Wayne County Fair

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About
Name
  • Wayne County Fair
Facts
Founded
  • Date unknown
    Wooster,Ohio
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Location
    Agriculturecovtitle.JPG

    Organized in 1833, reorganized 1849; and reorganized again in 1987 under a new Legislative Act.

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    Discover the history on the various buildings at the Wayne County fairgrounds.

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    Explore the history of the Wayne County Fair.

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    Discover the list of Officers and Directors throughout the history of the Wayne County Fair.

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    View the gallery Wayne County Fair.

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    Explore the buildings at the fairgrounds.

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    First fair, October 10-11, 1850

    Location

    • Grove NE of Wooster
    • Land owned by D. I. Liggett which extended West to Buckeye Street and North toward Bowman Street [1]
    • Property known as the Freedlander Home (the pink Victorian structure on Bever St.) [2]

    Buildings

    • 3 - Temporary buildings were erected for the occasion: business office, enclosures for sheep, cattle, swine, and a large ring for the display of horses [3]

    First Wayne Co. Fair Was Held on N. Bever Street

    • The first Wayne County Fair was held on North Bever Street, just north of the Herman Freedlander home. The land was owned by D. Q. Liggett and extended north to Bowman Street and west to North Buckeye Street. [4]


    Quick Facts

    • 1849 - December 01, Members of the first Wayne County Agricultural Society was organized. [5]
    • 1849 - Wayne County Agricultural Society privately organized a fairgrounds in Wayne County. Location in the area north of McIntire Funeral Home between Buckeye St. and Bever St.. The midway was where the [[408 N. Bever St., Wooster, Ohio|Herman Freedlander/William Older house stands at 408 N. Bever St.]]
    • 1849 - First Wayne County Fair [6]
    • 1850 - October 10-11, Wayne County's first "official" fair was held on land owned by D. I. Liggett on N. Bever St. [7]
    • 1850 - Land had a strong natural stream of clear water flowing from N. Bowman and east of N. Bever St. moving south through the fairgrounds. This spring flowed even after the fair was relocated. E. Buckeye St. residents routed this spring through their basements make a trough to use as a refrigerator. [8]
    • 1859 or earlier - Wayne County Fair expanded two a three day event and the Agricultural Society purchased an 8-acre tract north of what was then Spring Street (area north of Park Avenue and south of Foster Path). Ephraim Quinby Jr. sold the land for $1,333. [9]
    • 1862 - Carnival fair style reached Wayne County, Ohio. [10]
    • 1862 - March 31, New fair location, Quinby Ave. just north of the old high school.
    • 1869 - Site was sold by the fair board to J. G. Troutman for $8,900. [11]
    • 1870 - New fair location, Branstetter Crossing a mile and a half west of Wooster, Ohio
    • 1871 - Agricultural Society announced, "We hope to see this exhibition well attended by all classes of persons. We can all well afford one or two days in the year in which t enjoy ourselves and make acquaintances. It is well for the farmer to mingle and converse with other farmers and men of other business and thus learn the ways, customs, terms, needs and improvements of all. It certainly would be a relief to the mechanic for two or three days at least in the year to leave his shop, and associate with men who labor in other channels of industry, to take their wives and little ones and enjoy a couple of days out in the open air. And for the professional man a little out-door exercise and sport would only invigorate his mind for the hard mental work which is before him. We would say to all, then, go to the Fair; take your family along with you, and a good mid-day luncheon also. The grounds of the Society are large and there are plenty of pleasant places for open air family dinners-- to go one and all and have a good pleasant time together. These Societies were formed originally for the improvements of Agricultural products, stock etc. and this still continues to be one of their principal object; but,the people have come to look upon fair days... as a time when people come together to see each other, to form new acquaintances, and to have a few days of respite and recreation from the cares, business and works of life." [12]
    • 1873 - First place was awarded a red ribbon (practice used today in Canada). [13]
    • 1873 - The Church of Christ women established a boarding house to help feed the crowd. [14]
    • 1875 - The Fair board permitted croquet to be played on the fairgrounds. [15]
    • 1876 - Livestock sale was added. [16]
    • 1878 - The Wayne County Fair was experiencing financial difficulties and the Branstetter Crossing was sold back to Andrew Branstetter. The Wayne County Independent Agricultural Society continued to operate a fair at this location for several years. [17]
    • 1879 - October 2, John Tormie was mistaken for another man and killed following a lengthy fight on the fairgrounds. His assailant became the only man ever sentenced in a Wayne County Courtroom to be hanged. [18]
    • 1878 - During this period of time the fair continued to have financial trouble. But, the Agricultural Society never disbanded, but no exhibition was held for a period of seven years. [19]
    • 1887 - Present fair location
    • 1896 - Traveling hypnotist Professor Edwin Boone thrilled crowds as he drove blindfolded through downtown Wooster in a horse drawn carriage promising to find a hidden article. Boone then amazed audiences by burying his hypnotized assistant alive for four days. [20]
    • 1915 - Membership ticket for the Wayne County Agricultural Society cost $1 and included four single admissions to the fair which ran just four days the first week of October. It further stated admissions 25 cents. [21]
    • 1915 - School days where all public school pupils were admitted free. [22]
    • 1915-1935 - Sometime during this period the Junior Fair became an important part of the fair along with exhibitors, granges and garden clubs. During this period horse shows have dwindled. [23]
    • 1935 - Admissions to the fair continued to be 25 cents. [24]
    • 1936 - Dedication of the present grandstand. [25]
    • 1950s - Lerch's Donuts began serving its product out of the building next to the grandstand on the Wayne County Fairgrounds. [26]
    • 1952 - Spring, Wooster Division of Borg-Warner Corp established under Grandstand at the Wayne County Fair; producing gear-type fuel and hydraulic pumps for jet aircraft [27]
    • 1957 - Addition of the Tractor pulling contest. [28]
    • 1959 - Junior Fair Dairy Building (Cattle Barn) burns causing $9,000 damage [29]
    • 1970 - Fair expanded from four to six days, membership costs $4 with four admission tickets. Admission was listed at $1.25 with parking 50 cents. [30]

