View of the Past

This article and the photo are courtesy of Ron Leake, president of the Ralls County Historical Society.

Perry, MO, Enterprise, October 15, 1908

1908 Perry Missouri Corn Carnival

One of the Biggest Attractions of the Season in Northeast Missouri
The Carnival at Perry last week was largely attended. The crowd on the first day was estimated from 5,000 to 6,000, the second day 8,000 to 10,000 and the third day from 5,000 to 6,000. Streets, vacant lots and business houses were filled to capacity. In fact it was not only a carnival, but it was a homecoming. People were here from distant states and from miles around.
The Perry people got busy and turned themselves loose and decorated the town until the residents could not tell whether they were in Perry or New York City. The business houses were decorated in a tasty and artistic fashion with decorations that were beautiful and expensive.
Three high towers were erected, one at the corner of Palmyra and Jefferson streets; one at Palmyra and Main; another at Main and Gill streets. Electric lights were strung from these towers making the main part of town as light at night as during the day.
Readers, those of you [who] did not behold this beautiful sight, must draw on your imagination to appreciate this beautiful scene up in rainbow fashion.
Then think of 265 exhibits of white, yellow, red and calico corn piled up in 21 ear piles on tables 6 feet long with the supporting poster decorated with small grains. On each side was a tier of different varieties of apples, pears, peaches and grapes. On the other side were all sorts of small grain displayed in sacks and baskets. There were also vegetables ranging from common string bean to the mighty pumpkin. The walls were decorated with sheaves of oats, wheat and grasses.
One corner was occupied with the “Pioneer” exhibits with a large number of pictures of men and women who converted this lone country into a flourishing land and the exhibits were made by the grandest and best people in the world.
In the “cozy corner” was the “cooking” fresh from the ladies ovens. There were preserves, jellies and butter on shelves and in cases. There were exhibits of needle work by the ladies and flowers from the various flower stands.
The exhibit hall was 48 X 100 feet with a canvas top and the ceiling was decorated with corn strung on wires. It was on the front of this building that the artist Warren Hatcher, got in his good work. On each side of the entrance was a representation of a large window made from corn, cedar and goldenrod. Over the entrance was [sic] the words “King Korn” made of corn. The room at the rear of the hall was loaned by Richards Cash Store for the housing of additional exhibits, it was as Dickens said, “The Old Curiosity Shop.”
Relics from several decades had been brought out of the family safety boxes and spread for the people to see and to contemplate on the instruments and tools with which the hardy pioneers battled for sustenance and against their neighbors.
We could not in a week’s time at steady writing do justice with our pens to the exhibits and buildings. These meager points are not a fair commencement.
Friday was designated as “Hannibal and Center” Day and they were in full force. Eleven coaches were filled, principally with Hannibal and some from New London. The Center people, realizing the coaches would be filled down the line before the train came to Center were not to be out done. They decorated three flatcars, provided seats for the ladies and proceeded to fill these cars to their capacity. It was a sight to see. Thursday the train brought in four crowded coaches. On Saturday there were eight coaches and most of them were from New London.

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