As a small town, up-time Grantville didn’t have a lot of claims to fame. Down-time? It’s the most famous place on the planet, reputed to be a magical place filled wealth and wonders untold. It’s a bustling city whose size is primarily constrained by the local geography. This local geography is one constraint that ensures it will remain smaller than many other cities for the foreseeable future, and that real estate will remain quite valuable.
Up-time, the round “Red Barn” run by the historical society and the County Fair were probably the two biggest attractions. They also had Oktoberfest (relatively new in 2000) and the Great Buffalo Canoe Race. Interestingly, down-time Germany did not have Oktoberfest, which didn’t start until the nineteenth century. They did, however, have tons of local fairs, festivals, and other events, both secular and religious in nature, which are not included in this list.
Attractions and Annual Events:
Breitenfeld Day (September)
This is a new down-time holiday to celebrate the victory at Breitenfeld.
Canoe Race (May)
The Great Buffalo Canoe Race was normally scheduled in May (up-time), but the exact date was based on water flow rates and other weather-related factors. It may need to be scheduled down-time. It also may need to be moved since Fairmont is gone and the new down-stream route may not work for a canoe/kayak race.
Description: A canoe race on the Buffalo Creek between Mannington and Fairmont, WV. Saturday, May 6th, 2000. Rain date is May 13th, 2000. Sponsored by The West Virginia Police Reserves. Registration begins at 8:00am at the Hough (pronounced “Huff”) Park Community Building in Hough Park, Mannington. The race starts at 10:00am. Racers may drop over the falls at their own risk, but it is not recommended. The DNR and West Virginia Police Reserves are not responsible for any injuries or accidents.
On Sunday, May 7th at 2:00pm there will be a picnic and awards will be given at Hough Park in Mannington. For those who wish to attend, please bring a covered dish. Various awards will be given, and there will be no duplicate winners.
There are several places between Barrackville and Fairmont along US 250 and old 250 (opposite side of Buffalo Creek), as well as several small bridges that connect the two, that make for excellent viewing. Come on out and join the race or the many spectators who come just to enjoy the fun!
District Fair (early August up-time)
Grantville hosted the District Fair. The Fairgrounds are near the pool and Hough Park with a convenient footbridge across Buffalo Creek. There are a series of concession stands, rings and buildings for displaying animals and agricultural goods, and seating stands for events. This hasn’t come up much yet in canon.
The fairgrounds may not be in constant use, but it’ll be close. A large variety of groups will hold events there. Some seasonal-use buildings and facilities will almost certainly be weathered-in to allow year-round use. Additional facilities will also be built (e.g., stables).
In-canon projections:
The District Fair didn’t happen the first two years but re-started fairly soon, a smaller scale, and gradually ramped back up.
- If it had been planned for 1632, it seems like it would’ve been mentioned when they were planning the Croat Raid.
After a few years, there will be two fairs. In early August, there will be a more tech-focused fair where farmers can buy new tools and learn new techniques to help with harvest. Shortly after harvest, there will be a second fair showing off some of the produce, farm animals, etc. Animals will also be slaughtered and sold at the later fair.
Downtown
Up-time, the circa 2000 Grantville downtown area wouldn’t have been called an “attraction.” Down-time, it’s a whole different ball of wax. Down-time, the closest way to think of it might be a perpetual world’s fair, but all focused on one country. New technology (lights!), new ideas (indoor plumbing!), new entertainment (flip books!), new foods (tabasco sauce!). Downtown Grantville is probably one of the biggest attractions in central Germany fairly from the day it arrives, and it just gets more famous and more popular as time goes by.
Fourth of July
It’s a big deal both up- and down-time. One big difference is that up-time it didn’t have a parade because the high school marching band went to a different (larger) town a few miles away.
Down-time, it’s also affiliated with the Fourth of July political party.
Historical Society
In the real world, the West Augusta Historical Society runs the Hamilton Round Barn as well as the Wilson School Museum in Mannington. In Grantville, the Red Barn is run by the local Historical Society. It is safe to project that they also had a museum in a disused school on Route 250. (The real Hamilton Round Barn is white, not red, and originally had a slate roof.)
The grounds of the real-world old school also contain a 1912 caboose and an 1870 log cabin.
Both the Round Barn and school are chock-full (bursting, to be frank) with historical items that are an amazing resource for post-RoF Grantville.
Red Barn (Hamilton Round Barn)
This unusual structure is one of the finest examples of architecture. Built as a dairy barn in 1912 by Amos C. Hamilton, it is now listed in the National Register for Historical Places. The Mannington Round Barn has been restored and now contains a fine collection of antique farm equipment, a carriage, a sleigh, early mining tools, a washing machine, a massive loom….
It is too much to list.
