While "technology" translates different for you, it doesn't change the fact that the new site lacks features, functionality, simplicity, and ease of use that the other site had plenty of.
Interseting analogy. I'm glad you are a web developer. I'm also glad you are not on the board of ANY historical societies! To continue your analogy: If you build a hospital to replace a rundown hospital, you would NOT leave out an ER, X-ray room, MRI, ect.
As you said "art of web design marches ahead and offers new idea, better tools and more efficient / flexible coding principles", and all I want is to see some of it put into practice. For a modern site, I find it disturbing that so many are clamoring and begging for the old site, which (from my limited understanding of web design) could be done by providing custom CSS.
Lastly, coming from someone who has accomplished *several* home renovations, things can last a long time if they are maintained.