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RTC would make a great Otter Tail County museum
Published Wednesday, August 20, 2008
I think I may have a solution to benefit all concerned except those who support foreign interests.
After a great deal of consideration and in hopes of finding a mutual solution for all of us in this city, I propose that the former Regional Treatment Center be renovated to preserve the historical integrity of at least the oldest structures as well as to be fit for what I am offering.
I would like to see it become the new Otter Tail County Historical Museum. Additionally, I would like to see our public library move operations to this location as well.
The current site of the museum could be reused for retail or other business offerings, the library could expand to fill as much room as they need, while we as a community could stop hiding from the history of the RTC, which is both gruesome and wholesome, and instead embrace our past and preserve it for future generations.
We could perhaps move the offices for our entire historical society to the RTC as well.
This would provide both reuse and preservation of this landmark. The 3000-plus graves could remain untouched and un-desecrated, and instead we could honor those lost souls.
We have a great opportunity here to provide education as well as solve the concerns of so many of our community.
I haven't talked with anyone who could help facilitate this proposal, instead I am bringing it directly to you to decide and voice your opinions as to how you feel.
This is your community and these are the type of solutions you can expect from me, should you decide to vote for me to represent you this November.
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Jamie Cooper - Fergus Falls
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by Mel (anonymous) on August 20, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You have a very good idea with this. The place is large enough to do several more things also.
Posted by sametoyou (anonymous) on August 20, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The guy in charge of the museum was one of the most vocal people around ,when it came to finding a reuse of the buildings instead tearing them down. Then "that" idea started around town, and he pretty much shut up on the subject! I've been saying for years, that's the perfect place for a museum. The chamber and visitors bureau has been claiming they need a more visible larger area close to interstate. Well, the current museum sight, seems a perfect fit. Just my thoughts.
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on August 21, 2008 at 6:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey look...Cooper had to chime in about something else. Big suprise.
Posted by onlyme (anonymous) on August 21, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jamie
When you have facilitators lined up for this, bring it to the City Council Meeting - make sure it doesn't involve a cost to Fergus Falls taxpayers!
Are the graves really being desecrated?
Posted by AmyO (anonymous) on August 21, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Do you have any idea how large the Kirkbride is? The Kirkbride complex alone is nearly 400,000 square feet. One article in the DJ said they are trying to redevelope "over 500,000 square feet of historical building." The entire "campus" (yes, that's what it's called) is almost 800,000 square feet of building space.
The current size of the public library is 12,700 square feet. The proposed expansion would almost double that to 25,000 square feet. Add in the museum and the historical society offices and we're talking about, what? Maybe 50,000 square feet? Okay, only 350,000 square feet to go. Another article said that "if you moved the entire business community from downtown Fergus Falls into the Kirkbride building, there would be room to spare."
Hey I've got an idea...
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on August 21, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Have any of the buildings on this campus been torn down?
Posted by AmyO (anonymous) on August 21, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
From what I recall and from when I last viewed the campus itself, some of the buildings on the very south / southwest corner of the campus had been either torn down and rebuilt or simply redeveloped into some type of county offices I think. I don't exactly recall what they were being used for now. Assessor's office or Recorder's offices perhaps? Something like that. However, those buildings, though they were maybe part of the overall "campus," they are definitely not part of the almost 400,000 square foot Kirkbride.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on August 21, 2008 at 10:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I suppose that some of the building will go. Kind of hate to see it though. But to lose the "castle" would be a crime.
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