It’s 1929 in Redmond. You are standing on Canal Boulevard and Sixth Street, looking west to the old Deschutes County Fair Grounds.

The fair began as the Potato Show in 1906, giving farmers an opportunity to meet, compete and show off Redmond’s specially developed and delicious Deschutes Netted Gem potato. The show grew and expanded. It was a popular event.

After a bitter dispute with Bend over who would be the county seat, Redmond citizens and officials worked together to assure that the Redmond Potato Show would be the county fair site. They raised money. They expanded the racetrack, built a 1,200-seat grandstand, added exhibition buildings, new events, increased prizes and called it the Redmond Potato Show and County Fair.

The efforts were successful. In 1921, the state designated Redmond as the official site for the Deschutes County Fair. (What is not well known is that the infield of the fair’s racetrack was Redmond’s first airport. More on that later.)

The fair became one of the biggest in the state and it eventually outgrew its 33-acre site and moved to its present, 320-acre location off of Airport Road in 1999.

What’s here now? Stay where you are and look west toward the Three Sisters. What do you see? You’ll know you’re in the right place if you can park your car where horses used to race.

This is the first installment in what will be a new, monthly feature in the Redmond Spokesman.

Teaming up with the Redmond Historical Society, we’re dipping into our archives and theirs — and county and state sources as well.

Redmond is changing, fast. But these photos will show it has always been that way. They will help residents, both new and old, get a better understanding of the history beneath their feet and in their neighborhoods.

Much of the research for this series will be done by Janet Alexander and her colleagues at the Redmond Historical Society. They are always looking for volunteers and interested parties who want to know more about Redmond history.

If you have ideas for people, places and things you’d like to see in this space, email ttrainor@redmondspokesman.com. And if you have old photos and memorabilia, reach out. We’d love to take a look and publish for readers to enjoy, too.