    Wayne County Fairgrounds Buildings & Structures

    Attractions


    External Links

    Wayne County, Ohio Fair

    1. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    2. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    3. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    4. ↑ First Wayne Co. Fair Was Held on N. Bever Street. Daily Record, Wooster, OH. 1969 August 15, p. 6.
    5. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    6. ↑ County Fair Keep Pace With Times by Thelma Monbarren. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 1971 August 24, p. 10.
    7. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    8. ↑ First Wayne County Fair Was Held on N. Bever Street. Guy Richard. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 1969 August 15, p. 6.
    9. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    10. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    11. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    12. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    13. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    14. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    15. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    16. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    17. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    18. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    19. ↑ 1849-1886: Early Fairs Faced Growing Pains, Changes of Location. Daily Record. Wooster, Ohio. 1998 August 15.
    20. ↑ A look at fair's changes since 1850. Compiled by Melissa Green. Beacon Journal.
    21. ↑ County Fair Keep Pace With Times by Thelma Monbarren. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 1971 August 24, p. 10.
    22. ↑ County Fair Keep Pace With Times by Thelma Monbarren. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 1971 August 24, p. 10.
    23. ↑ County Fair Keep Pace With Times by Thelma Monbarren. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 1971 August 24, p. 10.
    24. ↑ County Fair Keep Pace With Times by Thelma Monbarren. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 1971 August 24, p. 10.
    25. ↑ County Fair Keep Pace With Times by Thelma Monbarren. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 1971 August 24, p. 10.
    26. ↑ Sweet Success for 70-plus Years: Popularity Keeps Growing. Linda Hall. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2016 June 16.
    27. ↑ Rexroth is Closing. Naomi {{Surname|Snyder. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2005 December 10.
    28. ↑ County Fair Keep Pace With Times by Thelma Monbarren. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 1971 August 24, p. 10.
    29. ↑ Cattle Barns Burns At Co. Fairground. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 1959 May 21, p.
    30. ↑ County Fair Keep Pace With Times by Thelma Monbarren. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 1971 August 24, p. 10.
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