Willimantic Fair - Part 4 by Pete Zizka 2-11-2023

In 1883, a committee had been appointed to select a new site for the Willimantic Farmers Club Fair. However, it was a conversation between George Burnham and Colonel Barrows, president of the Willimantic Linen Co., in which Barrows said that he was favorable to holding a fair at Willimantic, that tipped the scales as to what location would be chosen. “Those who had formerly been weak-kneed, braced up and took courage.” Barrows had offered the farmers and racers a favorable lease of 5 acres of land adjacent to the Natchaug River. And so the Linen Company, the Farmers Club and horse enthusiasts joined together and formed “The Willimantic Agricultural and Industrial Association”. The new association worked rapidly to establish itself, to prepare the land where the fair would be held and to prepare for the actual fair. A meeting was held for those interested in the name of the official document and about fifty persons attended. E.E. Burnham was called to conduct the meeting until a temporary organization was formed. That was soon done by the choice of E.S. Boss president, D.H. Clark (owner of a livery and feed operation) and J.D. Jillson vice-presidents, and C.J. Fox secretary and treasurer. It was then decided to organize under the joint stock laws of the state. It was felt that the most expeditious course to pursue to obtain the desired result was to circulate subscription papers, and that stock would be offered at $25 a share. The committee appointed to get subscribers was requested to obtain all the subscribers for stock possible up to the amount of $10,000. The money was quickly raised and the project began. The Chronicle reported that, “The Willimantic Agricultural and Industrial Association project comes on apace, and may be said to be in a fair way to be consummated.” A grove of trees at the chosen site was cut down (today’s photo)  and the contract for grading the grounds for the Willimantic fair association was awarded to T.C. Davis of Dedham, MA. The grading cost $2,500. The final cost of development, including the buildings, was about $12,000. The new park became known as “Horseshoe Park” and the first fair to be held there was scheduled to begin on October 2nd. While the opening day of the 1883 Fair was ominous in that the weather was bad, the next two days offered beautiful weather and so the first day’s loss was quickly reversed with a three-day attendance total of 15,000 people. It was noted that, “The attendance from the surrounding towns was very large, the trains from all directions bringing in large numbers and wagon loads being almost innumerable. In the event of the most favorable circumstances, it was not dreamed by the managers that there would be so many spectators.” The principal features of the fair were the trotting events which. In the evenings were held under the new electric lights, which were thought to be “quite a novelty”. The exhibition of agricultural and industrial products and machinery was reported to have been, “unquestionably superior to any that has taken place in Connecticut this year, not excepting the state fair. The buildings, stables, cattle quarters and track were all completed and in splendid condition”. Among the exhibitions was a cotton plant that was grown in Willimantic, fabrics manufactured by the Windham Cotton Company and the Linen Company, and elaborate displays by Willimantic merchants. Of special local interest was, “the Willimantic Rifle club's exhibit of guns and other weapons of defense which included the veritable sword carried by Francis S. Long at the battle in which he was killed at Petersburg, VA., July 30th, 1864.” Several local citizens contributed exhibits. They included, “Mrs. H.H. Flint’s show of her wax works, one piece "Windham in old times" representing the battle of the frogs being very ingenious. James Haggerty displayed his museum of Indian relics. The exhibition of silk bed quits was profuse and all were handsome, Miss W.C. Fuller and Miss Lucy Lincoln's being especially so.” Local farmers crowded to see new powered farming implements,” one of which was the Minnesota Chief threshing machine with a locomotive steam engine attached, contributed by Northwestern Manufacturing and Car Co., of Stillwater, Minn. It is really a wonderful machine, entirely in keeping with the wonders of the far west. It could easily thresh all the grain grown within miles of here in one day. It had a special interest from the fact of its being made by a company at the head of which is Senator Sabin a Windham county boy.”  The new association’s fair was a huge success and was praised in local and state newspapers for its exhibitions and attractions, especially the racing events. Horseshoe Park was off to a great start. Click on photo for larger version

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