Autumn is just around the corner, and with it comes a four-decade tradition at Minnesota Pioneer Park, the Nobel Shadduck Fall Festival. It is the 46th anniversary of the park.
This year the event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, and the admission for this event is free.
The entertainment and activities for the day include music, food, wagon rides, old fashion games, coin dive in straw, butter churning contest, a scavenger hunt, a bouncy house and a spelling bee.
"We are not charging admission so that families can afford to attend and yet eat a good meal or snack," said event organizer Don Gadow.
The highlight of the day will be a formal dedication of the improved Pioneer Park Nature Trail. The dedication will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a welcome by Annandale native Blaine Barkley with a ribbon cutting ceremony to follow.
The nature trail
The Pioneer Park Nature Trail was started by Nobel Shadduck in the early days of the park.
"One of the main goals was to educate children and young people about native trees and plants of the Big Woods," said festival organizer Don Gadow, a Pioneer Park volunteer.
Shadduck’s vision was that visitors would learn how to identify the plants recognize noxious weeds, the benefits to wildlife and how the pioneers used them. A booklet was prepared to be used as a trail guide.
Time to revitalize
Over the decades, the trail has been used for walking and cross country skiing, but it became obvious that improvements needed to be made.
In 2009 Boy Scout Kolt Gunnerson came up with a plan. He used the project as his required Eagle project. Gunnerson was awarded the rank of Eagle in April, 2010.
"Over the year Gunnerson, fellow scouts and family helpers, cleared brush, installed wood chips, built benches and signs to restore the trail to pristine condition," Gadow said.
After the project was completed Ed Skomoroh took over the grooming of the trail
"We occasionally had wagon rides at events with tractor and even horses with a sled," Gadow said. "At one time, besides the main trail that was a loop around the edge of the woods, we had a north-south branch open.
"The extended trail eventually fell into disuse and was overgrown."
In 2017 Skomoroh contacted the City of Annandale and got the cooperation of the city crew.
"The crew cleared with a commercial mower (brush-hogged) to open that portion of the trail," Gadow said. "That trail portion was again open, hikeable and could be used it for wagon rides."
When the City of Annandale was finalizing plans for the new 2.7 mile Southside Trail, Skomoroh and City Administrator Kelly Hinnenkamp entered into an agreement to extend the paved trail to the entrance to the two-thirds mile nature trail.
"We cleaned up the area at the end of the paved trail and installed welcome signs," Gadow said. "Now walkers can enjoy a trail all the way from Southbrook to Pioneer Park and through our woods."
Plans are to only have plantings native to the Big Wood area. Pioneer Park will be posting identifying signs on various shrubs and trees and flowers. The also plan on publishing a booklet for hikers that will identify the items.
"We plan is to ask for donations of cash or plantings to enhance the entire trail," Gadow said.
Festival activities
■ 11:30 a.m. Dedication of the new nature trail, at the trail entrance. A scavenger hunt will follow the dedication along the trail with prizes for lucky hunters.
■ Noon to 1 p.m.: the Annandale Community Band will perform.
■ 11a.m. to 3 p.m.: Gift shop open and historic buildings will be open for touring.
■ More: Pie eating contest for the kids, butter churning contest, old time games with prizes, wagon rides and a spelling bee. At press time, times for these events were not yet set. You will be able to pick up a program at the gate listing the times.
A family event
"It is a family event with a variety of activities especially for children," Gadow said. "It’s also a good chance for people who havent’ been to the park in a long while to see what we have to offer and even consider joining our ranks."
These food items will be available:
■ A chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and vegetable
■ Hot dogs and pizza
■ Ice cream wagon
■ Old time candy in the General Store
Pioneer Park history
In 1971 the Soo Line Railroad decided to demolish the depot in downtown Annandale, as it was no longer needed.
With the leadership of Nobel and Muriel Shadduck and Blaine and Julia Barkley, the depot was moved in 1972 to its present location on what was then city property. A 1902 farm house with attached log cabin and barn were already on the property.
The park was incorporated in 1972 as the Minnesota Pioneer Travel Park. Nobel Shadduck’s original intent was to pair history with opportunities for camping and recreation. He also thought it could be used as an "Information Center" center for travelers.
Other buildings added included a caboose donated by the Soo Line, an 1886 Finnish Apostolic Lutheran church was brought in from French Lake, a Corinna town hall, a one-room school house from Albion Center and a log cabin.
The Big Woods building was constructed through the help of the CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) program to include meeting space and a kitchen and dining area.
Shadduck was expert at finding super deals on building materials, furnishings and artifacts that he and others hauled back from the Twin Cities area.
Through the efforts of dedicated volunteers, other buildings were constructed to form the village, a representation of a small town in the early 20th century.
Funding and responsibility for moving many of the early buildings and maintenance was provided by Nobel Shadduck and his wife Mildred.
Under the leadership of an elected board of directors, this non-profit history museum thrives due to a dedicated group of volunteers.
"We invite anyone interested to join our ranks," Gadow said.
Minnesota Pioneer Park is an Annandale treasure and hopefully will thrive for decades to come.