Willimantic Fair Problems - 1 by Pete Zizka 4-6-2024

Last year, I wrote a series of articles about the Willimantic Fair. It had begun in 1877 as a two-day Agricultural Fair hosted by the “Willimantic-Mansfield Farmers Club” at the Pleasant Valley Driving Park just over the Mansfield line. It became known as “The Willimantic Fair”. In 1883, it moved to Horseshoe Park and Fairs were held annually until 1913. I mention this because I recently came across an article about Willimantic Mayor Danny Dunn and the Fair. Dunn wanted to ensure that, “nothing to offend the most fastidious” would occur at the Fair and so in 1909, he banned “dancing girls”. Several years earlier, a religious sect known as “The Law and Order League” had caused a great deal of trouble by intimating that gambling, the drinking of alcohol and “lewd shows” were elements present at the Fair. Seeing that, I decided to take a look back at the Fair and its transitions and problems throughout the years. True to its name, it began as a simple agricultural fair. Prior to 1877, “Driving Park” in the Pleasant Valley area was owned by Dr. George Hamlin and was used for horse and pony trotting events. In 1877 he let the Farmer’s Club use it for their Fair. It was successful and so the Farmers’ Club then developed an area that became known as “Pleasant Valley Park”. 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. Due to growth, number of attendees and exhibitors and the need for more proximity to the City, the Fair moved to Horseshoe Park in 1883. the Linen Company, the Farmers Club and horse enthusiasts had joined together and formed “The Willimantic Agricultural and Industrial Association” and the first Fair in the new park opened in 1883. It’s important to note that in order to get the new grounds prepared and to build grandstands and other structures at Horseshoe Park, a new group of stockholders/directors was formed. They put $10,000 into the Park’s construction and “had little hope of getting returns for their money in dividends”. In fact, from 1883-1895, there was only one dividend of four percent. The profits from the fair, when there were any, went back into the grounds upkeep. At the end of one fair, the profit was 98 cents. For the first nine years at Horseshoe Park, the Fair remained true to its agricultural roots. Displays of produce, cattle, poultry and farm equipment as well as prizes for the best in several categories were prevalent. Of course, the horse racing and trotting events were also a huge attraction. In 1892, however, the Fair directors realized that it was, “necessary to furnish something in the form of special amusement to fill up the time between the afternoon races when the people concentrated around the grandstand”. The Fair Association decided to build an elevated stage in front of the grandstand and offer, “a complete variety of entertainment of an entirely different character than anything ever before seen on the grounds”. The new attractions were to include song and dance artists, impersonators and trapeze artists. The Willimantic City Band was also hired to perform. The directors made it clear, however, that “nothing of an objectionable nature” would be allowed on the grounds. For the directors, it was an experiment to see if the additional entertainment would be successful in increasing attendance. By 1894, bicycle racing had made a debut at the fair and due to the sport’s popularity, one day was devoted to it. Yet, despite all the new attractions, the “agriculture theme” was still dominant. Local farmers still brought herds of cows, working oxen and other livestock. In 1893, “100 coops of fowls and nearly forty coops of pigeons were on display. The cattle exhibits, though, were presenting a new type problem. Large premiums had been offered to the winners in the various classes of stock and the Fair’s management became convinced that this was a financial failure. In 1894, the receipts from “cattle day” paid just over one half of the premiums. The matter was taken up at the annual meeting of the Willimantic Fair Association’s January, 1985 meeting. (This week’s photo was taken as preparations were being made for a balloon ascent and parachute jump by aeronaut Vinny Morris at the 1910 Fair.) To be continued.

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