Volunteers revere Harvey Anderson
Tuesday, July 13, 2004 7:49 AM PDT
By Staff
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E-mail this articleCASTLE ROCK --- One of the key people, who helped revitalize the Castle Rock Community Fair and whose work there spanned four decades, has died.
Harvey Andersen, 87, died June 26, 2004. His fellow fair volunteers recalled his hard work and dedication from the late 1950s that continued well into the 1980s.
"He was very dedicated to having it be a true community fair," said Liz Flatt, who worked with Andersen in the 1970s and 1980s. "He always brought in his family to work --- his children and their spouses --- whenever we had something to do, whether it was concession stands or to build or paint something."
Flatt said Andersen's wife, the late Genevieve Andersen, would see something that needed to get done at the fair, then he "would get the ball rolling."
"They both were really hard workers," Flatt said.
Yvonne Knuth, fair board president, said Andersen was among those more than 40 years ago, who worked to move the fairgrounds to the present location on the west side of the Cowlitz River, just outside town.
"Before that, the fair was held at the county shop (now the city shop), the Woman's Club, Grange and other places in town," Knuth said.
The fair had to move back to the downtown locations in 1981 after the fairgrounds were buried under mud from the Mount St. Helens eruption.
"With the skills of Harvey, Dean (Boss) and Lee (Rogers), we were able to get back on the fairgrounds within two years," Knuth said. "Those guys and other volunteers did a great job in renewing the area. The fair was their life."
Knuth also credits Andersen with the success of a concession stand to raise money for the fair.
"In the '70s, his whole family would help work the stands," she said. "Those late nights and early breakfasts at Nationals (motorcycle races) were killers, but what fun we all had."
Though his volunteer years were passed, Andersen continued to make a contribution to the community fair.
"Even after he left the fair board, he was called upon for answers," Knuth said. "His advice was very valuable to all of us. He will be very much missed."
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