Christmas 2008 Kay's Attic closes

I tried everything to keep the store open through the winter, even trying out a wood pellet stove. (Something I always wanted to try.) If it hadn't been for Blizzard Ali and my learning curve on using the stove, we might have made it through Christmas and the end of December. When the blizzard came, I couldn't get to the store to fill the stove with wood pellets and the store temperature plummeted to 30 degrees. The fire went out as did my enthusiasm for opening up despite all the Christmas decorating. If you haven't checked out the windows designed by Vicki Thorpe and Linda Stromstead, take a moment to stroll down Robert Street in Crookston. Check out the new store, "Happenstance" windows on your way.



I've got to admit that it is a tribute to the 6 brick thick walls of the building as a heat storage for winter and a cooling device for summer, that we didn't need heat until December and even the wood pellet stove brings the building from a cool 30 degrees up to 40 degrees in 20 below weather. Last summer we never needed air conditioning. I love the wood pellet/corn stove! It is perfect for Spring and Fall for this 5000 square foot store. In fact the heating bills were not the problem as when it had a natural gas high efficiency furnace and two ceiling fans circulating the heat, the highest cost was last January at $550. It is the recession that started last January that has caused us to close. Just when the first customer came in that said they traveled to Crookston just to visit the antique, collectibles, and thrift stores. She spent $350 in Crookston that day! Will we open again? I hope so.



At the same time, it happens that the Crookston Building Inspector decided to keep new "Happenstance" store owner, June Johnson, from staying open through the Christmas season. You see, there's a hole in the basement wall on the far east side of the building waiting to be patched. The former Crookston Paint & Glass building used to be two uildings. "Happenstance" is on the west side next to Kay's Attic.



The hole in the wall came about from poor drainage from the vacant lot between "The Novel Cup" and the east side of the building where a building was plucked out. Remember Rock's Jewelry and earlier, Associated Heating on the east side while Crookston Paint & Glass was on the other? Back in 1908 the east building was the "Lyceum Theatre!"



Just a little swale in the middle of the vacant lot would have drained water into the alley. Instead it drained into the building's foundation despite Crookston Paint & Glass owner, Chumley, (former renter) best efforts to bring in fill, it disappeared. The former and long term owners, Edith Krohn and family did little to care for their building and were happy to donate it to the Prairie Skyline Foundation. The former Crookston Paint & Glass building although 5000 square feet with a new roof was not built as well as the McKinnon built "Kay's Attic," aka the "Union Building." The builder, Jorgen Jorgenson, in 1893 used second-hand brick. Please readers, don't do that, not even for pavers, they just don't last as long. Our consignment store lasted almost 3 years. Stores come and go, buildings can last over 300 years. Just fix that drainage problem.

Parking and traffic in downtown Crookston MN

Yes, Lydia, we need parking downtown Crookston. Everyone complains about the lack of parking. Yet the reverse is true on Robert Street! Many people do not know that they can park right across the street from Kay's Attic and behind the store! (My side is US Highway2 and one can't park there.) Out my door, and across the street I watch the parking fill up only when there are events at the Eagles. As for your parking idea: We could have a pretty nice tri level parking garage in the old Supervalue building and transport shoppers via a quaint horse and carriage service when we gain a critical mass of retail stores downtown again!

Here is the second part of my vision for Crookston: The simplest way to get more parking throughout downtown is to go back to two-way streets and park on the diagonal like it was in the 50's! Every fourth or so parking space can be reserved for those with special needs. I can't tell you how many tourists have told me they can't find their way around Crookston because of the one-ways! From a retail point of view, our storefronts are our cheapest and best advertising. Did you know that 4500 vehicles pass my store and see my sign per day? That's because I'm on a 2-way street. The retailers on Broadway and Main only get 1800 views per day and they only see one angle of the store window/building/signage. And at such a fast speed!

Let's encourage those semi tractor trailer trucks to use the two Crookston bypasses! It is so dangerous to allow them to make their wide turns and cut off traffic. Did you know big trucks have more vision restriction when turning to the right? They are also smelly and loud. And they don't stop and shop downtown. When standing outside my store, a conversation is stopped cold when a truck comes through and they do shortcut through downtown Crookston! Does anyone out there know why truckers prefer to go through downtown Crookston rather than around it?

I have a 7 part vision for Crookston

Let me get this started with part 1. I have a vision for Crookston. Transport yourself back in time. It’s a small town where people walk to their jobs and their stores and meet and greet on the sidewalks and over the hedges. Children are walking to their schools and everyone feels more peaceful from walking and thinking, and smelling, and breathing the air and taking time to note the flower gardens and all the wonderful proud homeowners that take such good care of their homes. It is a pretty, quiet, sweet smelling place where the big trucks are encouraged to use the two bypasses around Crookston.

You know its one thing to have a vision, its another to make it happen. I welcome any posts on how to improve Crookston and especially right now, how to encourage the big trucks to use the bypasses and slow down traffic through the downtown.

About Me and My Crookston

Hello, my name is Kay Hegge. I used to be a “Henre.” Many people know me as Paul’s sister or Chuck’s sister. Mom and Dad used to run “Erickson Electric” where my Dad was an electrical contractor and a store on Broadway next to Widman’s Candy in my hometown, Crookston, Minnesota My Mom, Marlene Erickson’s side of the family goes back to four generations of Ericksons and Olsons. My Dad, Dean Henre, goes back through four generations of Crookstonites through his mother’s side, Bertha Bjoin. Her father, Tom Bjoin, built the now gone, Opera Block, and had a Livery Stable on north Broadway. I live just south of town now after spending 18 years in Mentor, raising registered Morgan horses, and prior to that spent time in St. Paul, Madison, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois.I am deeply involved in historic preservation in Crookston because its Downtown has a large percentage of turn of the century brick buildings. One project, a former gothic cathedral begs to be a combination performing arts space, visual art display and sales, and a Northwestern Minnesota Visitor Center. You can find out more at www.prairieskyline.com. Disclaimer: Thoughts expressed in this blog are those of the author alone and are not necessarily a reflection of the opinions of the other members of Prairie Skyline Foundation. We are also anxiously awaiting news on a restoration grant for a large 3 story Romanesque commercial building on Robert Street in which I have my consignment shop, Kay’s Attic & Antique Emporium featuring antiques, collectibles, and recyclables. You can find out more about the store at www.kaysattic.com. We are working to restore the building next door, the former Crookston Paint & Glass building as well. Did you know that it used to be the Lyceum Theatre? Or the Sally Ann Bakery? Or Rock’s Jewelry?? The history of the buildings downtown is fascinating.

I have been blessed with three great kids! I have a wonderful son age 13 who helps me a lot at the store. I have a daughter a year from graduating from veterinary school and a daughter and granddaughter living right next door to me. I also have two horses, a dog, a cat, and a disfunctional huge aquarium.

I love the outdoors, keeping life simple, horseback riding, and camping with horses. I read all kinds of books, and love all kinds of music except hard rock. Of course the great stuff from the 60’s and 70’s is excepted! I am a bit shy in big groups, but I do love to meet people one on one and find out all about them.

I am interested in so many things, sometimes I feel like I’m cursed. Right now I am learning about EBay and the new social internet from John Reitmeier. Check out his blog at http://reitmeier.blogspot.com. It’s great! My past work in economic development and housing plus my deep roots has given me a strong urge to save my Crookston. Please help by posting your comments!