A house on West 15th Street in Tyrone has attracted attention in recent days with a display of historical and current American flags.
One of those flags has even prompted a letter to the editor expressing concern. The letter was published Saturday in The Daily Herald.
Among the approximately 30 flags on display on the circa 1883 house is a Confederate flag.
“We had no evil intentions,” said Bernadette Ditty-Hynd, who owns the house, along with her husband, Troy.
She and her family moved to Tyrone a little less than a year ago from Philipsburg. Ditty-Hynd said she had similar displays on her home there for a number of years. She explained the flag decorations were put on the house in Tyrone last year, but she didn’t believe the Confederate flag was among them. She also had a large Christmas display around the house during that holiday period.
She says she typically puts up the flag display around Memorial Day and leaves them up through the summer.
The flags aren’t the only piece of history on the property, Ditty-Hynd explained.
“I was told by the historical society this is an historical house. It represents a lot of history in the Tyrone area,” said Ditty-Hynd. “It was the first wood mill, graining mill. The original owner (Francis Byers) had a lot to do with Tyrone. He was also involved in the feed mill in Ironville.
“We fell in love with this house,” said Ditty-Hynd. “We have done so much work to this house you wouldn’t believe. I thought the house (would) look really pretty recognizing different (eras) of the flag.
“I’ve had this interest since I was a kid,” explained Ditty-Hynd.
She also has portraits of Washington, Lincoln and other pictures rich in American history. She and her family travel to historical destinations such as Gettysburg.
She explained she got the Confederate flag as a gift as part of her membership to a historical outlet associated with Gettysburg.
“It’s just history. That’s all,” said Ditty-Hynd. “I have a brother-in-law who’s black, and it didn’t offend my family. It was never done to offend anybody.”
The ‘Letter to the Editor’, from citizen Dan Meckes, indicated he had observed the Confederate flag on the anniversary of D-day, June 6.
In his letter, Meckes described a conversation he had with his brother after passing the house. At one point, he told his brother he wanted to “tear the rag down and burn it in their lawn.”
His brother said, “They’ve got a right to wave it,” according to the letter.
Eventually, Meckes agreed, although describing the Confederate flag as, “representing an ultimate evil.”
In the end, Meckes thanked the party, unknown to him at the time, for displaying “that abhorrent flag.”
Essentially, he indicated the freedom allowed in the United States lets someone display “a defeated enemy’s banner.”
Mrs. Ditty-Hynd said she had some concern over the uproar the display may have caused. At one point, she worried about her family’s safety and wondered if she should call the police.
Last night, she indicated numerous people had passed by the house, taking note of the Cofederate flag, since the publication of the letter. She also had people mention it to her when she’s been out in public.
Mr. Hynd spoke to The Daily Herald, last night.
“I’m not going to let someone bash my family and me out of the blue,” Hynd said. “He has pulled on the wrong dog’s chain.”
Mrs. Ditty-Hynd says she is planning a complete restoration and renovation of the inside of the house, using historical furniture and decorations.
