Photo by Cook, “Kum Korn Karnival, Portsmouth, Ohio Oct. 6-7-8-9, 1915,” Local History Digital Collection, accessed March 4, 2022, https://www.yourppl.org/history/items/show/12984.
From The Elyria Evening Telegram - August 28, 1917. Portsmouth opened her Korn Karnival today – the greatest in the history of the city.
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Laughing Corn |
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I have read about references to the Korn Karnival, a large celebration developed by the Portsmouth Retail Merchants Association during the years 1913-1917 and named for the farmers and their corn crops. The slogan was “Korn is King; long live the King.” The celebration was suspended due to World War 1.
The Korn Karnival celebration honored a very worthy defining feature of the area. In fact, research shows references to many commemorations of the crop throughout Ohio history. Corn and development of the county go hand-in-hand.
Native Americans called corn, maize, meaning “our life” or “our mother.” It was their main food source. Corn was so important that some tribes prayed to the Corn Gods who they believed sent it to them. These tribes had festivals at planting and harvesting time. They chanted and made music, and each tribe danced its own Corn Dance.
The Green Corn Ceremony (Piqua Shawnee Tribe) was a celebration of many types, representing new beginnings. Also referred to as the Great Peace Ceremony, it is a celebration of thanksgiving to Hsaketumese (The Breath Maker) for the first fruits of the harvest, and a New Year festival as well. It typically occurred in late July–August, determined locally by the ripening of the corn crops.
Green Corn Dance was chronicled by an Indian agent in his 1915 memoir:
“The Principal festival is celebrated in the month of August; the precise time is fixed by the head chief and the counselors of the town and takes place sooner or later as the state of the affairs of the town, or the forwardness of the corn will admit. It is called the green corn dance, or, more properly speaking, 'the ceremony of thanksgiving for the first fruits of the earth.' It lasts from four to twelve days, and in some places resembles a large camp meeting. The Indians attend from all quarters with their families, their tents and provisions, encamping around the council worshiping house.
“The women having prepared the new corn and provisions for the feast, the men take first some of the new corn, rub it between their hands then on their faces and breasts, and they feast, the great chief having first addressed the crowd, thanking the Almighty for the return of the season and giving such moral instruction to the people as may be proper for the time. On these occasions the Indians are dressed in their best manner and the whole nation attend, from the greatest to the smallest. The quantity of provisions collected is immense, everyone bringing in proportion to his ability. The whole is cast into one pile, and distributed during the continuance of the feast among the multitude by leaders appointed for the purpose.”
(“Green Corn Dance with Piqua Shawnee Tribe at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. https://cumberlandgapnhp.wordpress.com/2012/07/30/green-corn-dance-with-piqua-shawnee-tribe-at-cumberland-gap-national-historical-park/. July 30, 2012.)
Europeans continued to rely on agriculture as the primary means of feeding one’s family as they moved into the Ohio country during the mid-to-late 1700s.
Hezekiah Merritt settled on the east side as early as 1796, just above Lucasville, but he was a pioneer, and claims to have raised the first crop of corn in the county. The summer of 1796 showed three crops of corn growing in Scioto County – those of Samuel Marshall; one crop in Niles Township on the land of John Belli; and the one above mentioned of Merritt's.
Much closer to the time of the Korn Karnival – in 1900, the “Scioto Valley Fair” was held at Dugan’s Grove, which was located near the mouth of Millers Run, near the present day fairgrounds. The forested grove across from the Dugan country home was a popular Sunday school picnic area. Of course, this became the humble beginnings of the Scioto County Fair – an annual event that showcased area agriculture.
Sepia photo of two men with a structure made of corn husks, etc. at the Korn Karnival which was held in Portsmouth every fall from 1913 until 1917 when it was suspended due to World War I.
Korn Karnival
Original promotions for the event used the “Kum Korn Karnival” but it was dropped to just “Korn Karnival” due its initials. Scioto County was a major corn producing area, and to promote the city as a trade center, the festival would bring merchants and farmers together to display their merchandise.
There was no admission fee. Prizes were given to farmers with the best produce, whether it would be corn, wheat, oats or pumpkins. However, the farmers were required to live within a 25 mile radius of Portsmouth.
