This is very sad. On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 7:54 PM, Vicki Dempsey <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I have been contacted privately by many of you for insights into the > current state of things in Hannibal, but today's experience draws me > out of my self-imposed exile from the Twain world. I had a visit from > a lovely former foreign exchange student from Brazil. She wanted her > husband to see the Hannibal sights. For the first time in years I > went through the museum. I am shocked to report to you that the > foundation and board have allowed the Pilaster House/Grant's Drug > Store to decay horribly. It is even more appalling that the site was > on the states Most Endangered Property list in 2009 -- and yet nothing > has been done. For those of you who do not know, the Pilaster House > is where the Clemens family was renting rooms after John M. Clemens > filed bankruptcy. It is where he died. This is the last place Sam > lived and enjoyed the free childhood he celebrated in Tom Sawyer. > Shortly after he entered the world of work as an apprentice. > This building is one of only two real structures related to > Sam Clemens that the organization supposedly cares for. It breaks my > heart that while building a faux "Huck Finn" house and dolling up an > old pizza parlor and store building as museums they allowed an actual > historic structure that is essential to the development of Sam to > rot. I will try to take some photographs on Wednesday to post on my > facebook page and give you all my address. I wish I were > exaggerating, but there is no hyperbole here. > I don't know what is wrong with Hannibal. I have been > thinking about it for a long time. I know many of the people on the > board. They are not bad people. But they assuredly are not > historians or preservationists. It makes me terribly sad. > I know they are going to say they don't have money. The reason is > that they spent their money on silly things. > > Terrell Dempsey > >