Along with making Crookston the destination for thrift, consignment, antique, and collectible shopping, I must say that our town has been named already! “C-town.”
Benjamin W. Parkin (San Francisco, CA) wrote
at 12:14pm on November 22nd, 2008: Just to set the record straight..... The term "C-town" originated back in the late '90's, probably around 1998. Wes Colborn (class of '94) and I started using it when we were college roommates, as a result of listening to Sir Mix-a-Lot and his use of "Sea Town", for Seattle. It quickly caught on and has given everyone from the C something to identify with. Props to the younger generation for keepin' it rollin'. Peace. (from www.kroxam.com facebook group)
Tommy Helgeson has called Crookston, “C-Town,” for years. We don’t need a fancy marketing firm, to create a logo and image for our town, we’ve had one all along. We especially don’t need the same fancy marketing firm that came up with the confusing “Protecting the Legacy,” theme for the new 3-ring hockey arena. Just think what can be done with “C-Town:” Cool, Classic, Crookston. Be cool, shop C-town! The Big C. I’m sure you can do better than me and come up with many more! Oh, there’s one: Come Up to Crookston!
Another one I’ve always admired, remember the TV program, “Northern Exposure?” The name is great, the moose is great, and the radio announcer, WOW, if we could have a guy like that! In addition to our announcers of course. A dose of philosophy in our brand! A little Tao here, some arts, and some good old “We can do it” attitude. We do need a voting place and the www.ilovecrookston.com site has the contest running. Go Enter, have some fun! I’m entering C-Town in case Ben or Tommy doesn’t, and also “Northern Exposure.” Part III of my vision for Crookston next post, I promise.
Hi Kay, I’ve read your blog over in great detail and followed your efforts over many years. One might say that your plans sound energetic but, at the same time, wholly unrealistic. A parking ramp? The city government has no interest in helping downtown, or at least not that I can see. I’d like to see downtown preserved and greatly valued for its character and seeing new development from private entrepreneurs. These private developers would only come in if downtown could be fresh and new. Google a Crookston map and zoom in. If the entire city block bounded by N. Broadway, Robert, N. Main and 2nd St, were removed and retrofitted with a large center gazebo, greenery, mature trees, cobblestone and cut out, diagonal parking on all four sides, you’d see a vibrant, exciting downtown Crookston emerge. Yes, I know, historical buildings would be destroyed. But in turn you’d get a green space out of it and you’d create a greater viable use for those building, historical buildings, all now facing the new green space. With the parking tucked in on the sides, it would create a leisurely, comfortable place to live (new apartment or condo units build into the existing buildings) and shop and gather for eateries, etc. A sacrifice, yes. A worthy sacrifice, I certainly think so. I also think it’s a way to force the city’s hand to go after federal funding for this redevelopment for this new downtown town square park. They handle the demolition and buy out. The Wayne Hotel is already on the chopping block. What do you think?
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