Several ideas on drawing board to stimulate downtown activity

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard

CHRISAWN

On the heels of a highly successful Drive-in Cruise-in event, Main Street McMinnville officials have made it plain the organization doesn’t plan to stand on its laurels.

The group, minus a director at the moment, is continuing to plan and schedule events well into 2004 with Chamber of Commerce president Lea Chrisawn at the helm temporarily.

At a brainstorming meeting of the Main Street Promotions Committee yesterday, one of the most intriguing ideas discussed was a Ghost Walk, similar to one done in another Tennessee town.

The Ghost walk, which is basically a tour, would visit several historic spots in McMinnville where local volunteers would perform as characters who had some historical significance to whatever building or institution was being showcased.

“The biggest thing is you have to have a lot of volunteers,” Chrisawn said. “Jimmy Haley will work up some scripts for us. I’ve already talked to Steve Boyd about getting maybe some re-enactors who would even set up like a little camp at the cemetery.”

Some of the local characters discussed for the walk were the Sedbury sisters, Colonel Savage, Dr. Black and his wife, the Faulkners, Fletch Woodard, the first photographer in Warren County, “Dad” Lively, also a well-known photographer, Miss Cunningham, who founded Magness Library, and Mr. Magness himself, who donated the land for the facility, along with several other notable characters.

There would be a nominal fee for the tour which would raise money for the Main Street project as well as other projects. The event is tentatively scheduled for late October. Anyone interested in helping should contact Main Street or Lea Chrisawn at the Chamber.

Also, a name change for Music in the Park was suggested due to possibility of confusion with the Park Theater once it reopens.

After several names were put forward and discussed, the committee eventually decided to rename the event Music on Main Street, which members agreed would both indicate Main Street’s participation and the general location of the free concerts.

Also in the planning stage is a Candlelight Christmas Stroll to be scheduled sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas which would include carolers, and with downtown businesses open for refreshments and shopping.

On into 2004, the group plans to sponsor a Dad Lively Photography Festival which would feature photographs by local photographers of local landmarks and features which could then be featured in Chamber and Main Street brochures and information.

“We have a lot of great things going on,” Chrisawn said.