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Foster Preservation Society |
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Saving Stone Walls |
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The Society has addressed this issue in the past when advertisements began to appear in the Bargain Buyer and post cards in mailboxes asking property owners to sell their old stone walls. We have written letters to the Conservation Commission, the Town Council, and most recently the Planning Board with little result except agreement with our concerns. No official action has been taken by Town Officials to date.
We have been researching information to learn how other communities are attempting to save their endangered walls. The following links may be found useful. Stone Wall Legislation
Town of Smithfield Ordinance - (scroll down to section 305 - Stone Wall Protection and Preservation).
RI General Law § 45-2-39.1 - Theft of historic stone walls.
RI General Law § 11-41-32 - Theft of historic stone walls.
RI General Law §44-3-43 - Providing for an historic stone wall tax exemption.
Stone Wall Preservation Laws in Connecticut - an analysis.
Stone Wall Protection Initiatives
Vermont works to preserve stone walls - Transcript of a Vermont Public Radio broadcast.
Stone Wall Initiative at UCONN - The MISSION of this initiative is to promote the appreciation, investigation, and conservation of historic stone walls, and to education about them.
Stone Wall Protection-Boon or Bust - The Rhode Island Forest Conservators Organization (RIFCO) position statement.
Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs: Stone Wall Preservation in the UK
Various news articles and stories related to Stone Walls
In the August 5, 2007, an article entitled "N.E.'s stout stone walls no match for thieves" appeared in The Providence Journal, The Boston Globe, and other New England newspapers. We have placed it on our website to emphasize the importance of this issue.
A Stone's Throw from History - Article from New York Times - Escapes
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The
Foster Preservation Society
is opposed to the dismantling and destruction of stone walls in Foster for
any reason. Stone walls are an important representation of our rural
and agricultural past and should therefore be preserved and protected.