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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