We must save what’s left of our historic buildings.

Why?

Because they are a crucial part of this community’s identity. How we treat them, how we leave them — or don’t leave them — will be our legacy.

I say this because now another of Webster City’s downtown historic buildings is in trouble.

The City of Webster City identified visible exterior problems at 547 Second Street, an iconic commercial edifice that was built in 1890 and was, for many years, the Coulter Paint Store.

An unsafe building sign has been posted and barricades set up along the southwest corner of the structure at Willson Avenue and Second Street.

Last year, we lost the historic structure adjacent to the Morning Glory Coffee Shop building on Des Moines Street. It collapsed, and then there were worries that the Morning Glory building would go with it.

Fortunately, it didn’t. As I write this, work is underway to buttress it so that the popular site won’t suffer the same fate as its neighbor.

Years ago, when Main Street consultants offered opinions on how to draw people to this town they suggested renovating our historic buildings. For the most part, that suggestion fell on deaf ears. We can’t say we weren’t warned.

As recently as earlier this year, when the Downtown Assessment was handed over, there in those pages is an image of 547 Second, iconic, beautiful, standing.

I love Anna Woodward’s take: “The positive of this is, with this step, there is still a chance for preservation.”

She’s right.

Over and over, we’ve been told by a range of experts. And, over and over, we have failed to listen.

We must create a system within our community that would support the kind of daunting task the restoration of a historic building such as 547 Second represents.

If we’ve learned anything from watching LIFT WC undertake the remarkable restoration of the former Elks Club building in the 700 block of Second Street downtown it is this: You cannot do it alone.

Webster City, wake up. It’s time to collectively rally and work together to save these old buildings.

Will it be expensive?

Yes.

Will it be worth it?

Oh, definitely.

Jane Curtis is interim editor of the Daily Freeman-Journal.