The Power of Testimony

THE TIME MOM MET HITLER . . .
famous Oak Dale Trail was carved out of the prairie. The Trail
led travelers the 350 miles from Chicago, or the 180 miles from
Minneapolis/St. Paul—​ to Oak Dale. Thomson published brochures
and maps of the route, with notes suggesting stops at
such-​ and-​ such a hotel, or restaurant, or campsite, or mechanic
along the way. The cost to advertise in the brochure was to
pave a section of the Trail. Each business that paved the Trail
received a special Oak Dale Trail sign. Therefore, Thomson’s
customers experienced a smoothly paved road maintained at the
expense of the advertisers (with frequent brand-​ name signage),
and reassuring accompanying notes in the travel guide, which,
among other enticements, listed the locations of all the most
comfortable bathrooms along the nearly 530 miles of the Trail.
Why, the travel experience was as much fun as being at Oak
Dale itself !
Cy Thomson began his experimental farms with Single
Comb White Leghorn chickens and then branched out to
Duroc hogs. But how to attract more customers? Beyond offering
a tour of his barns—​principally fascinating to the men of
the visiting family—​Thomson knew that he needed to attract
the wives. The answer was Oak Dale Park.
As he did with everything, Thomson made the park grand.
It had a pavilion dance hall decorated by the finest artist from
San Francisco, with room for one thousand dancing couples
and lit by two thousand electric lights. Famous bands such as
Guy Lombardo, Lawrence Welk, and Red Nichols and His Five
Pennies all played at Oak Dale. Even Thomson’s tennis courts
were lit for nighttime play. All you had to do was put a coin
into the slot, and the lights came on for as long as the timer
ticked. If you wanted more time, you just added more coins.
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