Attending the Powassan Fall Fair every year since birth

While waiting for the parade to turn the corner onto Main Street in Powassan Saturday, I struck up a conversation with Bruce Moore, a Powassan native. Moore has continued to return to his hometown every year since he moved away from home. He is fairly certain that he has attended 47 consecutive years. He is 47-years-old.

As Moore watched the procession with his wife Mary and their children, I could not help but wonder how many other Powassan residents had been to the fair every year of their lives.

The parade included fire trucks, horses, mini-bikes and tractors. A boisterous group of students participating in the Shinerama car wash cheered on the floats as they passed by the Powassan Fire Station. Many of the students from larger centres marvelled at the small-town spirit on display, and their enthusiasm ensured that they came away with much of the candy being thrown from above.

As the parade made it's way to the fairgrounds, seemingly every person with a vehicle followed slowly behind, making their annual  pilgrimmage to the event.

Those who wisely decided to walk arrived before most of the cars lined up from the overpass above Highway 11 to Main Street.

The fairgrounds offered something for everyone, young and old. Live music by Brian Risk and Mike Trudel, a petting zoo, agricultural history exhibits, vendors, paintball and inflatables for kids. The makeshift bingo hall offerered shelter from a warm September sun.

Upon arrival, curiousity got the better of me, and I decided to take an informal poll as to who had been attending the Fair the longest. I thought I had my winner when a man who only wished to be known as "Colonel Klink" informed me that he had been coming to the fairgrounds for 74 years.

"But," he said, "meet Francis Straus."

Mr. Straus, aged 94, has been attending the Powassan Agricultural Society Fall Fair every year of his lifetime. Mr. Straus relayed that the Fair has always been held on the same grounds, although the exhibits have changed over the years. He recalled the fox-skinners operating nearby many years ago.

Colonel Klink said that these days "it's the only time I see my neighbours."

"Might as well come out when you're at my age, what the heck else am I going to do?" joked Straus, while agreeing that there is a great sense of community at the Fair.