It's been a while since I've shared a Donna Story. But 100-year-old Donna Anderson — a woman with a remarkable memory for Rochester-area history — shared some more tales with me last week. As usual, I was her eager listener … even though our conversation was unusually held over the phone as Donna quarantines at home.
This time, Donna's memories focused on early Mayo Clinic physician Dr. Christopher Graham (the namesake of Graham Arena) and the Dover Calf Show. I thought you'd want to hear these stories, too. So, in Donna's words:
Before Dr. Christopher Graham was a medical doctor, he was a veterinarian — and a good friend of Mr. Forest Henry, a well-known farmer in Dover.
To get from Rochester to Winona in those days, you went right through the town of Dover on Highway 9. The house I was born and raised in was on the north side of that highway. Forest Henry's beautiful farm was across the road, on the south side. It stands on a hill that we used to slide on as kids — the only hill in Dover!
I sometimes went to Mr. Henry's home with my sister when I was a little girl. We packed candy for the Dover Methodist Church Christmas party. I'd look around at that house and think it was the most beautiful house I ever saw. It had colored glass windows and what seemed to be a fireplace in every room!
I don't know how Forest Henry and Dr. Graham met — perhaps Mr. Henry called Dr. Graham for help with his cattle — but the two men got to be fast friends.
Mr. Henry's grandson, Lincoln Henry, and I surmise that during World War I, seeing how successful Viola Gopher Count was, Mr. Henry and Dr. Graham decided they should do something to celebrate Dover. They called on area farmers to bring in their calves for a big calf show with prizes and a celebration. At first, it was held in Forest Henry's beautiful red barn, but it eventually became so successful that they had to move it to the Dover Park.
This first Dover Calf Show happened probably three years before I was born, in 1916. My first recollection of it was when I was staying with my neighbor and mentor Mame, who belonged to the Royal Neighbors of America and would sometimes take me to their meetings. This particular time, I must've been four years old. And instead of playing rook at this meeting, the women had big, beautiful bolts of purple crepe paper to make flowers for the float they were entering in the Dover Calf Show parade.
I remember that year's show so well. They judged the calves in the morning, gave ribbons at about noon, then had a parade with the beautiful float the Royal Neighbors of America had made. The Chatfield Brass Band was in it, and there was a fire truck and horses and new machinery being pulled by more horses. In the afternoon, there was a big band concert, and races and other fun things in the park. The day ended with a dance. When I was older, the concert and dance at night were my favorite parts.
The Calf Show continued until WWII when farmers' sons all had to go and serve in the war. Dover lost two of their boys in the war, including my brother Arly. The Dover Calf Show never started again after that. But blessings to Viola; they're still going and there are still a lot of gophers out there!
This time, Donna's memories focused on early Mayo Clinic physician Dr. Christopher Graham (the namesake of Graham Arena) and the Dover Calf Show. I thought you'd want to hear these stories, too. So, in Donna's words:
Before Dr. Christopher Graham was a medical doctor, he was a veterinarian — and a good friend of Mr. Forest Henry, a well-known farmer in Dover.
To get from Rochester to Winona in those days, you went right through the town of Dover on Highway 9. The house I was born and raised in was on the north side of that highway. Forest Henry's beautiful farm was across the road, on the south side. It stands on a hill that we used to slide on as kids — the only hill in Dover!
I sometimes went to Mr. Henry's home with my sister when I was a little girl. We packed candy for the Dover Methodist Church Christmas party. I'd look around at that house and think it was the most beautiful house I ever saw. It had colored glass windows and what seemed to be a fireplace in every room!
I don't know how Forest Henry and Dr. Graham met — perhaps Mr. Henry called Dr. Graham for help with his cattle — but the two men got to be fast friends.
Mr. Henry's grandson, Lincoln Henry, and I surmise that during World War I, seeing how successful Viola Gopher Count was, Mr. Henry and Dr. Graham decided they should do something to celebrate Dover. They called on area farmers to bring in their calves for a big calf show with prizes and a celebration. At first, it was held in Forest Henry's beautiful red barn, but it eventually became so successful that they had to move it to the Dover Park.
This first Dover Calf Show happened probably three years before I was born, in 1916. My first recollection of it was when I was staying with my neighbor and mentor Mame, who belonged to the Royal Neighbors of America and would sometimes take me to their meetings. This particular time, I must've been four years old. And instead of playing rook at this meeting, the women had big, beautiful bolts of purple crepe paper to make flowers for the float they were entering in the Dover Calf Show parade.
I remember that year's show so well. They judged the calves in the morning, gave ribbons at about noon, then had a parade with the beautiful float the Royal Neighbors of America had made. The Chatfield Brass Band was in it, and there was a fire truck and horses and new machinery being pulled by more horses. In the afternoon, there was a big band concert, and races and other fun things in the park. The day ended with a dance. When I was older, the concert and dance at night were my favorite parts.
The Calf Show continued until WWII when farmers' sons all had to go and serve in the war. Dover lost two of their boys in the war, including my brother Arly. The Dover Calf Show never started again after that. But blessings to Viola; they're still going and there are still a lot of gophers out there!