The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-10-08
Our County Fair.

Wednesday and Thursday OF last week Inc
officers a. well as members of the Society had
llobored industriousIy, to have the arrange
nents so perfected that the Fair should prove
s,,ccess. and in one respect at least, the re-
snIt nroved that they Iabored not in vain.
| The elements favored us, and both days
were as fair as the most exacting friends of the
Fair could desire. Wednesday was warm,
sunny day, but towards night it clouded up,
and in the evening we had quite rain, and
the prospect looked dubious. But the morn
ing brought change for the better. The
clouds rolled away to the east, and left clear
and sunny sky The dust was completely
laid. and every one said "what fortunate
+hing the rain of last night was"
There was a larger turn out from the city,
than we have seen before for years. Mr.. PAT
rERsox the enterprising and accommodating
Supt. of the Kenosha Rockford & Rock Island
Railroad run special trains both days. and
took visitors and exhibitors to the Fair for
little less than half fare, and all articles in
tended for the Fair, having paid freight one
way, was returned free. raaa
Thursday morning at o'clock in compa-
ny with many others, we took our seat IN the
cars, and after pleasant ride offorty five min
utes were landed at the gates of the Fair
grounds And here we must say word or
two of the County Fair Grounds. We have
never been on but one other ''Fair Grounds"
that, for beauty and convenience of location
surpassed our own and that was at Rockford
| Ill. The Society made an admirable selection
when they chose the site for the New Grounds,
and the Executive Committee have done well,
considering the difficulties and embarrass-
ments under which they labored, in the fitting
up and furnishing of the Grounds. The Hall
is now well finished off A fine room up
stairs is lathed and plastered and furnished
with desk and Seats for the meetings Of the
Society. But to return to the Fair, which We
set out to describe instead Of the Grounds:
Arriving on the grounds before nine o'clock
in the morning, we found the crowd rather
thin, and we had fair opportunity to see
what was to be seen in the Hall, before the
jam which filled it later in the day, had col
Iected The Exhibition in the Hall was rath-
er meagre as far as the number of entries was
concerned. We could not help but notice the
absence of articles from many who have hith-
to added specimens of their handiwork to en-
nance the interest of the exhibition. There
were fine specimens of patchwork, bedquilts,
knit tides, crochet work, home made flannels,
mittens, stockings, socks, &C., together with
tempting specimens Of the products Of the dali
ry, in the shape of crooks of butter, and but
ter in rolls, and some splendid cheeses. But
the principal and most attractive decorations
of the Hail. were collection of articles and
paintings by Mrs l. F. Clarke These con-
sisted of wreaths boquets pictures, &c, made
of seeds, burrs, cones, fruits and shells and
of various other natural products; shell work
frames, cases, &C., &C., arranged and combin-
ed with a skill and taste that we have never
seen equalled. eve may say here in passing
that this collection of artificial limitations of
nature will be disposed of at Prize Party
gotten up for that object, in this city on the
evening of the 22nd inst) But we shall de-
scribe particulars more at length when we
come to note the entries.
Leaving the Hall and emerging into the
open air again, we could see that the crowd
had very much increased, and looking up and
down the road running past the grounds we
could see that it would soon be larger. AS
far as we could see, either way, was an ad-
vancing procession of teams-wagons and car
riages-and every vehicle loaded to its ut
most We thought at first this must be a con-
certed movement, among the farmers to make
a grand entree, but on inquiring we found
it was entirely accidental; save that almost
our entire farming population had turned out
and tended to the same goal. This arriving
procession continued for nearly an hour, or I'M
til about half past ten o'clock, at which time,
the Hall and the grounds seemed to be fairly
filled. aH
Elbowing our way through the crowd, we
made our way into the tent, where the Fruit
and Agricultural products were displayed
Here too we found wonderful paucity of en-
tries, but what there was on exhibition was
of excellent quality. The fruit especially was
worthy of all praise. The varieties, size and
quality of apples we think surpassed any for
ner exhibition of the Society. Grapes also
formed prominent feature of the exhibition.
And this growing importance of this depart
ment, year by year, shows two facts: that
our county, in soil and climate, is well adapt
ed to the production of this delicious fruit and
and that our farmers and horticulturists are
finding this out, and acting upon the infor-
nation. The specimens of wheat on exhib
ition were better on tn whole than we have
seen before for several years. Here as in the
Hall, we could but notice the small number
Of entries.
Leaving the tentwe strayed through theAg- |
ricultural implement department which was
not very extensive. There were several pIows
from our friend P. H. Woods Badger State
Plow Works, and from our friend Henry Mitch |
i of Racine, Two or three Reapers and Now
RS, broadcast sower and wheat drill, &c.
Leaving these implements we turned our
teps to the stock pens and stalls Of cattle,
here was the most meagre display we have
,ver seen at a Fair. A half dozen Bulls, as
many cows, and few yoke Of oxen would
number ofcattIe onthe ground.
Dur stock growers did themselves as well as
he County great injustice in this failure or
neglect, for we kqaoU the stock is in the coun-
y, to make as good an exhibition as can be |