50 years ago
Sept. 2, 1954
For the opening night of the 1954 Marion County Fair a huge crowd, estimated at more than 5,000, was on hand. The Tuesday night opening held many attractions for those attending, with the highlight being the parading of queen candidates on the big stage in the center of Main Street.
Forty-one high school grid hopefuls checked out suits and began workouts the first of this week in preparation for the 1954 football season. Coach Guy Sharp has only four returning lettermen: Rodney Cornelsen, guard; Jim Franz and Virgil Klassen, backs; and Darrel Penner, center.
No county fair would be complete without a parade, and the Marion County Fair can boast of two. The commercial parade on Thursday and the popular youth parade on Friday.
A welcome for Rev. and Mrs. Koontz and family was held Friday evening in Memorial Park by friends and members of First Mennonite Church.
Dalton Franz, a Bethel College graduate, will serve as the Johannestal Church minister for the coming year. Mr. Franz served the church at Halstead this summer.
The summer leisure for the school-going young people of Hillsboro comes to an end this weekend. School begins Monday, Sept. 6. The high school enrollment is 178 and grade school enrollment will be on Monday.
