The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-08-31
Communication.


old townsman, s. W. Jewett to whom
more than to any other one man belongs
tho credit Of starting and successfully
carrying through the first Vermont state
fair
SHEPHERD HOME, RUTLAND, Aug. "a, rs.
MEssRs. EDIToRs-Twenty three years
ago the citizens of Middlebury and others,
patrons Of your journal, were surprised
to find there and then announced that a
State Agricultural Exposition and Fair
would be held on the 9Th and 9th of Sep.
TENDER following, on the grounds near
the cd academy, then owned by the late
Hon. Horatio Seymour, under conditions
that the show was to be free to all, no
cash premiums to be awarded, but honor.
able mention given to all who exhibited
fine animals during the two days Of tho
show.
Not half dozen persons, might say
in the state, had any knowledge of the
coming event, until after notice was pre-.
sentcd at the office of the REGISTER.
David Hill, A. l.. Bingham, John Greg.
DRY, and the undersigned assembled, and
made the preliminary arrangements. At
my suggestion Frederick Holbrook, of
Brattleboro was placed on the call as the
acting president, who, upon due notice,
responded acceptance, and officiated with
great credit at the first and second con.
secutive annual shows and might pre-
sumo that this tide of affairs" placed
him at last in the gubernatorial chair Of
the state.
AS soon as general publicity circu.
lated, that state show Of animals was to
como off on the Sth and 9th other per.
ties, opposed to the success Of those who
concocted the plan, arose in an antagon.
istic element at Richville, in Shoreham,
and at North Ferrisburgh, and among
the citizens of some other towns. At the
two points named it was soon agreed that
public exhibitions of neat stock should be
held simultaneously on the same day and
date, that the fair projected by us might
be defeated or crippled. But our dill.
gence, manifested by forwarding circulars
of invitation to leading men in all parts
Of the county, franked by United States
Senator Phelps, to come and participate
in the laudable enterprise; this, and
other diligence on our part, brought
together one of the largest gatherings Of
people, respectable and harmonious, that
ever assembled in Middlebury. The ex
bibition was evidently great success in
many particulars-a large stud of horses
and pens of fine sheep and cattle were on
exhibition, as also fine specimens of INTEL
lectual men, women and children covered
the grounds, agrculturists and others as
sembled in harmony on common leve
and the good influence of that grand ex
position and meeting is felt all over the
state to this day.
1t was at this time, the first tower fol
seating gentlemen and ladies and trot
: ing course was proposed or known at any
state or county fair in the country. Thi,
feature in exhibitions is now considered al
indispensable one. all over the United
States, to carry out the shows with sue
cess and profit.
l desire to address this note more par
ticularly to the younger people in oul
community, who have entered the stage
OF active life since the first introduction
of our state fairs, which has moved along
over near one fourth the period of oul
Amer lean independence. The younger nov
outnumber the older ones and many pic
neers have passed on to spirit life.
Lyman p White graded the course anc
, erected the first tower. The use of the
seats sold for enough money to dcfray al
expense, aud nett of s242. was left in
his hands.
But | am sorry to see this great holi
day for farmers and mechanics degener
ating down into a sort Of ring or stool
jobbiDg monopoly, controlled almost en-
tirely by few officers and favored fam
, lilies, as it would seem entailed upon then
alone. One would naturally conclude
that but few people here in Vermont are
capable Of administering justice by way
of the award of premiums, outside of q
half dozen directors, who stand as chair
men on large number Of the committees
| notice by the large bills posted up that
one Of the directors is not only placed in
six Of the most important committees oil
awards, but he is the chairman on each
, OF said committees; some others are first
committee on two or three classes in the
programme. If these directors from
year to year, and their families, are to be
the ruling power a. our state shows.
tthbpp (, tt,he,X will eventually dwinde dowr
uuu uecuue ueIuuct. uVuiu ~
say more while my hand is in, but the
length Of this letter admonishes me tc
close, by subscribing myself a friend tC
progress and for the right.
SOLOMON w ,JrWFTT