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Home > Wendy Does Waco > Archives > 2008 > September > 04 > Entry
Mammoth worth the money
I once again made the trek out to the once-super-secret, but these days increasingly-less-super-secret Waco mammoth site. (Which is not to be confused with the Waco Mammoth Site, which is what the same place will be once it is open to the public)
But I digress … I said skeeters and chiggers be damned and spent Thursday morning at the groundbreaking for the Site. Though I’ve seen the dusty old bones and dig site before, it still impressed the crud out of me.
I concluded my day of mammoth coverage at a public meeting regarding the future of the WMS. One man, who clearly felt passionately about what he had to say, suggested that it would be nice to be able to pay to take care of bones, but that it’s silly, given our country’s deficit and how overburdened taxpayers are.
I respect his opinion. And respectfully disagree. I would just hate to live somewhere where preserving history and fostering things like the arts are considered too frivolous to bother with. Where’s the quality of life without these things?
So at the risk of sounding drunkenly ra-ra, I’ll say that I’m looking forward to seeing this mammoth thing come to fruition, through some kind of funding or another. And I’ll be there saying, yep, I remember when you had to know the secret handshake to get directions to the place.
Comments
By Fred
September 5, 2008 5:22 AM | Link to this
And now the City of Waco is involved at the Mammoth Site. Let’s just hope that the City of Waco does better with the Mammoth Bones than with the “human bones” at the old City Cemetery. The City of Waco was too lazy and “cheap” to move the Wacoans buried at City Cemetery so the City built over the Cemetery and ran sewer-lines thru those Wacoans buried there. Just imagine sewer-lines run thru where your loved ones are buried…….that’s exactly what the City of Waco did.
By Starr Fogle
September 5, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
Wendy, I’m with you! I love taking my grandchildren to the Mayborn and can’t wait until the Mammoth site is open
By colingunn.com
September 5, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
Thanks for respecting my opinion. I don’t regard “preserving history too frivolous to bother with.” In fact Wendy - I was simply arguing that private entities not the taxpayer should and could foot the bill for this project. If the Waco Mammoth Society can generate 3 million it can generate enough to support the site by private donations. Baylor could buy and run this site, which would make sense considering they will primarily benefit from the research and artifacts.
Where’s the quality of life without these things?
My quality of life is pretty good without ever visiting the Waco mammoth site, except - get this - I work one whole week a year to pay my Waco property taxes. That’s 7 days I can’t visit parks, theaters, art galleries etc. I work literally months to pay my income tax bill. Again - not much time or money left to sponsor the arts. Our tax burden and national debt is insurmountable in part due to gushy sentimental do-gooders who have no conscience in adding their pet projects one after the another to the tax burden.
By wendy
September 5, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
Sorry if I didn’t capture your feelings exactly, but when you spoke last night, it did sound as if you considered taking care of some bones too much of a luxury for the government to take on. I guess we’ll just agree to disagree. I’ve visited the rough site just twice and was intrigued both times. And I’m proud that the city is willing to pony up and try to give this town a feather in its cap, something to be remembered by other than Branch Davidians. If it becomes part of my taxes, so be it.
By MyOwnWingMan
September 5, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
Super-Secret? Ha you just have to be resourceful was wondering about the location over 2 years ago, had a vague idea where it might be. Google Earth, zoom…ah what is this, a great big yellow and white striped tent in Banana Junction. Me thinks this might be the place; it was. Not so super secret.
By MyOwnWingMan
September 5, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
(http://www.texasattorneyblog.com/Mammoth%20Site%2017_JPG.jpg)
By Rick
September 5, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
It would be interesting if someone could do a computer-generated animation of what happened that fateful day when the heard was killed. Looking at bones is great, but actually looking at may have caused them to be there is fantastic.
By Derf
September 5, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
Your posting in support of the Mammoths is a not-so-subtle attack on meth addicts and we are tired of it. The reference to the copper color of the Mammoth’s ankle fur was a completely gratutious slight. Please move on to another subject.
By Rachel
September 10, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this
Just a week for property taxes? My property taxes encompass nearly an entire month’s salary! So I see the point the speaker was making. It also seems to me that it would make more sense for Baylor to pony up some money if they are going to be reaping a large portion of the benefits.