BCHS volunteer Lee Weber moved the wagon from its annex garage to its spot near the vintage gas pumps for opening day.

The wagon operated from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Proceeds support the Brown County Historical Society.

BCHS acquired the wagon in 2002 from longtime owner Sylvia Hopkins, known locally as “The Popcorn Lady.” Decades of use had damaged the structure.

“Anytime you have salt and butter, it’s like eroding the floorboards,” said BCHS Research Historian Darla Gebhard. “It had a lot of wood problems that had to be replaced because of the salt.”

Photo by Amy Zents Volunteer Lee Weber prepares “Trigger,” the compact PowerPal tug, to haul the historic 1914 popcorn wagon out of the garage for its 2026 season opener.

The restoration effort involved many community members. 

“We had a whole group of volunteers that were so invested in helping us repair that wagon,” Gebhard said. “Our members and other people in the community just loved it.”

BCHS volunteers restored the wagon over several years in the BCHS Annex Building. They rebuilt the floorboards, replaced the carriage wheels with replicas and restored the original bright red color using research and blueprints from the Cretor’s Company. The wagon now matches its 1914 appearance when Meyers Jorgenson purchased it new for $1,200.

The current electric popper replaced the original popper which used white gas, and the historic peanut roaster is no longer in use.

Today, BCHS uses a compact motorized PowerPal tug nicknamed “Trigger” to move the heavy wagon. Volunteer Lee Weber operates Trigger.

Weber said the slight incline at the setup location requires careful control.

“You can move it by hand easier than you’d think,” Weber said. “One person can move it by hand. The problem is it’s hard for one person to get it stopped.”

Yvonne Weber, entering her 12th season, manages day-to-day operations. She orders supplies, oversees cleaning and coordinates volunteers. 

She also secures grants and receives donations from local businesses including Arneson Distributing, Thrivent Financial, West Point Dairy Products, Hy-Vee and Runnings.

During setup, Yvonne Weber added a “Popcorn Cafe” table with a tablecloth, set up fans for heat management and opened rooftop vents for airflow. She oversees the volunteers who work shifts to keep operations running.

The mascot Pat Woratschka “Poppy” was on hand for the season opener, greeting visitors near the wagon.

BCHS operates the wagon under a special event food license from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, which limits it to 10 appearances per year. A commercial license would add significant costs and requirements.

“Our license is good for ten appearances,” said BCHS Executive Director Amy Johnson. “That’s why we only can do it ten times.”

BCHS schedules the 10 dates around major community events. The wagon is typically located at 2 N. Broadway but will be positioned on Center Street during Downtown Oktoberfest and at the Halloween Hop.

On Monday, June 8, the wagon will appear in conjunction with the New Ulm Public Library Summer Reading Program. Children who sign up for the reading program will receive coupons for free kid-sized bags of popcorn.

A new event this season is “The Denny Warta Family Day” on Saturday, Aug. 1. Diann and Denny Warta operated the wagon from 1970 to 1973.

“We are inviting Denny’s family to come back and actually work the popcorn wagon,” said BCHS Executive Director Amy Johnson. “They are really excited about it.”

For many longtime residents, a summer day in New Ulm often included a movie at the local theater or a swim at the old German Park outdoor pool, followed by a stop at the popcorn wagon.

Visitors can purchase fresh hot popcorn for $2, along with 1919 Root Beer, Buddy’s soda and bottled water.

Among those attending opening day were Teri and Frank Sellner of Sleepy Eye.

“It’s good that it’s still going,” Teri Sellner said. “People really love it.”

Along with regular returning customers, a team of 25 dedicated volunteers help keep the tradition alive.

Ron Brutlag, known as the Big Popper, has volunteered regularly with the wagon for years. 

New volunteers have also joined in recent years, including Ellie Sviene and first-time volunteer Kim Hemphill-Schmitz. Other volunteers working on opening day were Eileen Jacobson and Keith Richter.

Schedules for the popcorn wagon are available at the wagon, through the BCHS front desk, and online. Sales from the wagon support BCHS preservation efforts.