Taking the Summit out of Summit Historical Society (letter)
As a former president of the Summit Historical Society, I am incensed over the giveaway of society properties and artifacts to the Town of Breckenridge. SHS was robbed — of its properties and countless artifacts and of its mission.
SHS stands for Summit Historical Society. Since Frisco has its own historical society and the Breckenridge properties are now under town control, SHS doesn’t represent the county any longer; its name and mission should be changed to reflect what it does cover — Dillon and Montezuma. Perhaps better handling of those properties would be achieved if SHS disbanded and either the Towns of Dillon and Montezuma took over their management or interested/concerned parties established a new historical society.
It is my belief that the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance (BHA) was created with a primary goal being the acquisition of SHS’s Breckenridge properties. Well, the town of Breckenridge and BHA, you’ve won. SHS, on the other hand, has lost – big time. The loss should be apparent to anyone who considers the numbers: $30,000 paid for three properties. Previously the Breckenridge paid $38,000 for one building – the Carter Museum — sans most of its artifacts, now loaned to the town of Breckenridge. The Briggle House furnishings are worth at least $20,000, which is two-thirds of the total purchase price. Even BHA placed a higher value on the former SHS properties, for in its 2015 draft budget to the town of Breckenridge it requested $50,000/year for three years ($150,000 in total) for their purchase. Does anyone smell a rotten deal? Deliberate undervaluation?
The SDN article was one-sided and defensive – a white wash of the transaction and a disservice to its readers and to the SHS membership. I’m surprised and disappointed that more investigative research wasn’t done to balance the reporting.
Susan Donaldson
Former SHS president and treasurer
Boulder
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