Imagine with me what we might have seen when we attended that first Olmsted County Fair in 1860.

I know that there were no demolition derbies, airplane wing-walkers or displays of electronic equipment. Fair visitors may have attended some harness racing or an "oxen-pull."

In 2010 the Olmsted County Fair will be Aug. 2-8, and plans call for a gala event filled with special features marking its 150th anniversary. I've been asked by fair board president Pat Hurley to be on the committee planning the celebration. I'm asking you folks with historical clippings from your ancestors to send them to Barb Pagel, 5527 70th Ave. S.E., Rochester, MN 55904. Her phone is 282-3687; e-mail bapagel13687@msn.com.

Barb already shared a wedding story at the fair in 1888. Seems Thomas Elford of Douglas married Adeline Postier, a resident of Kalmar Township just west of Rochester. An earlier grandstand crowd of 1,500 watched the ceremony on the horse-racing track. Four preachers were involved, with the Rev. W.H. McGauflin hearing the couple say "I do." Following the benediction, a bridal procession preceded by a band walked around the track. That ceremony was held in a special pavilion covered with flowers. Local businesses showered the newlyweds with gifts. There was even a kitchen cook stove. This story, said Barb, was in the Sept. 7, 1888, edition of the Rochester Post.

I shared with Barb my radio interview in August 1988 on KWEB from the fair with Aline Wydra, in which she described her 1938 wedding in front of today's grandstand. She married Wallace Wydra, and the fair board gave them $100 following the ceremony. Although time has taken them both, their hilltop orchard on Olmsted County Road 9 continues to serve the area.

Graham's link to the fair

Dr. Christopher Graham will always be linked with today's fairgrounds. When the fair started in 1860 he was 4 years old. At the age of 6 weeks, he came with his parents in a covered wagon from New York state. His father purchased land eight miles west of Rochester in Cascade Township. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1887 and became an early associate of Drs. Will and Charlie Mayo in the mid-1890s as a professor of medicine with the Mayo Foundation until his retirement in 1919.

Graham also had a passion for agriculture, dairying and horses. Graham granted the Olmsted County Fair Association a permanent lease on the land still used for the annual fair. According to young Aric Mann, grandson of Tony and Barb Pagel, Graham had at least eight farms surrounding Rochester, and after his retirement, he excelled in the dairy industry, and his top herds were recognized nationwide. Aric compiled a book recently called "Rochester's Agriculturist Doctors." It has stories of Mayo doctors who also loved agriculture and particularly dairying. Those names included Dr. Charles Mayo, Dr. Frank C. Mann and Dr. Hiriam Essex. Graham died in 1952 at age 96.

Even my father, Homer Flathers, and Belva Dumez as kids age 5 and 6 came to the fair with my grandparents, Rachel and William Flathers, in 1905. Horse and buggy over 20 miles and three hours brought them to the fair. Each had been given 5 nickels with orders to not spend it on food. Belva (later Belva Bernard) made the first financial decision, and that was to buy a coin purse to put the nickels in. Apparently they were conservative because "we both came home with some nickels," Dad told me.

We need your stories in that old trunk in the attic or unused desk drawer. The planning committee's November meeting is Monday.

Next week: Chatfield's nostalgic newspaper writers, Marion Lund and Dorothy McConnell.

Harley Flathers is a longtime Rochester-area broadcaster and historian. Got a comment for Harley? Send it to news@postbulletin.com or to Harley at Post-Bulletin, P.O. Box 6118, Rochester, MN 55903. His column runs on Thursdays.

There are 0 comments - Display All Comments