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Decision to demolish Kirkbride is a sad one [UPDATED]
Published 8:57am Wednesday, October 3, 2012 Updated 12:58pm Wednesday, October 3, 2012I am saddened by the city’s option on not to keep the Kirkbride building for a historical American monument.
Since the Kirkbride state hospital in Fergus Falls was built with almost 900,000 square feet, it was the biggest building before the Pentagon. One would think that the city of Fergus Falls would like that publicity.
There are a lot of new buildings that are and have been sitting empty. People have been trained to shop under one roof. This is a great building to have all kinds of shops, that would otherwise plan to build new buildings that will probably be empty in a few years.
If you keep the rent cost down so the shops can afford rent, you will get more shops in there to pay for the upkeep — just think of it as a Fergus Falls Mall of America.
I understand the Fergus Falls State Hospital was a self-contained community. Consisting of 637 acres including pasture, orchards, dairy and horse barns, 35 garden acres, and 650 tillable acres to support the needs of a farm. And the Kirkbride building has a big enough generator that can power the whole farm and the Kirkbride building, and probably the town as well.
But the State of Minnesota declared the RTC “surplus property.” Before the state started downsizing it and auctioning off parts of it, it was in better shape. The architect is still there. I am just another voice.
Terry Jaros
Fergus Falls
I am saddened as well! My feelings to there decision to demo it is because the building probably hides too many secrets that they don’t want to unveil to the public! But it is sad because that building is the ONLY reason that this city exists! AND THAT IS THE TRUTH!
Dustin i couldn’t agree more here. It is very saddening that the council back then faught so hard to get the Kirkbride in their town. Now they are wanting to see it come down instead of saving such a piece of history. It is a shame. There are many secrets there i am sure. Everywhere you go there will be secrets held in some form or another. We can only hope that they will sell the building so the city cant tear it down.