Destruction on Main Street symbolized something very wrong and something very right Monday.

The caved in roof, the pane-less windows and the missing rain gutters of First Baptist Church told the sad story, for years, of what happened to the 1920s structure after the congregation moved out and government stopped working.

Retracing the history of the building for the last three decades shows several missed opportunities to save a piece of downtown history. The preservation commission warned of trouble, but city aldermen did little to stop, and one could argue may have helped, the structure’s demolition.

Overriding or ignoring ordinances and severing the power of the appointed commissions allowed several owners to destroy the building slowly.

The city’s involvement in the destruction of the former FBC is wrong.

But late this summer, St. Mary Basilica entered the picture, followed procedures and is now doing something very right.

Because of previous damage, the building had to go. Less than three months after purchasing the structure, St. Mary is clearing the lot in favor or green space.

It’s a victory for this community when the private sector makes lemons with lemonade. It’s happening more and more lately, thankfully.

But what if public and private worked together and sang from the same hymnal? What kind of beautiful music would we have then?