To the Editor:

Due to the fact that Putnam County's greatest claim to fame continues to be converted into its greatest shame, another last minute reminder is due concerning the continuing destruction of its ancient stone chambers ignorantly dismissed as "root cellars". In addition to careful research establishing the fact that the largest number face the winter solstice with the second largest number facing the spring equinox, just look at the incredibly heavy stone roof slabs placed on top of incurving stone side walls when a wooden roof would surely have sufficed, plus the fact of no sign of doors on all but a very few obvious additions.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of George Whipple, Chairman of Preserve Putnam County, plus the hard work of around a dozen researchers, the results were published in a book entitled Stone Chambers of Putnam County New York and distributed to its libraries and county politicians, and still are available to others for a small fee, via George Whipple.

Of course the influence of developers and probable payoffs, plus continuing ignorance on the part of too much of the public, is continuing to destroy the remaining few in this shamelessly heavily developed county.

At age 81, I never thought I would need to again plea to the public and our apparently few enlightened leaders, but sadly I again find the need to publish this plea much to your collective shame!
Martin Brech
Mahopac