This post documents my experience on August 18, 2012.
In 1870, John Deshler made the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad an offer that they couldn’t refuse…
…donated land for them to lay their tracks.
Although the B&O was leaning toward the town of Belmore for its higher ground, they eventually agreed…
…thereby creating the town of Deshler…
…at the center of a huge railroad intersection.
It was thanks to the surrounding railroads that I actually had a bit of difficulty getting there from Findlay. With a slow moving train on the eastern tracks that went on for miles, I just managed to slip past the railroad crossing before it blocked me to the north.
And, fortunately, with the help of a few one-lane country roads leading me west…
…I was able to arrive in time…
…to celebrate Deshler’s Corn City Festival.
The festival took place in Village Park…
…where it was big enough to hold volleyball games…
…playground equipment…
…an entire city of inflatables…
…and a supervised building block/sand box play party.
In fact, the area was so spacious…
…that event location markers were posted all around…
…one of which led me to the adult area…
…where there would later be plenty of cheap beer (respectively)…
…and evening entertainment.
During the day, festival goers got to enjoy many of the other activities, which included…
…a performance by Hope and Carmen…
…pedal tractor pulls…
…games run by the local Boy/Cub Scouts…
…a van that festival goers were invited to draw on (Henry County Arts Council)…
…(kudos for this, by the way)…
…and a Quarter Mania Auction…
…that incorporated purchased paddles for the chance to cheaply buy items from these local vendors.
Other gift vendors were scattered about the park…
…selling purses, kids’ must-haves…
…and homemade lawn decor.
Even more items were found here…
…where there were homemade greeting cards…
…and other crafted items for sale or display.
This only leaves us with the food.
Like many other corn festivals with various food vendors…
…there was one booth that sold only corn…
…although I liked the possibility of getting it on or off the cob (in a bowl)…
…for a very reasonable $1.
I did see a second vendor selling corn as well…
…but he didn’t look set up when I was there.
Certain vendors also tried helping with the theme….
…by offering free popcorn (Oak Grove Healthcare Center)…
…or selling corn dogs…
…but that was pretty much the extent.
Fortunately, as a town festival, I thought Deshler had a lot to offer.
I even got to see a college friend (and her mom)…
…who introduced me to the wonders of French Ice…
…and all its sugary ice-flavored charm.
Oui oui!