Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-10-08
Dog River Valley Fair.

with wnlch THIS section mas Deen favored tue
present Fall. In some respects it may with
truth be stated that it was the best of all.
It fully demonstrated that the people of
Washington County, with the near lying
towns in Orange County, can successfully
and creditably run three agricultural
fairs in one season. A fact like this needs
no comments as to the resources of our farmer
friends. This Dog River exhibition was
holden on the lands of Frank Gold in North
field, about one and half miles south of the
Depot village, and directly on the line Of the
Central Railroad. These grounds are new
but well prepared, and finely adapted to
fair purposes.
We were not on the grounds the first day
Of the Fair, and must write up Wednesdays
attractions and proceedings from hearsay
testimony. The attendance of people is
represented as having been large, and the
pens, stalls, hitching posts and hall were
we'll filled at an early hour of the day d.
About noon the scene was enlivened by the
arrival on the grounds of the big OK team
claimed by Mortified, numbering seventy
yoke of oxen, and attached to huge wagon
or agricultural car. The car belonged to
Williamstown, and had seen service on a
similar occasion years ago. 1t was now
decorated with evergreens and agricultural
roducts, and made most imposing appear
| ance. In it were seated the Mortified Cornet
Band, which discoursed excellent music as
the grand cavalcade wound slowly and
gallantly around the trotting course under
the marshalship of Capt. G. D. Williams
The people cheered and smiled, then cheered
and smiled again. The Society are indt bted
| to the united efforts of Messrs Ii. D. Abbott,
George Crane and George Denny for the
appearance and good looks of this wagon, as
| well as for the exhibition of several contr-
| buttons of fine cattle from Williamstown 10
other departments.
One O'Clock came and brought with it
another long string of oxen from Brookteld
and Wiliamstown, numbering forty pairs.
As this {" long team" equaled by no legisla-
tive " long team" of former times, put in an
| appearance, drawing a mammoth wagon,
| finely decorated with evergreens, the "star
spangled banner" waving over all, and loaded
with farmers and farmers sons, it Was
greeted with the welcoming plaudlts OF the
gathered hosts. And the enthusiasm
deepened and grew as the skillful and happy
marshal paraded it in quiet but stately march
about the track, which was soon to resound
to the thickly pattering footballs of the
trotting nags No State or County Fair in
Vermont has excelled the II long team cx-
hibitions at Mortified. Ii was a grand
triumph, and the farmers who inaugurated
and SO successfully carried out this feature
of the Fair may so to the head, secure in
their laurels, at least for year.
Immediately after this there was trot for
the SJcety's purse of $50. We have mis-
laid the minutes of this race but our recol-
lection is that {. Dick Palmer" entered by
Z. A. Earle, took first money; o. P. Winch s
Lady Warren" second, and j. G. Gallup's
I" Mortified Boy" third money.
Thursday morning the crowd began to put
in an appearance at an early hour. Many
wended filrward with their own teams, and
the Vermont Central trains each way were
literally patronized. Everybody seemed de.
votedly inclined to the Falr-the Fair al
Northfeld, and the fair of Mortified Fair
Ii was halt fare and hard fare, too, on The
cars, which were crowded to sutfJcatiDn, 20
to say desperation, by the ANXIOUS host
Iaocking NortLfi edward to see the sights anc
taste the fare of Buswell's and kent's booths
Cars were few in number at Mortified. Tn,
tair ground train could not contain one-hai
the people seeking passage, and second triE
resulted in quite as big a crowd aud as little
comfort. Probably 1000 to $500 people
visited the grounds on Thursday. 1t was ;
remarkably orderly gathering The spirit
that was hid away under everybody's weski
was not the kind that incites to dlssens on,
and brawls and brutal striies 1t was instea,
che spirit of content with ones self and thu
surroundings in which he found himsel
placed. 1t was the spirit of fair, no aes
rivalry only seeking to prove ones self thu
better farmer, the more patient and skillfu
artisan, the most notable and thrifty house
, wife, the more artistic and ingenious worke
in embroideres and worsteds, and pictures
; and the numberess little arts AMI grace
, which are the peculiar province of the far
daughters of this land. We saw no drunken
ness and consequently there were no angr,
} chickering's, blackened eyes or bloody noses.
/ At one time there was little hustle o
J excitement caused by the breaking of reiI
as Nelson Sleeper was driving his little mar
around the trotting course. The mare woul'
. have kept the track, but in the endeavors t.
head her off she was turned into the crow,
Of people aud teams inside the ring, and for
few moments the scene was an exciting one
The mare ran like fun, scattering people an
carriages in all directions. She was fnall
t the wagon of an astonished spectator, knocks
? over one lady, slightly injuring her, an
: giving harder than spiritual raps to every
2 hing coming in the reach of herself or sulky
That there occurred no loss of life or limt
and so slight demolition of carriages was
8 wonder to those who, standing on the gran
t stand, had fair view of the entire trans
action.
5 During the day there was a fine cavalcad
: and show Of horses entered for premium, b
] passing them around the track, but we wer
unavoidably detained in another portion ,
the grounds at these times, and failed to Sc
those horses, save the very few We found
D the stalls at the left as one enters tn
grounds.
1 We particularly noticed three suckin