Beautiful prairie-style stained glass windows were recently restored under Ciavarella Design's managment.

Our friends over at Ciavarella Design Architects just finished a dynamite historic restoration project. They managed the removal and restoration of the massive stained glass windows at Aberdeen, SD’s historic Central High School building. These window had been covered up for years on the inside probably for heating purposes. As a student, I never saw the sun shine through them. Aberdeen Parks and Recreation now use the building and surround complex for a variety of cultural activities and events. It’s one of the best adaptive reuse examples in Aberdeen. See more pics on Facebook.

Ciavarella Design Architects have offices in Aberdeen and Mitchell. They are responsible for new commercial buildings and houses all over South Dakota. Restoration architecture is one of their specialties. As well as window replacement. This spring, Aberdonians will delight in a new streetscape project, also designed by Ciavarella. Most of the installation was completed in 2010 as the snow fell. We’re all looking forward to benches, plantings, sculptures and lighting. Watch for it!

Oh, and they designed our house too!

Detail

Exterior of the stained glass windows

Merry Christmas! If you're home for the holidays, think about moving back to Aberdeen. Suzette and I did!

Actually, I’ve been home for 15 years. But every time the holidays come around I feel so blessed to have made the move to come back to Aberdeen so long ago. I got to spend a lot of time with my grandparents before they passed on, I’ve made dozens of new friends and relish in the contentedness that my brother, mom, dad, uncles, aunts, cousins, inlaws are just a few blocks away. Looking back on my career in Los Angeles, I was making okay money for a guy my age in the graphic design world. But I had zero assets. Now I have a lot of assets, income of twice what it was in LA, my own company, and a huge investment of time and talent into my community. Who knows where I would be professionally if I had stayed in LA? In the last few years, my world of advertising has changed dramatically. I probably would have been replaced by two entry level kids who knew way more than I do about web stuffs.

I came back to Aberdeen and started from scratch. No business loan, no business plan, no colleagues to chum up with. Can anyone do it? I don’t know. I certainly wasn’t trained in business or entrepreneurship, but some how, things worked out. I think I did okay because of ignorance, which I know sounds dumb, but here’s what I mean. I’ve seen so many people come to town and set up new businesses. For some reason, because they are in a particular industry that demands a certain value-price structure, they think they can charge top dollar because everyone else is. But they’re untested, and have no credibility. I did just the opposite. I had no idea if people would pay me what I wanted. I proved myself to people first. Sure I tried to get top dollar for my industry, but I was also working in a part of the country that wasn’t accustomed to paying for the types of services I offered. So I just worked with people and I didn’t presume that just because “I” created a project for a company, it was the best thing out there. I’m not that arrogant. I always to try ascertain what’s right for each customer. It’s about being flexible, not overbearing.

And I think new businesses need to be like that. Especially if the type of service is relatively new to the area. Any way, I’m here to chat if anyone wants to talk about moving back.

Merry Christmas all!

Did you know South Dakota’s premier film event is in Aberdeen? For the fourth year now, organizers are putting together a four day spectacle complete with 51 movies from across the globe, film composer Kyle Eastwood, and an acting workshop by the folks from the Screen Actors Guild in Los Angeles.  I am one of the founders of the festival and our committee is small, but highly effective. I keep saying on this site, you can do anything in Aberdeen if you commit to it. The community, and the state, have been very supportive of the Film Festival since we started it in 2007.  Think about coming, it’s September 9-12. And check out the website if you want to learn more about it. – Troy McQuillen

Wonderful Wizard of Oz author, L. Frank Baum lived in this Aberdeen house in the 1890

Famous childrens author, L. Frank Baum lived in Aberdeen from 1889 to 1891. He lived in this house for a time. While in Aberdeen he operated an import shop downtown selling goods to new residents who were experiencing Aberdeen’s boom years. He also started a weekly newspaper called, The Saturday Pioneer and operated it for 18 months. It was full of regional and local news and also took a satirical twist to city politics. After Baum left Aberdeen he headed to Chicago and wrote the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Author, Michael Patrick Hern has written a book about the Wizard of Oz and references nearly every sentence in the book to some possible connection in Baum’s life. Many attributes are made to Baum’s time in Dakota. — Troy McQuillen

When you grow up in a small town, people often dream of life in a bigger city. I was drawn to movie making during high school in Aberdeen and pursued film education in college. I considered, where else, but Los Angeles and New York. I ended up in LA in 1983. Many people ask if I experienced culture shock, and in some ways I did. But I remember telling myself that nothing would surprise me. I just went with the flow.

