Reclaiming Wood From
Your Neighborhood
The story of the
“Matthews Park Silver Maple”
The year was 1916 and World War 1 was building on the world stage. Here at home in Minneapolis, on land that was once slated to become the Minnesota State Fair Grounds, a large Silver Maple dropped its thousands of “Helicopter” seeds. One seed took root and I was born.
Over the years I have witnessed many events including picnics, fairs, school children at play, and the couple that became engaged beneath my branches.
Now, due to insects, disease, and the subsequent rotting of my trunk, I have been taken down to protect the people that have known me for the past 93 years.
Cindy and Rick of “Wood From The Hood” saw me, marked for removal, while walking their dog Molly in their neighborhood park. They were excited to give me new life as household and gift products to be sold at the 2009 King’s Fair this summer in my neighborhood at Matthews Park. Wood From The Hood has pledged to bring new life to urban trees that are lost to construction, disease, or damaging storms.
As Arnold would say, “I’ll be back.”
Please consider allowing a part of me to continue life in your home or business. Proceeds from the sale of these items will be used to finance a tree planting event in Matthews Park during the King’s Fair at 2pm, on September 12th.
The original King's Fair operated from 1877 to 1882 on an immense fairgrounds bounded on the east and west by 30th and 24th Avenues South, and on the north and south by Franklin Avenue and East 24th Street. Beginning in 1979, King's Fair has been remembered and celebrated bi-annually at Matthews Park with the help of volunteers from the community.
Many thanks to the Minneapolis Park Board, Kandiyohi, Metro Wood Recyclers and Bratt Tree Co. for their support and making this project possible.
In 1863 the Hennepin County Agricultural Society purchased this land as a home for the Minnesota State Fair. However, there were not sufficient funds to develop the site. In 1865 four businessmen decided to contribute to the promotion of Minneapolis by sponsoring the first fair. George A Brackett, Dorilus Morrison, William S. King and J.M Eustis provided $13,000 to build a fence, a racetrack and several other buildings. It was a great success, and reportedly drew a crowd of 12,000 to 15,000 people. Nevertheless, the fairgrounds were not used again until 1877.
In 1877 as president of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, Colonel William S. King was in charge of the first "Minneapolis Exposition." Many buildings were erected including an Agricultural Hall, Mechanical Hall, Art Hall, racetrack, amphitheater, dining rooms and stables. Thousands of people came from Minnesota and the surrounding states. In 1878 Colonel William S. King continued the fair with sponsorship again by a group of Minneapolis businessmen in conjunction with the Minnesota Agricultural and Mechanical Association. Many special events were staged through the years including an appearance by President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878, and an impressive hot-air balloon launch in 1881. The balloon's destination was Boston or Philadelphia or New York depending on the air currents, but instead landed a few miles away in a field in Ramsey County.
Partly due to Colonel William S. King's expositions' great financial success, in 1878 it began to compete with the official Minnesota State Fair in Saint Paul. In 1884 a permanent location for the Minnesota State Fair was fixed in tiny Hamline, Minnesota, located at the "Midway" between the two rival metropolitan areas, with the first official Minnesota State Fair held there in 1886. (That location won out over the other option of Minnehaha Falls.) King's Fair continued through 1882, but was eventually undone by its competition and closed.
Some time after closing a single seed fell from the sky and germinated, becoming the Matthews Park Silver Maple that we have known over the years. Schools were built on the site and Matthews Park was developed for the enjoyment of the community.
Information from placeography.org