State Fair Recipes

Here's a Labor Day present
For the foodies in our crowd.
You know who you are.
A site featuring State Fair Recipes.
That is, prize-winning food at state fairs.
Pies, doughnuts, ribs, fried chicken.
And lots of mmmm good chili, or chilli.
So long summer, hello fall.
Enjoy the long weekend.

Mid-August

Mid-August is State Fair time in Springfield. It's time to close down summer, get ready for fall, and also do some remembering. Think we're getting older? Nah, just longer memories.

The picture above, of the Fair grandstand and harness races, is from a site called Penny Postcards from Sangamon County, Illinois. Thanks to Diane Urbankas for sending it.

C. E. Welch found a cool site called Take Me Back to the Sixties. It's a slide show with music, images, and good memories of 50s and 60s days.

And finally, I found a hilarious You Tube video that displays 59 kinds of food on a stick at the Minnesota State Fair. Now, that's what fairs are really for!

Geoff Sutton

Geoff Sutton died on August 11 at his home in Peoria, Illinois. A few years ago he suffered a stroke, but his death was sudden and unexpected. His family was on hand, including a granddaughter on whom he doted.

The 58s who may remember Geoff best are his classmates at Butler School in 1945-1954. A while back he wrote me that he enjoyed viewing the '58 web sites and agreed to be listed in our directory.

I remember Geoff as a gentle, friendly boy with a quick sense of humor. We were distantly related: Geoff was the uncle of Patrick Noonan, husband of my sister, Jo Howarth Noonan.

Update: an obituary appears in the SJR of August 14. It notes that Geoff worked as an aviation photojournalist and was a consultant to Boeing Helicopters. The visitation and memorial service are on Friday, August 17 in Peoria. You may post tributes and condolences in the Guest Book at the SJR obituary.

Allan Stephens, Geoff Sutton, Kim Funk
Spring 1946

Illini Swimmers

Click on the picture to enlarge.
You'll find four 58s and many others.
Thanks to CE Welch for spotting it.
And to Suzi Lee Boyd for scanning it.

Harmony Brothers Show

Chris Reynolds is a retired state employee who has created a BIG visual and oral history of the Harmony Brothers band. He interviewed Ben and Charlie Harmony at length, located their music, and edited a film of their reunion concert (played in a local chili house).

You may hear a one-hour version of this project on WUIS on August 4 at 8 pm. If you aren't in Springfield, you may hear it on the Internet. WUIS has set up a special page on the show, with links to let you hear the program, the interviews, and the music. If needed, you'll get instructions to set up your computer for webcasts. Rock On!