Preservation Heart Bombs in Vermont

Happy Valentine’s Day! Preservation Heart Bombs (yes, it’s a thing) began in Buffalo, NY by Buffalo’s Young Preservationists, particularly Bernice Radle and Jason Wilson. Basically they plaster endangered or neglected buildings with heart paper cutouts decked out with pro-preservation messages. This was such a cool idea that the National Trust and Design Sponge covered the Heart Bombs story. And now it’s spread across the country! (For the follow-up to that, stayed tuned to the Preservation Nation blog.) Many of these heart bombs occur in larger cities that are down on their luck, but definitely on the upswing thanks to dedicated preservationists. Such a turn of events is easy to spot in big cities like Buffalo, NY.

Buffalo heart bombs. Photo courtesy of Bernice Radle.

Without being able to join in physical heart bombs this year in Vermont, I offer you a few digital heart bombs. These are buildings that could sure use some love and affection, from paint to rehabilitation to an owner who has the ability to transform it! Sometimes owners love their buildings, but simply cannot afford it or decide what to do. We all understand the feeling of being trapped, so it’s not fair to blame the owner. Instead we need to offer support when appropriate. Ideas! Financing! Advice! And of course, listening. That might be the greatest help. Hearing the issues, the history, the concerns, the struggles — that is important, too.

Vermont is full of its buildings that need help. Sometimes it’s obvious, sometimes it’s less noticeable than say, an entire block in a big city. Here are only a few buildings – some favorites – that are examples of buildings in need of love.

Fair Haven Depot in Fair Haven, VT. An Abandoned Vermont subject. This building is in need of rehabilitation and a plan for use again. It was formerly an Amtrak station.