"Reporter's Log" from the August 15, 1968 Door County Advocate
by LEE MULDER
Reporter's Log
by LEE MULDER
The most successful fair in Door county history has ended. By Saturday night, the concessions reported that they had taken in more money than last year's total fair receipts. That means next year's fair will be even larger with still more rides and attractions.
The highlight of the fair for me, though, was when, maneuvering for position to snap a picture of the top junior cattle showman, I stepped in a cowpie. I took the shot and scuffed my shoe on the grass the rest of the day. Then the shot wasn't used due to space limitation. Nice try.
Fairs are exciting because besides the stomach-turning rides and tons of cotton candy, there are thousands of people from all age groups and from all parts of the country who have come together to enjoy themselves. At times of happiness, such as at a county fair, people become oblivious to other people's color, dress, or accent. Perhaps it might be that way all the time some day.
Anyway, in an attempt to cover more county activity than just the fair, I took some quick trips north of Sturgeon Bay. On one trip I found a young man sleeping in the Murphy County Park just outside Egg Harbor. He was on the beach curled up in a blanket next to his fishing tackle and rubber raft. It takes a dedicated fisherman to fish all day and then plop on the beach for a few hours sleep until he can fish again.
And on Sunday I met Michael and Frances Higgins at the Potters Wheel. There was a reception for patrons of the Peninsula Music Festival and the Higgins were showing original artistic glass. They fuse colored glass with enamels into all kinds of interesting things. My mother is such a pottery buff that she can't go to the Potters Wheel, she drools all over the unglazed pots.
A notable high in the last week was an extensive conversation with Andy Redmann, a Fish Creek artist who has a large cherry orchard to occupy his few idle hours. I saw some fabulous paintings done on weathered planks; and then we sat and talked about things: politics, newspapers, art, and peace.
Everyone is concerned with peace, but I doubt if many people think about the subject as intensively as Redmann. There is a frustration within the man between his genuine desire to do something for the cause of peace and the lack of an outlet to do so. He would like the whole world to be like a calm Door county farm. For a start, Andy and his wife applied for an urban ghetto child as part of Friendly Town Picnic. A little girl named Lisa came to stay with them. She was one of the most polite, lovely children I have ever met. Perhaps if more programs like Friendly Town can be coupled to families like Redmann's, there will be peace in the world yet.
Andy asked me about the fair. Well, all I can say about that is fair isn't foul, but fun's fun and enough's enough.
It's Washington Island next time.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive