The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-08-27
MONTHLY FAIR A SUCCESS
Large Crowds of People Attend
the First Monthly Fair
in this City.
Some Good Attractions, Many
Sales and Day of
Good Feeling.

lo LII 81 ulOuIuly ldlI oNoI uolu III
this city was held last Tuesday. From
the standpoint of a big crowd, big
bargains and big sales by our mer-
chants-bargains taken advantage of
by the many buyers all around Red
wood Falls-it might be considered
one of the most magnificent successes
ever fostered by business men in this
section of Minnesota. From the
standpoint of street attractions, some
thing just to relieve the business
monotony or to entertain our city or
country cousins with something light,
it was also one of the successes that
the management will have occasion to
point to with pride hereafter. From
the standpoint of farmers bringing in
their stock and produce for sale it can
not be considered mighty success.
Farmers either did not have the stock
to bring in or else they were slightly
nervous about bringing it in just on
that particular first day fearing that
the venture might prove failure-a
failure that was all that it was in
tended-a big success. After they got
here those who came and had stock
were heard to express their regrets over
not contributing their share towards
the success of the enterprise. All of the
farmers, however, brought in produce
of different kinds and they found a
ready sale for the same at all of our
mercantile establishments where they
received premium. This made the
farmer feel good; the merchant felt
good; everybody felt good; and the
band played Annie Laurie.
The day opened with an anvil sal
ute. 1t wasn't sunrise salute, by
any, means-thanks to the committee
on anvil from the sleeping populace-
but it was kind of breakfast salute
that told every one in town that
breakfast was or should be ready and
that preparations for the day were on
tap.
All morning or rather up to eleven
o'clock, the time was absorbed at the
stores or in stabling teams. At that
hour the band got out, and by way of
introduction to the programme, play
ed trio of beautiful selections. Then
came bicycle race between DR.. A. B.
Hawes, Attorneys Mcleod and Pat
terson, in which the right of way was
given to Mcleod. The first heat was
declared dead one. The second was
won by Attorney Patterson with the
other two close second. A kid race
followed, resulting in George Lieben-
guth passing under the wire first. The
first thing on in the afternoon was a
three block bicycle race between
George Kettlewell of this city, and
Messrs. Whiprow and Henry Latte of
Morton, resulting in Kettlewell winn-
ing by very close margin. The race
was an exciting one. A slow bicycle
race came next with about a dozen
starters. The first heat was dead
one between George Kettlewell and
Tom Finn. KettlewelI won on the
run-oH. A foot race came on next and
had to be run twice before the winners
declared. Herb. Birum got first
and Ron. Theiring second money.
There was some jockeying in both
heats but the third man did not kick
on the second heat. A foot race for
kids came next. The starting field
was magnificent one-about 20 kids
appearing to contest. Roy Bunce won
out. on a sharp finish. A sack race on
Third street was won by Herb. Birum,
while an eight-block bicycle race was
pulled down by Latte, owing to a
smash of wheels on the part of Whip
row and Birum at the turn from Mill
to Fourth streets. Both wheels we're
badly broken and Whiprow received a
terrible shock in being thrown from
the wheel.
An egg race came next and closed
the sports for the afternoon. In the
evening there was music by the band.
The merchants of the city are all
pleased over the success of the first
fair and they seem glad to sacrifice
goods in order to get a crowd into
town. Interviews with nearly all of
them we're all in about the same line