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Pictures: The last carload of matched teams that were shipped from Stanwood.
Mrs. Anna Wilkins driving E. B. Dodson’s horse
Carson Moffitt and Ferd Gallmeyer
Ralph Davidson driving his father’s Shorthorn bulls

THE STANWOOD FALL FESTIVAL AND HORSE SHOW

       As far back as the 1880’s Stanwood was a noted horse breeding and fitting center. At his farm east of Stanwood, Mr. H. S. Hoyman sold as many as 500 horses at a single sale. It is said that this event was attended by almost 5,000 persons. Mr. Hoyman and other horse feeders in the Stanwood area sometimes shipped out of this little town as many as 50 carloads of horses during one year. They were received by E. H. Schloeman of Chicago, who in turn sold them to eastern markets.

       According to Mr. C. H. Haesemeyer, long-time local Stanwood banker, at least a million dollars worth of horses went out of Stanwood during the period when the horse feeding and fitting business here was at its height.

       The Hoyman horse sales and other sales less well known were the forerunners of the Stanwood horse shows and Fall festivals that started in 1910.

       During the summer band concerts of 1909, the Stanwood band director, J. W. Kimes, interviewed a number of horsemen in the community about the possibility of starting an annual horse show. Among those contacted were E. B. Dodson, Frank Moffitt, Ferd Gallmeyer, Harlan Miller, Frank Miller, and Dr. E. B. Fenton. All of those interviewed seemed to feel that the project should be carried out.

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Pictures: Carl Armstrong driving Don Smith’s four-horse hitch; Scene of Horse Show area which is now in front of the present library

       In the fall of 1910 the first Stanwood Horse Show and Farmer’s Institute was held. Mr. E. H. Schloeman of Chicago (mentioned above) was the judge of the horses. The event was a two-day affair and drew crowds from all surrounding communities. Schools were dismissed so that children as well as grown-ups could enjoy all the activities. In the evening over a hundred draft and riding horses were paraded down “main street,” now Stanwood’s Broadway.

       The Fall Festival and Horse Show was usually held late in September or the first two days of October. The Floral Hall held displays of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, together with needlework and baked goods. Some prizes were offered and won. Concessions and food stands lined the street and some years there was a merry-go-round. Bingo games and chuck-luck drew players and spectators. It was a gala time, to be sure, with a band concert and an evening dance.

       Many classes of horses now being shown throughout the nation originated at the Stanwood Show. They include the single draft hitch and two-and three-tandem hitch. Each year the Horse Show became more attractive and for several years the Stanwood Horse Show was the largest of its kind in the Middle West, exhibiting well over 200 head of draft and society horses.

       The organization became incorporated in 1945, at which time permanent grounds for the show were purchased and developed into a recreational spot for the use of the community.

       As time went on, it became more difficult to find horses that qualified as show horses. For this reason the committee in charge decided after the show in 1952 to discontinue the animal event that had attracted so much attention and given so much pleasure to so many people. The last officers of the show organization were as follows: President, Harlan Voelker; Vice-President, Ed Busching; Treasurer, C. E. Rigby; and Secretary, L. W. Meyer. Many other people of Stanwood and the surrounding community gave freely of their time and money to make the Stanwood Horse Show and Fall Festival one of the highlights of entertainment in eastern Iowa.

       The grounds were donated to the town of Stanwood, and later to the Lincoln Community School district. This place is now an attractive lighted athletic field, equipped with bleacher seats and an electric score board. Thus, a heritage of the Stanwood Horse Show and Fall Festival continues to serve young and old as a place where healthful sports are enjoyed continually throughout the entire outdoor playing season.