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Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds
History of the Fair Giant
The Fair Giant as he stands today
February, 2009
"Harve" receiving a new paint job while still atop Baldwins Service Center in Parole in 1985
"Harve" in the Baldwins parking lot waiting for his ride to Crownsville in 1991
Mike Crutchley & Claude Donaldson loading up the new Fair Giant in front of Baldwins
to the fairgrounds.
The new Fair Giant being lifted to his new resting place.
The Fair Giant being bolted down and secured.
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NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Dec. 1990 Capital
FIXTURE FOR SALE
Uncle Harv, the giant lumberjack from the roof of Baldwin Service Center, has
become a free agent. After a reign of 22 years at the corner of Defense and
Generals highways, he was lowered to the ground Friday.
Harv began life traveling to county fairs representing a chain saw company, but
then was traded to the Baldwin family. Baldwin`s is still open, selling its final
inventory and fixtures before clearing out for a new Toys R Us. Anyone interested
in acquiring Harv can contact Rhoda Baldwin about a possible cash deal.
END ARTICLE
The Capital, April 11, 1991
BALDWIN FAMILY DONATES BUNYON TO COUNTY FAIR
Legend has it that Paul Bunyon could fell a forest with one swoop and used a
hotcake griddle so large that men greased it by skating across it on slabs of bacon.
Last week, it took five men most of the afternoon just to move the county`s own
replica of Paul Bunyon, a giant lumberjack which has stood atop the Baldwin Service
Center for almost 15 years.
A familiar sight to Annapolis, The Baldwin family donated the 20-foot lumberjack to
the Anne Arundel County Fair when their store closed last fall. On Friday, he was
carted gently to the county fairgrounds in Crownsville, where he will be repaired and
painted before taking his place at the entrance to the fair. ``We`re real pleased to
have him. It will be a nice addition,``said fair President Fay Baase.
Made of steel and fiberglass, the huge lumberjack originally traveled from one fair to
another, representing the Lombard chainsaw company. In 1977, he was sold to Frank
Baldwin, owner of a farm and garden supply company at Route 50 and Generals
Highway. That year, Mr. Baldwin carted the figure to the Anne Arundel County Fair
at Sandy Point State Park but enroute, he fell off the truck and broke his arm.
The next year, the giant took his place atop the Baldwin Service Center at Route 50 and
Generals Highway, where he remained for almost 15 years. Mr. Baldwin nicknamed the
statue ``Uncle Harv`` in recognition of International Harvesters. But area residents knew
the big lumberjack primarily as Paul Bunyon. ``It`s a little hard for us to see him go,``
said Rhoda Baldwin, who recalled that people came from miles around just to look at the figure.
The kids loved him. There he sat, looking down at the world. Last summer, Mrs. Baldwin
decided to close the service center after nearly 45 years in business. She put the
lumberjack up for sale and received several offers, but new county zoning regulations
prohibit business owners from displaying the statue in front of their stores.
The Baldwin family eventually decided that he belonged at the county fairgrounds and
donated him to the fair`s organizers. On Friday, five volunteers gathered at the service
center to move Paul Bunyon to Crownsville, where he will be spruced up in time for next
year`s event.
Using ropes, blankets and a front-end loader, the men worked for hours to weld the figure
to his stand and then lower him onto a flatbed. Fair organizers hope to eventually place him
at the entrance to the fair and place a sign welcoming people in his outstretched arms.
`It`s the end of an era,`` Mrs. Baldwin said. ``He was kind of a landmark.``
END ARTICLE
The Fair Giant was put in storage in the Exhibit Building and painted by the Busy Beavers 4H Club. A platform was built with telephone poles and heavy lumber for him to rest his feet on.
With a back hoe and volunteers, he was then moved to the triangle shaped garden at the enterance into the fair. Bales of hay layed in the bucket of the back hoe to help protect his back.
Ropes tied to his shoulders to help study him. He rose slowly up as they pushed him from
the back. There he stood, 20 feet tall with his arms extending out to hold a WELCOME
sign to greet the Fairs patrons.
Thanks to all the volunteers who helped to make this landmark a reality.
The Fair Giant is also called a Muffler Man.
Visit Roadsideamerica.com for more informaiton on other mullfer men or go directly to the
links below.
Muffler men index
Maryland sightings
Maryland sightings have been in Harve de Grade, Marion
and Ocean City and of course here in Crownsville. They
have been seen all over the United States.
See link above.
There are many avid Muffler men collectors of sighting of these big guys. Once we had a motorcyclist ride in just to snap a picture of him... Said he was out for a Sunday ride and
thought he would search out our Muffler Man.
2001 - The Giant had three bulletin boards built at his feet for a eagle scout project and the
flower garden was landscaped with lumber donated by Garman Bros. of Crownsville.
Visit our Fair Giant when attending one of our Anne Arundel County Fair sponsored events
listed on our web page.
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