The Trib also has a brief history of Trolley Square, if you’re interested. Here’s the even-briefer version:
The area served as territorial and state fairgrounds until 1908 when Union Pacific Railroad magnate E.H. Harriman made it the site for an innovative trolley car system. At one time, more than 144 trolleys operated from mission-style car barns erected at the site. They served the area until the line was discontinued in 1945.
For years, Trolley persisted as a decaying garage for Utah Transit Authority buses and Utah Power maintenance vehicles and the historic block was littered with junk vehicles, old tires and trash contained within barbed wire. Then, in 1972, developers dedicated to historic restoration renovated the old barns, which were painted yellow at the time, into a collection of boutiques and trendy restaurants.
There has been talk lately of a new owner planning to do some major renovations on Trolley. I’ve been concerned that these plans (which of course have not been revealed to the public) will change the quirky Trolley characteristics that I described last night and personally like, namely the maze-like layout and dimly lighted corners. I suspect that the shootings will now make such changes inevitable regardless of whatever the earlier plans were, and all in the name of our singular modern concern, “security.”
Man, what an awful story.
Take it from me, don’t spend a lot of time on “I could have been there myself.” There are a lot of places you weren’t that night, and most of them were perfectly safe. I drove myself crazy about this for a while in 2001, and it didn’t do me any good.
As for TV coverage, this is one of those things we all agree on, and yet we all watch the coverage, which encourages them to do it again and again and again. Here’s my idea: we all tune in, get the brief description of what has happened, and then return ourselves to normal programming (by switching channels).
We can check back periodically for updates, but this way, the ratings don’t spike when something like this happens, and maybe they’ll give it up.
Finally, if it gives you any solace, the 24-hr news people have had a hell of a week: first, an astronaut drives halfway across the country in diapers to pepper-spray a romantic rival, then an out-of-control drug addict miraculously finds a way to die alone in her hotel room, and then some 18-year old punk decides to shoot up a shopping mall.
At least they’re exhausted…
Thanks, Brian, for bringing a smile to my face with that last paragraph, and for the advice about not driving myself crazy. I’m getting over the shock of the whole thing now, but I had a hell of a night and morning thinking about it.
I like your plan for imposing some sense on the TV broadcasts. It’s pretty much how I handle these things anyway. Of course, my regular Monday night viewing is 24, so that wasn’t really the best choice last night…