Grassy Knoll or Grandstand?
Thursday, May 4th,
the Polk County board subcommittee to deal with the county fairgrounds historic
1909 grandstand met to consider the future of the oldest wooden grandstand in
the Midwest. The grand old building’s
future is very uncertain, not because of its structural defects (which are
unknown), but because of the dreams of competing interests.
Four visions of the future
were presented during public comments and in the board member discussion. They are listed in order of speakers.
1.
Russ Hanson, local historian, pressed for evaluation of what he said his
research has found to be the oldest grandstand in the Midwest. He said we must find the cost of repair
before making any decisions on its future.
He urged repair if possible, as it is truly an historic building, one of a
kind. “The historic fairgrounds are a
gem in our county. The 1909 grandstand,
the 1917 H barn, the 1928 calf barn and dormitory are just a few of the truly
historic buildings on the 1885 fairgrounds that make it special and an
attraction to tourists and local folks who remember their own childhood in each
building. Destruction of these buildings
would be short sighted and a terrible removal of our heritage without first
determining the feasibility and cost to repair them.”
2.
Dale Wood and Tim Wilson from the Polk County Fair Society Board stated
they were in favor of getting rid of the grandstand, as it is “too old” to
spend money on repairs or even an evaluation.
They are eager for a brand new shiny, steel, aluminum and plastic grandstand
replacement at about $600,000. They see
the choice as an old building they are tired of bothering with versus a brand
new one that would be maintenance free.
(Actually, there would be a costly yearly contract for inspection and
maintenance indefinitely to keep it usable and insurable.)
3.
Two visions were presented by County Board Member Chris Nelson of Balsam
Lake. First is destruction of the 1909
building with two options: decide on an
immediate teardown without salvage, or a “humane teardown” with some
salvage. Then, stating his opposition
to either repair or replacement, and in general to any grandstand at all
financed by county funds, gave two options he would support. A grassy knoll built on the spot where folks
could bring chairs and blankets to watch the activities or the yearly rental of
bleachers, and if pressed, the county might help buy some permanent
bleachers. He stated that “others” on
the board were also opposed spending any money on any grandstand old or
new. The only important input into this
kind of decision is saving taxpayer money.
4.
Another board member, when asked of his vision of what a fair grandstand
is gave a description exactly like the existing grandstand, a place of comfort,
shelter, shade, out of sun, rain, wind and a place to comfortably watch events
in all weather. He expressed no favor
for old or new, but thought a grandstand was an important part of the fair.
My own view is that the Fair Society is
naïve in thinking a new grandstand is a certainty without having first assured there
is a two-thirds majority of the county board willing to pay for it. We, the residents and taxpayers of Polk County
actually own the fairgrounds and buildings.
The Fair Society and County Board are our voted on representatives to
manage them for us.
I believe those who oppose determining the
cost and feasibility of repair are motivated primarily by their dreams of shiny
newness or cheap grassy knolls. It is
quite possible the repair cost will be much less than the replacement option,
but we won’t know if the first step is destruction and then seeing if there is
support for a new one.
Will
we come to the 2018 fair and see a pile of dirt with an historic marker
“Grandstand 1909-1917, destroyed by the Polk County Fair Society and the Polk
County Board”?
Five generations of Polk Countians and
tourists have enjoyed watching shows from the oldest grandstand in the Midwest,
and another 5 generations could do so if you express your support for
evaluation and if reasonable, repair of the grand old structure. Remember
these buildings belong to us, not the County board nor the Fair Society.
Early photo of the
oldest grandstand in all of the Midwest courtesy of Polk County Again and the Polk County
Historical Society.
April 2017 Photo of the Polk County Fair Grandstand. Will there be only a grassy knoll there in
2018? Photo by Russ Hanson
Russell B Hanson, Cushing, WI