Asides

Although today the main attraction of the Fair is, “Come! Eat way too much food…It’s on a stick!” you can see they were going for a more sophisticated approach a century ago. Promising “No Fakes or Freaks” and styled as “The Mecca for All Believers in Progress” the Fair of 1911 was billed foremost as an educational experience.In the first decade of the 20th century, the Minnesota State Fair prided itself in showcasing modern advances for the home and farm. For example, a prototype mechanized cow milking machine was first exhibited at the 1908 State Fair. Of course, they enjoyed slightly flashier technological advancements as well.

The very first mechanical flight in Minnesota had been demonstrated a year prior at the 1910 fair, and the famous Wright Brothers were once again on the itinerary.

Another exciting element of the 1911 Fair mentioned in the ad was the exhibition of the famous racing horse, Dan Patch.

In 1911, Dan Patch was a 15 year old, undefeated, 9 world-record holding harness-racing horse on his way to retirement. This wouldn’t be the first time the famous steed had visited the fair. In fact, the Grandstand you can see today was constructed in 1909 due the enormous crowds Dan drew to the Fair. But his 1911 State Fair appearance is special because this was the final public exhibition of this animal athlete’s long and successful career.

Dan Patch’s fame and accomplishments lead Hollywood to create several movies about his life and a number of early automobile companies to adopt his name. But perhaps the most prestigious honor is that when entering the Minnesota State Fair main gate from Snelling, guests will find themselves walking down Dan Patch Avenue.

Now that you’re armed with a bit of trivia about the State Fair, head to the Fairgrounds this week and keep in mind the more than hundred year long history the modern fair is built upon – and then don’t forget to pick up a bucket of Martha’s Cookies before you leave…

Getting Together Since 1871

by Brent Peterson

Every year at the beginning of this month, a certain fragrance in the air starts around Lake Elmo and glides to every corner of Washington County. The smell of Pronto Pups and Cheese Curds and the sound of “Bingo” being yelled by young children and older adults, put these together and it can only mean the start of the Washington County Fair.

The first fair was held in Cottage Grove in the fall of 1871. The next year the fair was held in Stillwater at the old Parson Farm, at the corner of Orleans Street and Sixth Avenue. At this fair, the Stillwater Fire department brought out their new equipment to show, there was a squash from Afton that weighed 140 pounds and a quilt made by a seven year old girl.

The following year the fair was moved to the Lily Lake Driving Park in Stillwater. After some disagreement about the percentage of the gate to be given to the driving park, the fair moved to Bass Lake [Lake Elmo] in 1875. In 1876 at Bass Lake, baseball was the game and there were matches everyday with the St. Croix Club of Stillwater, Clippers of Winona, Red Caps of St. Paul, Blue Stocking of Minneapolis, Silver Stars of Northfield, Crescents of Hastings. There was a $100 prize for the champion of the fair.

The next year, 1877, a tornado hit the fairgrounds in Bass Lake, and the fairs of 1877, 1878, and 1879 were held again at the Lily Lake Driving Park.

For the next couple of decades it is unclear where the fair was held or even if there was a fair held at all. In October 1903 the Washington County Fair Association was organized. In 1907, the fair opened in Forest Lake on West Broadway near the railroad tracks for the first couple of years. The fair then moved to an open field between NW Second Street and NW Third Street until around 1917 or 1918 when the World War put an end to the fair for a while.

In the early 1920s, Bayport was given the chance to have the county fair. It opened in 1924 at Crocus Park at the south end of the town. In 1927 the fair had record crowds turn out at Crocus Park. In 1928 the Capitol Amusement Company were engaged to run the carnival on the grounds. There was also Kittenball game, dances and an industrial exhibit of automobiles, washing machines and electric refrigerators.

In 1933, more than 8,000 people attended, a record for Crocus Park. The attendance record again had broken in 1936, and more than 10,000 visitors came to the fair at Crocus Park in 1945. Also in 1945, the fair board purchased the former Veterans Conservation Corps [VCC] site in Bayport and the fair moved there starting in 1946.

The fair was held in Bayport through the 1969 fair, and the new Washington County Fair Grounds were completed and the first fair held in Lake Elmo was in August 1970.

The fair grounds have grown and more buildings have been added since 1970 and this year’s fair in early August was a stunning success; drawing thousands of Washington County’s citizens together and continuing this 19th century tradition.