In 1913, the newspaper noted that donations for prizes had been received including: Ben Harris, photographer, promised a dozen photos to the man chosen most handsome; Dr. O. E. Jackson, dentist, provided a set of false teeth and $10 dental work and Roy Lynn, funeral director – a casket.
During the years of the festival, it was highly advertised weeks ahead and local businesses held ‘special’ sales in their stores.
The exhibits were
located from Gallia Street west to Findlay, 6th to
Chillicothe Street, south to 2nd Street and west to Market Street.
The attractions included a parade every evening, booths along
Chillicothe Street and entertainment such as acrobats and
aerial
artists.
Attractions were added with the years. In 1914, a baby parade was a highlight. A masked parade ended each festival.
The Korn Karnival was suspended in 1917 due to WWI. Although there were festivals held in 1934 and 1936, the many efforts to revive it in the 1930’s and 1970’s failed. In 1965, it was just a part of the Sesquicentennial Celebration.
(“Local History Collection Digital Collection.” Portsmouth Public Library. https://www.yourppl.org/history/files/original/5975289d013dbc7da996ae9f0fe39245.pdf.)
This local historian unfortunately cannot find too much more written online about the Korn Karnivals of the past. However, quite a few photos whet my interest about the events. For example, one feature was a “two-mile dinner.” It appears that tables were stretched together in a line and food was offered to carnival goers buffet style.
Another interesting photo features a chorus of area school children forming a human flag during 1916. The United States declared war on the German Empire on April 6, 1917, nearly three years after World War I started. Surely, the area was abuzz with news from the war and patriotic fervor was common.
From the collection of photos that survive, one can speculate the Korn Karnival was a major event during the years it was held. As a precursor to River Days, one can see the significance of the celebration.
You may ask, why corn was the obvious focus? I have written about the importance of the crop to Scioto Valley residents – a long history that goes back to the beginnings of habitation of the area. One can trace that history of the fertile soil and cultivation back to the Mound Builders through Native American settlements and into pioneer times. Corn was life-sustaining, and the Scioto Valley was simply the best for its crop production.
Please access these blog entries as companion pieces for today's writing. Simply click here on the links to read about King Korn:
https://allthingswildlyconsidered.blogspot.com/2018/09/lucasville-scioto-river-valley-and-corn.html
https://allthingswildlyconsidered.blogspot.com/2017/07/corn-giver-of-life-to-all-scioto-and.html and
https://allthingswildlyconsidered.blogspot.com/2018/12/pioneers-with-pone-corny-scioto-legacy.html
1913 sepia image of a man riding on top of two giant ears of corn on a wagon pulled by a horse at the Korn Karnival in Portsmouth. The Korn Karnival was held each fall from 1913 to 1917 when it was suspended due to World Was I. Portsmouth Public Library.
Booth with banner at the Portsmouth Korn Karnival. The Korn Karnival was held each fall from 1913 to 1917 when it was suspended due to World War I. Paul O’Neill from the Bill Glockner collection.
Advertisement for the Portsmouth Korn Karnival with a drawn man and woman who appear to be carrying things they might have gotten from the festival. Unknown , “That Trip to Portsmouth, Ohio Korn Karnival Has Kept Me Pretty Busy.,” Local History Digital Collection, accessed March 4, 2022, https://www.yourppl.org/history/items/show/18662.
Photo by Cook, “Korn Karnival Parade, 1916,” Local History Digital Collection, accessed March 5, 2022, https://www.yourppl.org/history/items/show/21810.Colorized photo image of the parade showing school children in U.S.A. flag formation.
School Children's Chorus Contest Kum Korn Karnival, Portsmouth, Ohio September 27-28-29-30, 1916. Colorized image of the crowds at Scioto County Court House during the 1916 Portsmouth Korn Karnival. Photo by Harris, “School Children's Chorus Contest Kum Korn Karnival, Portsmouth, Ohio September 27-28-29-30, 1916,” Local History Digital Collection, accessed March 4, 2022, https://www.yourppl.org/history/items/show/12983.
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