I like hearing about the one-hit wonders- not the people who are known for doing one thing that was terrible- but the people who have one mention in history but for something positive. They played their part- and exited the stage and are remembered well for their contribution. Max Yasgur to me would be one of those people. He stepped up and made a difference.
Mid- August 1969- Max Yasgur was 49 years old and had heart problems he had already had a couple heart attacks. He was a very successful dairy farmer in Sullivan County, New York. He was as they would say on the Andy Griffith Show- the ‘milk and butter man” the largest milk producer in the county- he had 650 cows, most of them Guernseys. His farm were the concert was held covered 600 acres. In total Max owned 10 farms totaling 2000 acres. He was an amazing person- his father died when he was a teenager and he became that head of the family at that point. He went on to study real estate law at New York University.
When the organizers of the Woodstock Music and Art Festival were frantically looking for a site for their festival- their search ended with Max who was willing to let them set up on his farm land. It was a perfect amphitheater seeing for a music concert. Max looked at it a couple of ways- one was purely financial. There had been a lot of rain that year and hay production was largely curtailed. He was looking to help his business. He wasn’t some country rube. Also, although it turns out that Max Yasgur was a Republican- for law and order and a supporter of the Vietnam War, he also was a strong believer in freedom of expression and wanted to do his part in closing the generation gap-“if the generation gap is to be closed, we older people have to do more than we have done.”
There were people in Sullivan County who were upset about Yasgur agreeing to host this festival- some going so far as putting up signs saying to boycott Yasgur’s milk business. That wasn’t something that was going to change Yasgur’s mind.
In 1971 Yasgur sold the farm and moved to Florida where sadly he passed away in early 1973 of a heart attack at the age of 53. Rolling Stone gave him a full page obituary in their magazine something they rarely did to non-musicians at that time. Max didn’t fit the profile- a conservative middle aged man- of someone who would be involved with all this- but in 50 years when they celebrate the 100th anniversary- the man will be remembered. I have a feeling also that on the 100th anniversary those marking the anniversary are going to be even more amazed at what happened that weekend in rural New York state than what we are. Without Max- there would have been no Woodstock.
slicethelife 
What he said about the generation gap was great. He was not afraid to take risks apparently. Great post Hans.
Side note…I’m sure there have been metal detectors all over that place but you have to wonder what you would find.
Thanks… This is true who knows what all has been found over the years. There is a museum there today and an amphitheater where they hold concerts. Next month we are going are planning on stopping there on vacation. … Off Topic- Saw- Blinded By The Light yesterday afternoon- highly recommended.
Cool I do plan on seeing the movie. I have heard great things about it.
It is a great celebration of what music can mean to someone. I picked up the book too- which looks like a quick read. I am getting the feeling already only 20 minutes in that they took certain liberties in the movie which weren’t in the book– but I guess that is usually the case. I may go see the movie again.
I can relate to that story to a degree. Music was a big part of me growing up…of course, it was The Beatles in a time when that wasn’t the norm for my age and it helped define me.
Yes I did hear it was based on a true story of a journalist. I’m really looking forward to it.
I think you’ll enjoy it. What artists speak to you? There are artists that I like a lot who I would have to say DO NOT- but certainly a handful do..
That is a great question…Bruce, Bob, and Neil would be a few who do. They take from real life events that I can relate to.
Van would be another.
Merle also.
Those are all good one that I would agree also in my life.
Who are yours? I would have to guess Steve Earle is one.
With the Beatles…It’s the music and their story…it’s a packaged deal that I relate to if that makes sense. The two are so intertwined.
Steve would be one.. the ones you’ve mentioned- Elvis Costello… of course The Beatles #1 forever. Yes it’s the whole package. You know sometimes I fall into the mode of thinking ‘everyone knows this’ when it comes to Beatles stuff- but then I realize only fanatics like us know some of this stuff. Joe on the street for example might not know where She Said She Said came from…
Pete Townshend and Ray Davies I might add for me.
I know what you mean. When I post Beatle songs…I will get…wow this is a rare one…with Nowhere Man…I’m thinking what?
I do forget at times that those stories are not public knowledge and I have to catch myself.
My wife will ask me about different songs- what is this about etc… and sometimes my first thought is– you mean you don’t know? Of course I am wrong in thinking that. Recently she asked me about A Day In The Life….. there is a great moment in the Bruce movie that reminded me of this kind of thing.
My wife, whenever she hears the number 9…she starts repeating “number 9″…I thought…wow I have influenced/ruined her lol.
I get asked about Beatle songs from different people…because like you… we are the Beatle guys. I think the same thing sometimes…it’s just part of our DNA now.
Everytime I play The White Album in the car when we get to Revolution 9– she asks me to skip it! LOL.
Oh Jennifer doesn’t like it but she grins and repeats it lol.
She is from West Virginia and knew next to nothing about the Beatles before we met… she has picked up a little needless to say lol
The Beatles are just hitting now in WV!… I remember when I was a kid- it seemed like the 1960’s hit the town I lived in in WV around 1973.
She got a laugh out of that! The small town I was in wasn’t open to the 60s either until later on.
When I first went to WV it was like another planet… great people though very down to earth. Just very different. She was from Davis Creek near Charleston… it took me a while to get in the flow.
I may have told you this one before- I think it was 1973- at a nearby race track they had a big rock concert- Frampton was one of the artists- when he was in Humble Pie- they were the big act. The crowd going to the concert came through town- and everyone was lined up on the streets watching like it was a parade. I think there were people who were actually afraid- the hippies are here to convert our youth. That is the date I put on the 70’s arriving to my little town.
I don’t think you have… that is great… the freaks invading and coming to corrupt the youth. That world seems so removed from now.
I remember sitting on my grandparent’s porch- on the only road that went out of town– all these hippies on motorcycles.. I bet some people were boarding up their houses…. they only had one festival- i think there was a big effort to keep that out the first time that failed- after that never again.
You would think it would add to the economy but with hippies maybe not lol. This makes what Max Yasgur even more true.
From what I heard later on there were all kind of meetings etc- but it couldn’t be stopped but they did manage to stop future ones. I think the town folk was though kind of surprised when it was all over that the town still stood. I must admit up to that time I had never seen people who looked like this- except for one guy who lived in town whose hair went down to his belt-and he was always combing it…. he hasn’t been seen since the mid 70’s rumor is he was buried under a road that was being built up near Pittsburgh.. When I hear the word Hippie- I have always thought of that guy. He seemed kind of harmless– I guess from what i heard he got on the wrong end of a drug transaction.
I hope the guy just drifted away but buried is very plausable. There was a dark side to hippies.
Hans I had to see who else was playing…I found it…My curiosity got the best of me… J Geils, Black Oak Arkansas, Humble Pie and Peter Frampton of course. That is odd they appeared apart but he was touring on his second solo album.
I can waste a lot of time looking up 1970s events. If I could get paid being a researcher on the 70s…it would be close to a dream job lol.
Yes that would be a dream job– question what year was it? I am thinking 1973 but I could be a year off in either direction.. J Geils and Black Oak Arkansas too.. I remembered Frampton because for years I heard people talk about seeing him at that festival before he became big.
You were right… 7/8/1973 Chester, WV, Waterford Park J. Geils Band, Black Oak Arkansas, Frampton’s Camel
I found this on a Humble Pie touring page. I found some people talking about traveling there from Ohio, NY and other places in forums…fun stuff. Well for me lol.
I love the clip and the comments between you two.
This was such an illuminating story Hans. Thanks for sharing it.