Wilson School
The Historical Society bought its new home, a disused 1912 school on Route 250, in 1980. It remained closed until 1982. The Museum contains many artifacts and antiques of great interest in four former classrooms on two flours, a large entry area, and the staircase area. Additional items are stored in the basement, closets, and anywhere else they can tuck items away.
Other Structures
The real-world caboose was built in 1912. It now houses a miniature railroad museum of articles used in the operation of the area’s transportation system such as whistles, stoves, and lanterns. It was donated to the Museum by the Chessie System and moved from its original site in Pennsylvania to the Museum grounds by the Consolidated Coal Company. The miniature railroad may have come through the Ring of Fire.
The log cabin now located next to the old school parking lot out back was originally built on the Deadfall Road in Wetzel County by George Washington Price in 1870. It was donated to the museum by the Higgins Family and moved to its new location with the help of the Marion County FFA.
Quilt Show (June)
The historical society sponsored a quilt show. Since it hasn’t been shown in canon, there is no need to keep it in June, if anyone feels a need to move it.
Libraries
There’s no other way to say it: the libraries are spy central and everyone knows it. Government spies. Corporate spies. Family spies. If there’s a group of spies down-time, they’ve sent someone to check out the fabled Grantville libraries. And Grantville is a-okay with that. They want to share their knowledge far and wide.
The State Library
This is located at the high school and it desperately needs to be expanded. Plans are in the works and this will happen.
The Public Library.
This is located in the historic district and is actually quite small compared to it’s impact and international draw. In 2002, the website proclaimed the library collection included:
- Books for adults and children: Fiction–Non-fiction–Westerns–Mysteries–Science fiction–Biographies–Reference–Large Print–Board books–Periodicals–Holiday collections–West Virginia (history, travel, and authors)
- Family media collection: Videos (entertainment and educational)–DVD’s–Books on Tape–CD’s–Children’s read-along’s–Media equipment
In late 2001/early 2002, available services included photocopying, computer printouts, lamination, FAX, computer scans, notary public, public computers/internet, tax forms, and voter registration.
Oktoberfest (October)
In the real world, this is a small street festival downtown with food and shopping stands. Down-time, Grantville (more specifically, the Thuringen Gardens) will be the origin of Oktoberfest! (Imagine that in bright colors, surrounded by sparklers.)
Since Oktoberfest is a German beer festival that originated in 1810, I predict rapid expansion well past the borders of West Virginia County within an extremely short time.
Halloween
Nothing like our modern American Halloween exists down-time. Grantville Halloween will be considered a bit of a spectacle by anyone who visits. The emphasis will move away from scary and gory things to a more light-hearted approach because (1) no one wants to run afoul of the Inquisition and (2) real-life has been scary enough for down-timers.
Like so many other things, Halloween will be pretty small for the first few years. Teachers, especially at the elementary schools, will help keep the Halloween spirit alive with special projects and activities, especially in the early years when there won’t be much focus on fun and frivolity in town in general. Scarecrows, dressing up, giving treats, and lots of other All Hallows Eve fun will make a return within a few years of the Ring of Fire.
Holidays
Some holidays from before the Ring of Fire will remain, whether they are from up-timers or down-timers. Others are new. Ring of Fire Day and Breitenfeld day are both examples of new holidays. This list doesn’t have all the religious holidays, just some major Christian ones since they are the dominant faith in this time and place.
Some will change with the times. As noted, the Mannington District Fair is not held for the first few years but will come back.
January: New Year’s Day
February: Valentine’s Day
March: Easter (some years)
April: Easter (most years)
May: Mother’s Day
Great Buffalo Canoe Race (canonized by Iver Cooper in 1636: Sea of Fortune, originally published as “Second Starts” in Grantville Gazette #11.)
Calling all kayak and canoe enthusiasts! It’s time for the Annual Great Buffalo Canoe Race. Must have a life jacket and children under 15 must have a waiver signed by an adult.
Registration starts at 8 am at Hough Park and the race begins at 9 am. The race ends at the walking bridge in Farmington and there’ll be a small reception at the Farmington Fire Dept following the race. (Farmington is just past the high school, outside the Ring of Fire.)
Ring of Fire Day
June: Father’s Day
Historical Society Quilt Show (can be changed)
July: Fourth of July
August: Mannington District Fair and Fair Parade
September: Breitenfeld Day
October: Oktoberfest
Halloween
November: Thanksgiving
December: Historical Society Greenery Bazaar
Mannington Christmas Parade
Children’s Christmas Party
Downtown Christmas Open House
Major Religious Holidays in Grantville:
Lent and Easter are particularly variable because they are based on the lunar calendar.
February/March: Lent
March/April: Easter
December: Advent
25 Christmas