Minnesota Sounds

New Ulm: Popcorn popper

by Marc Sanchez, Minnesota Public Radio

New Ulm, Minn. — The antique popcorn popper in New Ulm helps mark the seasons. The onset of spring means the smell of butter is just around the corner. And no more "pop-popping" in the air is a sure bet winter is on the way.

A favorite snack for young and old alike, popcorn was one of few luxuries people could still afford during the Great Depression.

Bright red with yellow trim, the wagon has been serving residents of New Ulm since 1918. It's carted out each year by the Brown County Historical Society Museum. The BCHS is the fifth owner/operator of the cart.

It might not be as American as apple pie, but popcorn is steeped in tradition. The first cart was introduced in 1893 by the C. Cretors Company in Chicago. The New Ulm cart is a model D. It cost $1300 and was the 80th cart rolled off the Cretors' assembly line.