A state historical marker at Krider Garden, Middlebury. InkFreeNews file photo.

News Release

MIDDLEBURY — Krider World’s Fair Garden Park, Middlebury, is celebrating its 90th anniversary with a party.

The public is invited to the Middlebury Community Historical Museum, 201 W. Bristol Ave., from 2-4 p.m. Sunday. There will be entertainment by The Dawg, garden tours, refreshments and displays of historical photos.

The garden was created in Middlebury in 1934 after a display at the Chicago World’s Fair shutdown. Some of the elements from the display were brought to Middleury and a garden created. The gardens were created across the road from their headquarters.

Krider nurseries became a major business in Middlebury and was the largest employer there for many years. It was also the largest nursery between Chicago and Cleveland and said to be one of the largest ones in the United States.

When the nurseries disbanded in the 1990s, the garden remained until the Krider and Wesdorp families, who owned the garden, gave it to the town of Middlebury as a town park. The town has made sure to keep everything healthy and up to date in the beloved garden.

This year marks 90 years ago when the exhibit began at the world fair in 1933.

The historical photo display will include photographs from the world fair, the park, the Krider and Wesdorp families. The display will be in the museum.