Bellevue's old Street Fairs
Congratulations to the organizations that are responsible for the "Main Street Farmers Market." The idea dates back well over a century. Although our downtown doesn't have the variety of businesses it once had, just seeing the crowds downtown once again makes the project worthwhile.
Looking back to the beginning of the last century when Main Street was ours, local merchants blocked off the entire downtown section and staged what they called the Street Fair. They had what we would call flea markets, produce, they had rides for the kiddies and grownups alike.
The Bellevue Gazette reporter was on hand to record his walk on our main street describing the exciting scenes:
"Tuesday and Wednesday evenings brought out thousands of folks upon the streets. As a result, the shows and other attractions were visited by large numbers from early in the evening until late at night. Today there is a large crowd upon the street and should the pleasant weather continue it is expected that the crowds of tonight and the remaining day of the fair will eclipse anything of the kind in Bellevue.
"The official barker for the Gazette made the rounds of the attractions, took in the exhibits and visited the shows yesterday and found everything in first class order. Starting at the library on East Main Street we were accosted by representatives and demonstrators for the International, Milwaukee, and Ohio Cultivator companies who have their exhibits in that vicinity. While we were unable to purchase or pass upon the relative merits of the International or Milwaukee productions we did place a large order with the local firm (Ohio Cultivator) in payment for which we gave a draft. Following the exhibit of agricultural implements we run up against the display of monuments. Although the exhibit was a fine one we did not tarry in that vicinity long as urgent business called us elsewhere.
"At the corner of East Main and Sandusky streets we found the Advance Food Co., of Chicago, exhibiting three large steers. The three animals are wonderful productions and their joint weight is said to be 10,550 pounds. Now if Zehner Brothers Packing Co. should purchase these fellows they would have an all winter's job and local meat eaters would have a sample of the steak produced by Advance Stock Food. On the same crossing is also located the merry-go-round and Simla-Kim or the Flying Lady of India.
"On both sides of the street from Sandusky to Kilbourne streets the tables for farm products are lined with the best of the land. A wonderful object lesson of the boundless resources and marvelous fertility of the soil in Bellevue and vicinity is found on these tables. There is a grand display of fruits, grains, vegetables and products of field and farm. In fruits there are monster apples in endless variety, peaches, pears, plums, grapes and other fruits. The potato exhibit is up to the standard and would do credit to the state fair. Golden pumpkins of monster size, mute reminders of Thanksgiving, mammoth squashes of all kinds and garden vegetables are in abundance. The display is highly credible and equal to that of former years in quantity and surpassing all in quality.
"As we pass down East Main Street we try our luck at rolling the balls and get a bunch of emptiness. To drown our sorrow we visit the Theatorium and enjoy the moving pictures. As we make our exit from the latter place 'hot, hot sandwiches' reaches our ears. Well we have one and then wash it down at Haas and McBride's soft drink stand.
"On the public square are found the main attractions of the fair. The first and perhaps most largely patronized attraction is Lambrigger's Zoo. The factor of the zoo's success is 'Tony' the chimpanzee babe."
(To be continued next week)
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Bellevue Historian Bill Oddo writes a weekly column for The Bellevue Gazette.
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