I frequently wander downtown taking photos. Sometimes for my blog, sometimes just for me.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve photographed the iron horses in front of Harry’s.
You can’t call Harry’s horse head wrought iron fence historic. Just iconic. The fence was added in 1993, when Ken and Linda McGurn renovated the Old Opera House and got it placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Harrys is a New Orleans style restaurant and has been operating out of the Old Opera House since 1993. The horse head fence added a sort of Bourbon Street panache to downtown’s main drag.
But no more. The City has removed the fence, as well as similar structures in front of Lillian’s and Havana’s, as part of a sidewalk facelift on SE 1st.
Apparently city ordinance no longer allows permanent barriers, like Harry’s fence – between outdoor cafe diners and sidewalk foot traffic.
Linda McGurn and Harry’s owner Adam Bass are asking the City Commission to make an exemption to the ordinance and allow the fence to be restored
“My issue was grandfathering in Harry’s where the railings are so distinctive and truly add to the whole look of downtown,” McGurn said in an email to Commissioner Ed Book. “…the downtown businesses are very concerned about the lack of control and the pervasive problems with trash and drunk persons and homeless persons using their entrances improperly.”
Where did all the horses go?
Will they be back?
Or simply fade from memory?
FreeGNV 