by Pete Zizka
2-4-2023
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Willimantic Fair - Part 3 by Pete Zizka 2-4-2023 |
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The 1881Fair (referred to as either
“The Willimantic Fair” or “The
Pleasant Valley Fair”) opened on a Monday to a crowd of about 600 people
with “a good display of vegetables”. There were 230 entrants just in the
vegetables category. Other very popular categories included “blooded
stock”, “driving horses”, and cooking. One newspaper noted that the site
of the Fair was 2.5 miles from the railroad station and that might have
“the tendency to diminish the attendance” since people would have to pay
to get to the fair as well as pay an admission fee. Distance
notwithstanding, the number of exhibitors and attendees was quite large.
By the time of the 1881 Fair, events such as horse trotting were
becoming the most popular attractions at the Fair. But the Club members
were determined to keep the fair from “degenerating into a simple horse
trot” by making a success of the old-style county fair. In 1882, an
Executive Committee was appointed with the hopes that, “they will work
‘with a will’, as much depends on the efforts of this committee, and
cause the produce, cattle, domestic, manufactures, etc., to be fully
brought out and exhibited”. The 1882 Fair was disappointing in that it
rained on two of the fair’s three days. The Chronicle reported that,
“There was not a dollar taken until the last day when there was a good
attendance. The cattle and horse exhibits were forced into one day,
which necessarily hurried along the various exhibits.” Although the sixth annual
Willimantic Fair (and the last to be held at Pleasant Valley) had been
pretty much rained out, the Chronicle gave excellent coverage of the
event. “Mr. R.W. Hooper gave an
exhibit of his trained horse which was looked upon with close attention
and gave satisfaction to all who saw it. South Windham band furnished
music. The young men play well and their behavior was exemplary. In the
halls there was a good exhibit of vegetables and fruit, the Storrs
school contributing liberally to this part of the exhibit, with the
skeletons of dogs, sheep and rooster the students had dissected while at
school, at one end of the building and Mr. A.C. Andrews with 3 of Smith
American organs discoursing sweet music at the other made a contrast we
seldom see. The sewing machine agents were out in force. Each agent
seemed to think he had the best machine for sale. The ladies did well in
their department while Baldwin & Webb had the most complete exhibit ever
made in the hall in its line. As we passed along we noticed a very fine
exhibit of millinery goods including trimmed hats, made by Miss M.E.
Whiteside. Dr. Blood made a fine exhibit of articles in his line while
the exhibit of the Holland Silk Manufacturing Co., was the best ever
made by them. The Boston Furniture store, Marshall Tilden, Mr. J.C.
Lincoln, Carney & Co., made fine exhibits. G.H. Alford’s exhibit was one
that interested every farmer present.” Now, to backtrack a little. In
January, 1883, the members of the Farmers Club who now were from eight
different towns besides Willimantic had come to an important decision.
They felt that it would benefit both the Fair and the interests of the
attendees and exhibitors, “to secure a location near the railroad”. The
members, and many others who attended due to interest in the Fair, were
quite enthusiastic and determined to make their efforts in establishing
a permanent annual fair near Willimantic a success. Willimantic
entrepreneur William. B. Hawkins presided and a committee was appointed
whose duty was to find a convenient place to hold a fair, make estimates
for all expenses, of land, building, grading, etc
The committee members were, for the Borough of Willimantic,
William E. Barrows (Willimantic Linen Co.), and businessmen E.A. Buck ,
D.E. Potter, M.E. Lincoln, Geo. M. Harrington, Thomas J. Chandler,and
G.W. Burnham as well as representatives of twelve other towns. All who
were present felt that every town that would find Willimantic a central
and convenient point to make exhibits of its agricultural and mechanical
products should have a voice in the location of the ground. Three
possible locations for the Fair had been found and after a great deal of
discussion it was decided that the land offered by the Linen Company
would become the new location. The Farmers Club then expressed its
appreciation to George Burnham, G.H. Alford and William Jillson, “for
the thorough manner they have done the business entrusted to them.”
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