"It really cut the city off from the river," said Virginia Bowers, the city historian.

Richard Platt, the city historian, endorsed the idea to mark the structure, which was originally built as a beach house in 1910.

So far, the suggestion that has generated the most interest the property has come from Ralph Bloom, a city historian.

The sign has confounded city historians for years.

A Dirty Word' Actually, being city historian is only part of his job.

"Here you have a scenario where the city's public assets are being sold off," said the city historian, Werner Baumgartner.

As for the legacy committee, at least one member - Charles Cummings, the city historian - remains unsure of its plans.

"It was really soaked with gasoline," said Charles Brilvitch, the city historian.

Two city historians are of note.

She is the city historian and, for 22 years, was the local history curator at the New Britain public library.