On Friday, we were saddened to learn of the likely fate of the former Bantam Jeep production building, which is all but laid out for viewing on the 29-acre property that was once the Armco and AK Steel stainless processing works.

This piece of local history is the birthplace of the Jeep and a great source of pride for Butler County. It once housed the offices, research and development department, and small factory where Jeeps were first conceived and manufactured for use in World War II.

Unfortunately, it has fallen into such a state of disrepair that salvaging the structure may no longer be feasible.

To the credit of everyone involved, including the Cincinnati company that now owns the property, extensive inspections were performed on the building in the hope of restoring it. While the results weren’t what any of them were hoping to hear, their efforts do teach a vital lesson.

In today’s world, one that changes rapidly from one day to the next, it is important to remember what came before if we want anything to come after.

History is a tie that binds us to many things: our positions in life, where we make our home, and even to each other. We can build something out of the strongest concrete, but if the foundation is made of sand, it won’t matter.

We are forgetful creatures by nature, a side effect of mortality. More people need to be concerned with keeping small, yet significant, places like the Bantam building from meeting the same fate. Hopefully with one eye on the past, more pieces of community history won’t find themselves beyond repair.

It’s our job to preserve the past for posterity. We never know what lesson it may teach somewhere down the line.

–CM