It's happening again. Heavy equipment has demolished another old Gloucester house. This time the destruction is in Lanesville, a village until now fairly unscathed by senseless demolition in the name of progress.

Here, on Washington Street, in the heart of the village since the mid-19th century, behind a tall hedge stood a solid, honest house; a vernacular, working man's Victorian. Although not an architectural masterpiece, it had a rich history of association with the early quarry industry - the home of Jotham Taylor, a quarry owner, his office and at times a boarding house for workers.

Its lines were good. In style, mass and age, it fit perfectly into the long established 19th century residential neighborhood that has only a few intrusions from the 20th century. The streetscape, comfortable and peaceful with tidy houses on one side and scenic quarries on the other, is a haven for artists and walkers enjoying this unspoiled stretch of road.

Now this house, this antique fabric of unspoiled Lanesville, is to be replaced by an enormous economy steel building disguised by some sort of clapboards whose purpose is to house a basketball court and other functions requiring vast spaces and necessitating virtually nonexistent parking. It has been said (but not verified) that this will be the largest structure between the Rockport town line and Addison Gilbert Hospital, all of North Gloucester.

It gets worse. This supersized recreation hall will overshadow the beautiful, historic Congregational Church next door, the centerpiece of the neighborhood. This church building, an icon of 19th century New England ecclesiastical architecture, whose spire can be seen from across Ipswich Bay, doesn't deserve such rude competition; nor do the village houses of typically less than 2,000 square feet that surround this inappropriately large building.

What is most disheartening is that this destruction took place without benefit of Gloucester Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals review; no review of any kind other than the Gloucester Conservation Commission and a rebuffed attempt by the Gloucester Historical Commission to advocate for its preservation. There is no historic district in place in Lanesville, and Gloucester has dragged its heels for 20 years on demolition delay in an accommodation to developers.

It goes without saying that the neighbors had no meaningful voice in this decision. The legal tools and public hearings were not available.

When will this city wake up to the fact that America's oldest seaport and everything old that goes with it is an asset, not a liability? No one wants to come here with money to spend and look at new construction, malls and markets. History sells and heritage tourism is big business.

There is something terribly wrong when it is so easy to destroy and so hard to protect our historic resources.

Prudence Fish, a resident of Washington Street, is a former member of the Historic District Commission.