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Marc Sanchez
New Ulm, Minn.

New Ulm: Popcorn popper

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Popcorn delight
Popcorn on the streets of New Ulm has been a tradition since 1918.
From the collection of the Brown County Historical Society

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.

Gallery
5 of 5
Popping good time
If you're walking around the streets of downtown New Ulm, follow your nose to the popcorn popper
From the collection of the Brown County Historical Society
1 of 5
Popcorn delight
Popcorn on the streets of New Ulm has been a tradition since 1918.
From the collection of the Brown County Historical Society
2 of 5
Fixer upper
The New Ulm popcorn popper has been roaming the streets since 1918. It's painted red and yellow now, but here's the same cart painted white.
From the collection of the Brown County Historical Society