I came across a blog written by a seemingly very nice lady who lives in Concord, Massachusetts. Yes, this is THE Concord I’m talking about – THE Concord where the shot heard ’round the world originated.

She and her husband are building a new downsized house next to their older, big one. I was glancing at the pictures and reading a bit about the move one door down the street – do you use a moving van? – and it dawned on me historic district edicts might be a concern.

I mean this was THE Concord of Emerson, Alcott and Thoreau to mention but a very few, and because this house is on the river, perhaps close to The Old North Bridge, it seems reasonable to assume there is some regulatory body. Considering Walden Pond is there as well as Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, I would think the entire town is probably considered an historic district.

Which brings me to this: Exactly how to you justify rules for the hometown of Civil Disobedience author Thoreau? Oh, I know you want to preserve the Colonial Era for history’s sake, but, by gosh, this is a thin line here. In the American tradition, can you tell embattled landowners that they cannot erect, oh say and gasp as well, an A-frame.

Ah, but there is another American Tradition a’trending – the gated community, evolved from its poor cousin, the dreaded homeowner’s association. Heaven help those living next door to an HOA Gestapo memeber.

I don’t know how old the original “Big House” is, but people have been living in my mother’s house out here in the wilds of Indiana since before the Civil War and if anyone had told her just what she could and could not do with a tree or shed of paint color, they would have had a hell of a fight on their hands.

Heck, if anyone came to me and said, “AmeliaJake, you can’t . . .”, Mother would climb right out of her grave and tell them a thing or two.

I’ve gone way off topic here; I started out admiring a house’s design and appreciating a lady’s thoughts and now I’m into a rant. In this case, I am not going to identify the blog, but if the one or two readers who check in would like to know, just give me a nudge and I’ll link you up with Kate and Pete.