Monuments of decay in Maryland (Liberia)

(March 5, 2010)

I haven’t traveled all through Liberia. But one thing I know for sure, all the areas or say counties in Liberia are not developed on the same level.

Since I was born, reared and during my current visit from the US to Liberia, I spent most of my working time in Maryland. As such, I can confidently and authoritatively say I have a greater power over scientific analysis and logical conclusions on matters on the ground in Maryland.

Being born and being reared in the county gives me a reference point when I review issues of today using the past as a backdrop. I know what Maryland looked like at the time, what is there now and what could be there if we all work feverishly hard together to achieving it.

In other words, I have a reference point. 

Most, if not all, of the monuments of decay today in Maryland were established during my upcoming days or a short time prior to my coming into being.

1.       Water Tower

2.       Concrete Streets

For example, the pipe-borne quarter million dollars water facility built by the German government in the 70s supplied the whole of Harper City. It served the Harper community with ease. It had a purifying station that we visited as students. The huge tower now towers over the Harper City Hall. It can be seen miles and miles away. Today, it doesn’t function at all. It is another monument of decay.

There is The Martha Tubman Ball Park. Since the 70s when it was constructed, nothing significantly new has been added to it. Some part of it is sinking into the belly of the earth. It is another monument of decay.

Upcape is a piece of land between the Ocean and the Cape. There is another monument of decay in this little area. It is the Tubman million dollars Mansion. It was also built by the German government as a gift. To date, it is another monument of decay. Peasants have encamped there. Every part of it has been dramatically abused. Wood-cooking has produced so much fumes in every part of Building. The walls have been blackened by smoke. The one-time Blue Room, Green Room, Red Room and White Room for Presidential purposes have all disappeared into the oblivion. There’s no trace of any beautiful and colorful rooms. They have been turned into storage rooms for damages and useless vehicle parts and worthless wheel barrows.  

Cape Palmas High School is the oldest and first established public high school in Maryland. It was also constructed by the Germans. It has graduated some of Liberia’s best. To date, it has been reduced to a monument of decay. Although, efforts have been made to help remove it from the status of a monument of decay, not much has changed to remove it from that status.

The Merry-Go-Round. It was a 21^st century state-of-the-art real estate piece of playground for kids. I think it was constructed in the 60s. As I opine, it is another monument of decay. It has been reduced to shitting field. At night social degenerates use it to carry on their degenerates acts.

Roxy Cinema. It sits in the heart of Downtown Harper. It used to be one of the best movie theaters in the country. Currently, the roof has fallen. The walls have caved in.  It is source of asbestos pollution. It just stands in the middle of Downtown with no other meaning other than a monument of decay waiting to collapse. It is fair to say, it’s a death trap. Anything could wrong anytime soon.