Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush

DOWNTOWN ORONOCO GOLD RUSH DAYS>History of Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush

Learn about the early beginning of the event by Mr. Earl Berg with 38 vendors to the present day event with over 1200 vendors. The community has benefited from this event for many years. Thank you Mr. Berg for thinking up this great event.

1972- The Beginning
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Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush

1972- The Beginning

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"Oronoco Gold Rush Antique Show and Flea Market" began with 38 selected exhibitors. The event was started by Earl Berg in 1972 who owned an antique shop in Oronoco. He also named and drew the wagon logo for the event. It was named to commemorate the 1858 discovery of GOLD in Oronoco. Spaces were $2.00 each. The entire Berg family volunteered their time and talents. Mr. Berg died in 1997 but Mrs. Berg still owns and operates the Berg's Antique Store.

Mr. Earl Berg [Click here to view full size picture]

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Joyce and "Ole" Fuchs had assumed the management of the event with limited but willing imput from Earl And Mary Lou Berg. In 1987, the Fuch's group moved the event to the south end of Oronoco because of the downtown bridge's closure. Another group made up of the Mayor and Council of Oronoco at the time, used spots in the downtown area of Oronoco and named their event the "Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush". The City of Oronoco continues to sponsor the "Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush" which is held the third weekend in August in the City of Oronoco. There is more information on this event within this website. With no space to return the following year, the Fuch's group moved their event to the Olmsted County Fairgrounds in Rochester. The event is now under the management and ownership of Townsend, Inc. and is held in Rochester.

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Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush

Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush

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"Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush" sponsors an event with over 1200 booths placed throughout the City of Oronoco. The City's right of way and City owned land is used to place vendors. Some residents donate land while others rent spots to vendors.

After all bills are paid, the Committee donates money to local groups such as the Churches, local school groups, Oronoco Fire Department and First Responders. Funds have been donated to the Oronoco Community Center for repairs and painting.

The Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush Committee is made up volunteers from within the City. Without volunteers helping during the event, it would be impossible to host such an event. There is more information within this website for the "Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush".

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Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush