rise building in the space that would block the vista now open to view.

So far as condos go, every time you pick up the Press-Register, you read where new condos are being developed downtown, so they’re coming; and if condos come, shopping,, which is badly needed, will surely follow.

Great cities have large green spaces for their people to enjoy. Mobile is on the move. Let’s plan for green space to enhance the city as it grows!

Jane G. Sharpe

Theodore

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