Historical clutter

28 April 2008

When I was cleaning out my email inbox, I came across a link to a New York Times article called The Ghosts of Clinton Street. My husband had sent it to me last fall. I don’t know why I didn’t click on the link back then, but I’m glad I did last week.

It’s a story of a four-story house in Brooklyn that’s been owned by the same family since 1866. In that time, the family, as the New York Times writer put it, “discarded practically nothing.” I think it’d be fair to call them packrats. The house is chock full of historical artifacts. I think it’s utterly fascinating.

I feel for the couple who lives there now—the woman is the reat-great-great granddaughter of the first owner. They’re trapped by family tradition and sentiment. As an organizer, I’d be hard pressed to urge them to clear the place out, because I’m a sucker for history. But it’s really no way to live.

Check it out! And don’t miss the slide show.

Tagged with: clutter, new york times