New Richland event: Frank Blakeslee and George Stearns Worlds Fair and Wild West. The fair was created during the winter of 1893-94 by Frank Blakeslee and George Stearns. It was not without an incredible effort that employed many New Richland residents sewing costumes and printing advertisements and handbills.
The show opened on May 17, 1894 drawing an initial crowd of 1500, but the second performance was rained out. Hitting the road, the Blakeslee & Stearns Circus traveled to Albert Lea, Waseca, Mankato, Waterville, Redwing and Minneapolis over the next three weeks.
On June 14, 1894, the New Richland Star reported, "Busted" The World's Fair and Wild West Show organized in this place, has after an existence of less than a month . . . (was busted)."
