The New London Public Museum welcomes Sandra Fuller on Saturday, Oct. 12 to talk about the New London Fair.
The event, part of the library’s Curiosity Series, starts at 10:30 a.m. with a cup of coffee and an interesting presentation about a piece of New London history.
For 22 years, around the turn of the last century, New London hosted its own area fair. During its heyday, the fair attracted thousands of visitors annually. Highlights of the fairs were harness racing, balloon ascensions, and exhibits. In 1897, politician Robert La Follette spoke at the fair and in 1912 the first airplane to come to New London made daily flights from the grounds.
Fuller will talk about the fair and speculate on its demise. Fuller grew up in the farmhouse that was the dining hall for fairgoers. She helped her father harvest crops stunted from growing on the racetrack bed decades after the last fair had closed. Fuller is a retired teacher and librarian.
She has published two articles about the New London Fair. “Farm Has Memories of City Fairs” appeared in the Post-Crescent (1966) and “After 22 Lively Years, New London Fair Died” appeared in Voyageur magazine (1995).
The Curiosity Series is free. Reservations are recommended but not required. Call the museum at 920-982-8520 to sign up.