Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-10-23
Stanton Fair,

Correspondence Huntington Independent
STAUNToN, Va, Oct, 18th '73.
The Augusta County Fair, was corr
porated by an act Of the general as
sembly of Virginia, pas sed Jauu'ry
18th 1873, which provided that the
court Of Au9usta county, when the
justices thereof were next assembled
TO lay the county levy, should choose
ten ci tizens of the county to be di-
rectors of the Fair, to be divided IN
FIVE classes, oho of which should 90
out of Office every FIVE years, and at
the same time by the court in each
yeat, it was to ELL all vacancies in the
directory. The directory vas to elect
a President. contribution of Sl00
constituted a corpcrator, and when
here was one such cOrpOrator for
every two hundred citizens in the
county. then there after he directory
was to be elected by plurality vote
of the corporators. The county court
was permitted to levy tax not ex
ceeding five cents for each inhabl-
tant of the county, and the Council
of Stanton in like manner upon its
inhabitants, to provide a fund to be
expended in premiums and prizes.
The bill was drawn by Col. John
B Baldwin and passed by what was
known as the Baldwin Legislature"
The cour; in June 1867 performed
its part very satisfactorily and Col.
Baldwin was elected Presid Mt. lie
Immediately set to work to secure
and corporators Bonds,
PAYABLE in ten installments with ac-
cured interest, were taken, said bond
to become due in full upon failure
to pay the iustallment at its maturity.
Some eight thousand dollars of bonds
were taken and beautiful site selec-
ted for the grounds.
The first and second apuu1l Fairs
we're successful and Interesting beyond
the hopes of the most sauguiue.
The racing, trottiug, tournaments
amusements and sports Of every Kind,
especially the balls, being models of
their kind, and all carried on with zeSt
and vim that commanded success and
pleasure. All of these features, were
selfsupporting, but nevertheless it dtlen-
ded some of the Over-righteous; who
thought such attractions yain besides
dctracting from The interest that should
be taken in the blowing matches, fat cat
tle;-the next two years Rad fewer and
sewer Of these vanitieS, and the result,
as might have been expected, was a
slim attendance, few entries, - no in-
terest, and some financial embarrass-
meut A return to the old plan has eS-
pecially in regard 10 trotting and hur-
dlc-racing, brought renewed interest
even in cattle. horses and other stock as
well as a great increase in the crowd
The whole affair is now on n firm fl
nancial basis.
The new grounds are beautiful, the
course encloSes an elliptcal lake which
is to be filled with fancy fish and used
for boating in summer time and for a
ska ting rink in winter.
1t ives about January 1878 the route
to be taken by the Valley railroad was
agreed upon, and as it passed immedi-
ately through the old grounds, crossing
the the track twice and entirely destroy
ing the value of the property as Fair
ground, sale was effected for $50, goo
in cash to the railroad, and the earnest
and energetic President Of tue Society
Immediately set to work purchase 9th
er ground aud put it in order for the
biggest fair ever held. His labors
we're crowned with success, but alas! be-
fore the full fruitiOn of his undertaking,
could be realized, in the prime of a Wig
orous and splendid manhood, he was
itridken down.
The gloom on every countcrance
showed not only the grieffelt by his PEG
pie at his untimely death, but also how
keenly they appreciate their loss at an
hour when bis matchless talents and
spotless integrity we're so much needed
by his State,
TIE F1Rsr pAY
as is usually the case, was not a success
financially; the attendance was slim
but the entries were more numerous
than at tiny previous fair. The cattle
we're unusually fire, the hogs and shee!
showed the effect of previous years 0.
the fair BY their manifest improvement
Machinery of all sorts and kinds was
exhibited in profusion; portable saw
mills were in full operation adding tC
the clatter, confusion and Gveliness O.
the scene. The immense rotunda wa:
filed with fruits, butter, bread, fancy
needle-work, pianos, paintings, DE, &c
The track as usual was most a.ten
lively watched, and the number Of 6nt