Oddly the one thing I never even thought about was being assigned a roommate with different color skin. While in line for campus housing I was surrounded by Asians, African Americans, Hispanics, etc. Culture shock? Absolutely. But that’s all it was, surprising shock, in a good way. Instantly my white-bread upbringing was face to face with a global culture. That was a pleasant surprise and I benefited from 4.5 years of college surrounded by all sorts of people nothing like me. And they thought I was equally unique being from a part of the US they’ve vaguely heard of.

When I moved back to Aberdeen years later, it became pretty obvious that a concentration of ethnicities does not exist here. And, I was hyper sensitive to those who took jabs at the few minorities that did live here. I had culturally matured, I suppose you could say. Aberdeen would like to be more diverse. Two colleges do help attract people from different parts of the world, which is awesome. And I don’t hear so much negativity these days pointed at others who aren’t white. Aberdeen is awakening to the benefits of a diverse population. And the small diverse population that we do have is experiencing a way of life that is rich with beauty, serenity, and opportunity here in Aberdeen. — Troy McQuillen

Companies like, Twin City Fan in Aberdeen, manufacture industrial fans for a variety of applications.

Wow, that’s a bold statement. I guess the best job is the one that you really, really love. My dad retired from a company after working there for 44 years. Must of have been the best place to work for him. In reality it was, and he still goes back off and on to hang out and catch up.

What industry is Aberdeen known for? Lots I suppose. Our hospital is the biggest employer in town. And we’re getting a second one. Subsequently we’ll be more known for healthcare. But that’s okay. If Aberdeen wanted to concentrate more on recruiting ancillary businesses associated with heathcare, we’d pick a brand identity that dealt with healthy lifestyle and longevity. I can see it. May be attracting to some.

Our industrial park is loaded with great jobs. Perhaps you don’t think sweating over a high-speed metal lathe machine is much fun, but that is a great job for someone with those skills. I once asked a supervisor at one of the manufacturing plants, “what attracts people to the jobs at this factory?” Without hesitation, he said that people love to work at his place so they make money to hunt and fish. In fact, their idea of vacation is hunting and fishing, right in our area. So the simple fact that the “nature’s backyard” that surrounds Aberdeen is highly attractive to the outdoors-person who wants to work hard to make as much money as he/she can to hunt and fish more. This is brilliant! So if Aberdeen wants to be known for our hunting and fishing opportunities, we’d probably attract a lot of industrial workers…but then we need more companies for them to work at. Oh well, it’s a direction at least.

I think it’s really cool that the Super 8 Motel franchise started in Aberdeen, years ago. It sort of defines our entrepreneurial spirit I think. But, that one motel chain has spawned a slew of motel development and supply companies all based out of Aberdeen. They employ developers, architects, interior designers, marketing specialists and more. I can think of at least four of these companies off the top of my head. They continually build motels all around the country and supply furniture, fixtures and equipment to other developers as well.

Banks. We have a lot of banks around here. Perfect for the financial career. In fact, since we have so many, our local college, Northern State University, started a major specifically for banking finance. If name brand big banks aren’t your thing, we have many credit unions and a whole bunch of insurance companies.

I can go on and on about the best jobs. Our city is probably the second biggest employer, then the college…the list keeps going. The point is, I believe there is something for everyone. Our pay may not be the same as in bigger cities, but you may be surprised to find it’s competitive. Afterall, we need to pay to attract people back to Aberdeen.

Aberdeen is known for its family-safe environment. And no better icon for that is the Storybook Land Castle, a family delight for all.

In my opinion, this is the best place to live. If you’re from Aberdeen, we’d love to hear from you. Why did you leave? Would you consider coming back? Do you have family here?

Whatever your reason for leaving, think about coming back. Why here? Why not? This is one of the best places to raise a family. We have some of the best jobs in South Dakota. It’s safe. The schools are outstanding and we have two colleges. People stop in for a short stint for a new job and end up staying. There’s a reason for that.

For great stories about people moving here, visit our Facebook Group.

