Tara Shore: Loss of St. Joe’s would erase part of Laconia’s history

To The Daily Sun,

I read with some frustration the Oct. 7 Laconia Daily Sun front-page story about the sale of St. Joseph Church. Having worked with the St. Joseph Church Preservation Society to save this piece of Laconia’s history, I commend Delaney Nickerson for capturing the long and difficult story so well.

What struck me most was Tara Bishop's statement that “it’s the people, not the building, that make the place.” This dismisses the very reason historic buildings matter and is a troubling statement coming from someone outside the community that stands to lose this piece of its history.

People give a community its heart, I don’t disagree with that, but buildings give its history a lasting presence. People create the memories, and the places they leave behind allow future generations to physically experience them.

Historic buildings are tangible records of how people lived, worked, worshipped, raised families, and shaped their communities. Preserving them protects irreplaceable craftsmanship, materials, character, and connections to the neighborhoods that cannot be recreated once lost.

Imagine telling the stories of the Belknap Mill, Colonial Theatre, or Lakeport Opera House if those buildings no longer stood. We could describe their significance, but something essential would be missing. Photographs and memories cannot replace experiencing a historic place firsthand.

Preservation allows future generations to stand where earlier generations stood. It gives history context, character, and authenticity while helping define Laconia’s identity.

The places we preserve help us remember the people who made us who we are. If, as Ms. Bishop says, people make a place, then why dismiss the importance of the buildings where their lives, memories, and community took shape?

The loss of St. Joseph Church would not just erase a building — it would erase an irreplaceable part of Laconia’s story that no words, photographs, or memories can ever fully restore.

Tara Shore

Laconia