Black Powder fair unfazed by storm

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--Even a late winter blast couldn't spoil the opening of the 21st annual New Ulm Black Powder Trade Fair at Turner Hall Saturday.

"I'm amazed at the people who are here," said Bob (Bear) Lange of Hector, "booshway" (director) of the event sponsored by Plainsmen of the Northern Star. "We've got people from the Dakotas that drove a blinding snowstorm to get here. In 21 years, we've never seen anything like this."

That's because the event is always held on the second weekend of March which normally sees winter loosening its grip and indications of spring start showing up.

However, the surprise storm didn't deter the exhibitors from donning their pre-1840s garb and packing tables with all sorts of period merchandise like flintlock guns, tomahawks, moccasins, knives, jewelry, scrimshawed powder horns, pelts, skins, felt hats, camp cups, bows, trinkets and all types of clothing and robes.

In all, 85 exhibit tables were filled on the main floor, as well as 15 demonstration and publicity tables on the lower level. The first event 21 years ago drew six exhibitors, Lange said.

"The exhibitor who came the longest distance probably is the fellow with the tomahawks from New Mexico," Lange said. That fellow would be Joe DeLaRonde, a blacksmith from Glorieta on the edge of Santa Fe.

"He's been coming a number of years because he'd heard this was a good show, and he likes the area," Lange explained. "There's no shortage of shows like this to go to, but the exhibitors like coming here. Also, it's the first show of the season."

The association has been good for both the Plainsmen and Turner Hall. At the group's dinner meeting Saturday night, Lange presented a check for $2,000 to Turner Hall's manager, Rich Runck.

Over the years the group has donated most of its net income from the event to Turner Hall for its youth activities and to the City of New Ulm.

"We retain some of the show's earnings to finance the following year's show, but the rest of it goes to activities right here in New Ulm," Lange said. "However, the storm has greatly reduced our attendance so I don't know how much we'll be able to give next year."

Throughout the years, Lange said, the fair has remained "pretty much the same" in regard to the type of products exhibited. "We do maintain a quality control factor in the type of products that can be shown here, and we require the exhibitors to wear authentic pre-1840s clothes and accessories."

J.C. Centavo of Lakefield sells "a little bit of everything," and he attends a lot of shows, anywhere from 20 to 35 in a five-state area. He's been coming to the New Ulm show for 20 years because "I think it's one of the best ones."

That's what brings Terry Rybarczyk of Wayzata every year for four years now. "There's no shortage of shows on any given weekend, but I like this one. Rybarczyk whose products range from flintlocks to knives and tomahawks added, "You can believe me because my 'rendezvous' name means, 'he who speaks the truth.'"

Molly Grady of Minneapolis comes to New Ulm because teaching living history is her life, and the New Ulm show is in keeping with that.

She demonstrates "felting" which is making felt from wool.

"It's really a process of irritation and agitation of the wool," she explained with a smile. "It's a different way to teach, a non-traditional way to teach."

Then, there's Big Hand and Soft Walker, otherwise known as Ed and Donna Monk of Baxter, near Brainerd, who make a ton of moccasins, all by hand.

"The fame of the show was what made me contact them to see if we could get in," Big Hand recalled. "We were excited when they replied that the show needed a moccasin maker and to come on down."

Now, they limit their exhibiting to four or five shows a year, including the New Ulm show, because "it takes us all year to make enough moccasins for those shows."

So what was started more than two decades ago by Ron Bottin of Hanska has turned into a complex organizational challenge for Lange, Bottin's successor as Booshway, and the other nine members of the Plainsmen.

"This show is the only one we do, but it takes an enormous amount of preparation," Lange said. "Historically speaking, the booshway was the boss until the rest either beat him up or killed him. But, frankly, I don't know what it takes to get fired from this job."