Plainsmen build trade fair

BY SARA SYVERSON

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- What started from humble beginnings 20 years ago has turned into the annual Black Powder Trade Fair, which takes place at Turner Hall.

With only 14 tradesmen, a teepee in the center of the gym at Turner Hall, $100 start-up money and some very dedicated people, the Black Powder Trade Fair got off the ground running, said one of the original founders of the trade fair Ron Botten, of Hanska.

"Turner Hall is very unique," said Botten, "This was a modern-day miracle. The Turner staff were just as much a part of the success of this fair's show as the plainsmen who come to the fair."

The Black Powder Trade Show is sponsored by the Plainsmen of the Northern Star, a non-profit group of 10 to 12 members who meet at Turner Hall throughout of the year.

This year's fair brought in approximately 96 traders on Friday afternoon to set up for the weekend. The fair opened Saturday and finished on Sunday afternoon. A meal and dance was held on Saturday evening at Turner Hall for the 160 people involved in the trade fair, according to Bob "Bear" Lange, of Hector. Lange helps organize the event.

"Things have gone very well," said Lange, "I think people were looking for an excuse to get out and that has done us very well."

The trading Plainsmen sold various goods such as jewelry, clothing, beads, hides, horns and knives.

The goods and crafts at the Black Powder Trade Fair date back to the 1840s and earlier, Lange said. 1840 marked the ending of the fur trading era.

"We've got some people here who will go to any expense to be authentic," said Lange, "We had a collection of firearms ... all original with some real unique pieces. We also had demonstrations downstairs -- bow making, gun making, knife making and flint knapping. We have a number of excellent blacksmiths here whose methods date back to the 1840s era."

The trade fair also attracted a flute maker, bookseller and brain tanners (leather makers).

"The people that these people here today are portraying were some of the freest people in society back then," said Lange, "It was a hard life. The smallest accident could mean death. It was an interesting time."

Lange compared the people at the trade fair to the fur trading plainsmen in that both were self-sufficient people. Some of the traders do this kind of work on a full-time basis.

Proceeds raised from this event have gone to support various local entities including the Lake Hanska restoration, Turner Hall, a local toy fund, and the Brown County Historical Society.

"Each year we've expanded and we've tried to funnel money back into the community," said Botten.