|
For Woodstock
Site, Peace and Love and History
The
Towne Crier, May 5-11, 2004
The
locally revered historic status of Woodstock can expect to get a big
boost from Albany this summer when the New York State Museum hosts what
is shaping up to be the most high-profile of 35th anniversary
celebrations for the historic 1969 festival.
The
museum, located on the Empire State Plaza, lends its considerable weight
as a cultural institution to what for years was an anniversary kept
alive through the strength of the counter-culture and its colorful
gatherings on the Bethel field.
The
museum’s involvement goes a long ways toward underscoring the true
significance of the event which many say helped “shape a
generation.”
Meanwhile,
back here in the county, we can feasibly count on a groundbreaking for
the Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center sometime this summer as well –
and that’ll also feel like a celebration.
All
of this is why it may be a good time to lay to rest what, to many folks,
seems like a disagreement over just about nothing when it comes to the
need and the reality of preserving the Woodstock site.
From
time to time the Woodstock Preservation Alliance (WPA) raises high the
issue of preservation of the original, 38-acre Woodstock field.
Their points have been well-made and well-documented.
They’ve charitably and reasonably said that they support the
performing arts center, but they don’t want anything built on the
original field. Gerry
Foundation plans, however, call for some structures, including an
interpretive center there.
The
events planned by the State Museum, if nothing else, should assure us
that the Woodstock Festival has a pretty secure place in history.
As
part of the planning for Bethel Woods, the Gerry Foundation consulted
historians and found the site eligible (or it will be when 50 years
beyond 1969 have passed). The
understanding from the foundation is, the property will be listed on the
historic register at that time if not before.
In
many ways, a compromise was reached on the point of preservation many
months ago. That occurred
way back when it was decided there’d be no permanent construction in
the ’69 concert bowl.
In
the mind’s eye, it is that concert bowl that symbolizes the magic of
Woodstock in 1969. It is
not the tangential 10 acres at the top of the alfalfa field, nor was it
the five acres across the street, nor the waters of Filipini Pond
(though a good share of historic skinny dipping took place there) that
evoke the historic Woodstock.
To
be hinged on a hands-off, no-development policy in regard to the 38
acres of the original alfalfa field – as the WPA has stated – is an
unnecessary allegiance to math. The
Woodstock Festival of 1969 was in no way contained on or limited to
those 38 acres. Lord knows,
the oozing, grooving rock concert spilled onto half the western end of
this county. And we
celebrate that; we all celebrate that.
So
let’s just regard Woodstock as historically preserved; let’s revel
in the new level of recognition coming Woodstock’s way from the State
Museum and let’s call it a truce between the WPA and Gerry Foundation.
|
