subject: Detroit MI Pride Not Just for Michigan: Oregon Keeps the Name [print this page] Detroit MI Pride Not Just for Michigan: Oregon Keeps the Name
DETROIT, M.I. Detroit MI citizens may have been curious if the little town of Detroit, Ore., gave up their little piece of Michigan by changing its name to Detroit Lake instead.
The ballot vote was brought on by Doug DeGeorge who purchased the old Detroit Lake Motel and turned it into a lodge. He believed that the name Detroit was pushing away the beautiful scene of what the little village really was.
"I mean, no offense to the people of Detroit (Michigan)," Doug DeGeorge told The Detroit News. "It's a big city, and it's been around forever. We're just a beautiful city in the heart of the mountains, so by adding the name 'Lake' to it, you let people know what it's all about."
The image of the little town of 271 residents is of a town nestled in the Cascade foothills known for its boating and skiing, not the often unfriendly view of Detroit MI that some have. This was the main reason for DeGeorge's proposal.
DeGeorge says that Detroit Lake "just has a better sound," and would attract more tourists to the town at the 9-mile-long reservoir of that name.
The vote was decided 47 to 37 in favor of keeping the name Detroit, which was given to this little town by early settlers from Michigan. The residents were not convinced that the change was needed, and they were happy with the name as it was. Detroit MI residents should be happy to know a little bit of pride is carried all the way to the West Coast despite what some may say.
