It actually is historic, "shot heard around the world" and all that, but the "historic" label is applied far more broadly than reason would suggest. For example

It actually is historic, "shot heard around the world" and all that, but the "historic" label is applied far more broadly than reason would suggest. For example, a couple of years ago there was a proposal to build several townhouses on a lot miles away from the town center. Nobody but neighbors ever saw the house that was there, which had fallen into serious disrepair because nobody cared. Then suddenly, when a higher-density replacement was proposed, those same neighbors got very interested in the fact that the original architect had achieved some slight fame in the 1800s, slapped the "historic" label on it, and blocked the development. AFAIK the property has fallen even further into disrepair since, and that's just fine with the NIMBYs. Effectively more space for them to enjoy, without actual burden of ownership. Everybody knew that it was a thin excuse, used cynically to advance the interests of a few, but the residents had demonstrated their ability/willingness to outspend any possible opponents so they got away with it. More relevantly, similar stories have repeated over and over here, with the effect that the town is actually in the state's crosshairs for its failure to meet affordable-housing or transit standards. Whatever beliefs the residents might loudly espouse, this is revealed preference at its most blatant.