letter in response to "Another bites the dust"

Dear Mr. Trout:
The building on West Laurel Boulevard in Pottsville, Pennsylvania that was recently demolished was certainly not the old Marsden Potato Chip factory, nor was it a cabaret that featured Pearl Bailey. No, Mr. Trout, it was one the best examples of “organic architecture," which is a philosophy of architecture promoting harmony between human habitation and the natural world. This is accomplished through design approaches which totally integrates its site – building, furnishings and the surroundings become part of one unified composition.


Architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright were proponents of this architectural philosophy. Look carefully at the geometries of the building and you definitely discover a central mood and theme; everything relates to one another, reflecting Pottsville's true hidden nature. The building unfolded from the earth like a seed sprouting in the rays of the summer sun. To me it signified “the continuous presence” and was almost zen-like as it sat along Laurel Boulevard, only to be torn apart and discarded like so many Minersville Street cheap one-night stands.

The building also signified the city’s spirit of adventure and surprise. Just look at the whimsical bright blue plastic roof. If you remember that plastic roof would flap with the wind expressing both the rhythm of music and the power of dance. There are not many buildings with bright blue plastic flapping rooftops and now the world is mourning the loss of one of the best. Sadly, the building (which had no name) was a masterpiece for its dynamism. The architect was a genius for blending every detail of his design. Your photographs can only give a mere glimpse of its magnificence. I understand that the building was partially the inspiration for Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead” but if this is true then Miss Rand also failed to give justice to the structure.
It is for these reasons that so many people were outraged when the building was leveled. The Historical Architectural Review Board should have taken immediate action to protect such a valuable architectural gem now extinct.
Sincerely,
Dean Jonas Wright
Architecture & Design Department
University of Pottsville, Jalappa Campus