Willimantic Fair - Part 2 by Pete Zizka 1-28-2023

In 1878, The Chronicle ran an interesting story concerning the people who were planning for that year’s Farmers’ Club Fair. “This night before the fair is one of anxiety for the residents of Pleasant Valley and immediate vicinity. All are anxious for fair weather that we may have a good attendance at the fair which opens to-morrow. The members of the Farmers Club are particularly anxious, as they wish to raise money enough by the sale of tickets, to pay for their new building which the carpenters have just completed, and judging from the articles already entered and left with neighbors, no one will regret paying 25 cents a day to see one of the largest collections of cattle, domestic manufactures, arts and fine arts ever on exhibition in this state. Goods are being entered and placed in position with energy. Mr. Arnold Warren of Coventry makes a good display of agricultural tools, and Mr. E.P. Brown of Windham makes a good show in the same line. Perhaps the most important part of Mr. Brown's exhibit will consist of the LaDow pulverizing harrow, Cooley's creamery, and Richardson's anvil and vice combined, which every farmer should own. Miss Lizzie H. Brown of Mansfield City exhibits a very fine collection of wax flowers, consisting of a variety of roses arranged with English ivy, apple blossoms and leaves, and gladiolus buds and blossoms, the whole making a beautiful collection. Mrs. Byron Black of the Willimantic Linen Co.'s millinery store, exhibits a vase of wax flowers consisting of 14 white pond lilies and buds in different stages of bloom, one blossom showing more than 100 petals. The Willimantic Linen Co. exhibit a fine sample of their goods of the same quality as they have on exhibition in Paris, New York, Chicago, Boston and Baltimore. Their thread runs from No. 8 to 100, and the company makes 130 colors and shades. Without doubt they make the best cotton thread in the world, and when all cotton goods are so cheap as at present, it seems to us unwise for any, even manufacturers of ready-made clothing to use such miserable thread as many do. Miss Hattie Brainard, Mrs. E.F. Trowbridge, Mrs. Byron Black, each exhibit beautiful collections of fashionable millinery. The whole exhibition will be worthy of the patronage of every citizen. Nothing intoxicating will be sold on or near the ground, but Dr. Hamlin will furnish refreshments to all who need at reasonable prices. Rev. K.B. Glidden exhibits some very fine samples of furniture of his own make, and shows great ingenuity.”  The Chronicle’s recap of the 1878 Fair read,” The Willimantic Farmers' Club Fair opened Wednesday morning and closed Friday evening. The club now has money to pay its expenses and premiums promptly. In previous years some liberal souls have given their premiums back to the club, and we believe they have not all yet expired. Charles P. Bidwell leads off by donating his premiums to the club, which is very liberal on his part.” By the time the 1881 Fair was held, there were members from Andover, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Scotland and Windham as well as the original members from Mansfield and Willimantic. In August, 1881, The Chronicle had printed a request by the Farmers Club for “farmers and admirers of agriculture” to gather for the purpose of making arrangements for the Fair. A large number of people came to the meeting and so committees were formed and the dates set for the Fair. Judges were selected for twenty different categories of exhibits such as “Domestic Manufactures”, Arts, Working Oxen and Steers, Horses, Colts and Draft Horses, Produce, Horticulture and Agricultural Tools. The Club President, Nathanial Perkins of Willimantic looked forward to the Fair and said, “With the fine crops now in the ground, with favorable weather we shall have one of the largest fairs held in Connecticut.” A September editorial in The Chronicle read, “The time-honored gathering of the farmers at their agricultural fair and cattle show brings together families and neighbors, and more fully cements, and more closely draws the cords of love for our homes, our state, our nation. Under such circumstances, the Willimantic Farmers Club have decided to hold their fifth annual fair and exhibition at Pleasant Valley Park, October 3d, 4th and 5th, 1881. Jared H. Stearns, President; N.P. Perkins, Sec'y and Treas; D.H. Jacobs, Supt. of Grounds; Jas. E. Hayden, Supt. of Hall.” Go to part 3 Click on photo for larger version

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