If you’re passing through, take a look at what we have to offer. I’d be happy to show you around. Send me an email and I’ll mail you some info about this great hometown. Or, sign up for my free postcard subscription at the right.

I’ve included some details about my decision to move back to Aberdeen. Find them on the right under topics. For more specifics about living in Aberdeen, SD, visit our community portal. And please, contact me if I can answer any questions about living here.

Troy

troy@mcquillencreative.com

In 2002 my wife and I were fortunate enough to have an opportunity to purchase a Main Street building from a family friend. I am a huge historic preservation advocate and had been trying for years to call attention to Aberdeen’s historic treasures. When ever possible I like to lead by example, not by crabbing in blogs. We were able to purchase a Main Street building on a Contract-For-Deed, meaning, the seller carried the loan for us. The interest rate was higher than it would be for a conventional commercial loan, however, we did not qualify for a loan of that size from our bank. Shortly after we bought the 1917 building I started removing wooden siding which had been put on the facade. Instead of revealing nice brick we uncovered cinder blocks. Apparently the original brick fell off years ago. Years passed.

This is how the building looked when built in 1917.

This was how the building looked in 2002 when we bought it.

Our downtown association was able to get a grant program going with the city and we were the proud recipient of facade grant in 2009. So my family and I ripped off all the cinder blocks and we hired a mason to rebrick the front exactly like it was when it was built. Believe it or not, I actually made all the cement cap stones my self in my garage over the summer. I made two molds and it took 3.5 bags of cement to make one stone cap. I needed 20! I did it.

This is the "after" shot of our building after replacing the brick facade.

Our next phase is replacing the front windows in the stores. Next will be colorful awnings. And you can do this sort of thing in Aberdeen. And after a 10 year relationship with our bank, they finally agreed to take over the building mortgage, allowing us to pay off the seller and get a much, much lower interest rate that saved us thousands. You’re not just a number in Aberdeen. Your a neighbor, a friend of a friend, the father of kids who play together, a committee member, or a coworker. Those kind of relationships can pay off.

I also cannot reiterate enough the importance of family. With my brother, father, uncle, wife, mother and a bunch of friends, this project would have cost double what it did. — Troy McQuillen

Director Bill Feitag blocks out a scene from "Jingle Hard" made during the 2010 Fischgaard Short Film Competition.

I’m serious! Deep in the heart of Aberdeen’s winter is a filmmaking competition that draws a bunch of movie-making nuts. Aside from the challenges of filming in winter, each movie of the Fischgaard Short Film Competition has to be made in 48 hours. This year, 20 teams entered (5 additional were turned away due to capacity) and gathered at downtown hotspot, RedRooster Coffee House. There they each drew two movies from “hats” and had to “mash” them together to make a short film no longer than 7 minutes. Fischgaard founder and producer Tom Black also revealed specific items which must appear in each film. The prop was a newspaper, the line of dialogue was, “I swear…” and the character was J.T., a former childhood actor. This photo is from Insomniarts’ film, “Jingle Hard” which is a mash of Christmas Vacation and Die Hard. Here writer director, Bill Freitag (left) works out a scene with actors. And I might add, it was blizzarding during this shot. Near white out conditions. Sure they were cold, but when you got to get a shot, you got to get it. Visit the official website of Fischgaard.

This film won best Film on Sunday, February 14, 2010. Take look at it on Facebook.

Marching Band in the Gypsy Day Parade on Main Street

My dad took a photo of this deer while out pheasant hunting.

What is a hometown? It’s were you’re from, obviously. But, I like to think of it as, “It’s were my home is currently.” A friend mine once said that he believed Aberdeen’s slogan should be “A great hometown” because it’s great to live here and great to be from here. And it has all the qualities evolked when thinking of a nostalgic place to be from. We have a historic main street (just like Disney Land and Disney World), we’re surrounded by rich farmland, everybody is relatively nice to one another, and the outdoor recreation is second to none. Believe it or not, many people around here hunt for food. Sure it’s a big sport, but people actually stock their freezers and prepare gourmet meals with locally harvested game. I think that’s cool!

We have a quaint (incredibly popular) county fair, historic houses and tree-lined streets. If you looked up “hometown” in a dictionary, I’d say we fit the definition…to be a bit corny. But it’s true. — Troy McQuillen