A Side Rail

The Iowa State Fair has a long history of projects that bring change to the Fairgrounds. Over the years as our society transitioned, so has the Fairgrounds. Before vehicles and shuttle busses, Fairgoers traveled to Des Moines via trains, arriving at the spur built to the south side of the Fairgrounds. Gradually, automobiles became the primary mode of transportation and the use of trains faded, leaving the railroad track to never see a train again.  In recent years, the railroad tracks were becoming a nuisance to the maintenance crews who cleared the roads of snow. The rails stuck out, causing the blade of the snowplow to hit the tracks, damaging the blade. Dating back to 1898, the rails were just removed this past year from the parking lot area south of the Fairgrounds.

Randy Schnebbe of RS Welding in Victor, IA was searching for a unique item to donate to the Corndog Kickoff. After coming across the rails, he chose to incorporate them into a memorable piece of furniture. Randy used his creative skills to create a unique sofa table that is truly one of a kind.

The rails from the track were created into the base of the sofa table, showcasing their wear and tear. The table top is a lightly veined marble, a rare find that is no longer commercially available. The marble was mined in Iran and cut in Italy and consists of a creamy white color with veins of gray and sienna, which pick up the colors found in the rails.

Plan to attend the Corndog Kickoff on July 8 to bid on this beautiful piece of furniture that will add a piece of Iowa State Fair history to your home. This table is package #28 of the live auction, which will begin promptly at 8 P.M. This is a specially designed table you won’t find anywhere else. Don’t miss your chance to add this elegant piece to your home!

To purchase Corndog Kickoff tickets, call the Blue Ribbon Foundation at 515-262-3111 ext. 371 or online at www.blueribbonfoundation.org. 

The stunning marble that is the top of the table. 

Fairgoers exited the train and began walking to the Fairgrounds to enjoy the great, Iowa State Fair! 

-Emily