Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-10-05
County Fair.

The Ashtabula County Agricultural So
cieth held its thirty annual fair at JEFF
ferson Sept. .25th-28th. The exhibition as
whole, was probably better than any pre-
ceding one, which really encourages the
hope that we may yet see a fair in Ashta-
bula county somewhat commensurate with
its capability.
The managers devised literally in offer
ing 81, 400 in premiums. The number of
entries to compete for the above amount
was 200. The aggregate receipts about
81, 700. The expenses of holding the fair
probably about $780, Number of mem
bership tickets sold, 257.
The show of seeds and vegetables was
truly wonderful. there being 32S.entries in
that class. For quality they were all su-
perior, and for size many were immense.
The show of horses was indeed good.
For the sevaral races there were fourteen
entries, though there were no very celebrat-
ed horses there.
The show of stock, embracing sheep, cat
tie and swine. was not as good as in some
former years, still in this department the
exhibition was very creditable.
The show of poultry was very fine,
though confined mostly TO two exhibitors,
one from AndoSer, and one from Austin
burg. =.
The fruit was just splendid, there being
176 entries.
Fickinger had beautiful case of very
fine harness, and that with very few
pairs of shoes was all there was in class s6.
OF Furniture there was very little.
OF musical instruments the exhibition
was far in advance of anything ever before
shown at our county fair, and the sweet
music from time to time added greatly to
the attractiveness of the fair.
Fickinger, was the only exhibitor of
carriages, and he had some very fine ones.
There were two devices for setting milk
for butter making, differing widely from
each other, and both possessing real merit.
A wind mill in full operation, and many
domestic implements were on exhibition
still the display in this class was below
what it has been at many previous fairs.
The bread, -four, sugar, preserves and
canned fruit department were full, and
very fine indeed, there being in those two
classes 563 entries.
The show of butter and cheese was
simply burlesque. The whole thing
would hardly have made a hand-cart load,
and that being the show Of one of the best
dairy counties in the world. Why is it
so? Echo answers, Whyl
Domestic manufactures of wooden, cot
ton and silk, also fancy needle work was
very fine: There were four bed quilts
which deserved special notice, both from
their intrinsic merit and from the fact
that they were designed and pieeed by an
old gentleman in his 85th year-John
Siple, of Ashtabula-which shows how
very usefully an old gentleman may occu-
py himself.
Eight pieces of crochet work, by Miss
Della NJ. Crooker, of Ashtabula, were each
and all very fine indeed, and more espec-
tally so from the fact that the designs
were taken from descriptions in magazines
instead of from copy; also that Miss Crook
er has been confined to lying position for
more than ten years.
OF sewing machines there were quite a
number there, and busy at work, also a
knitting machine and printing press in
full operation.
The floral show was indeed beautiful,
there being $50 entries. ]. P. Jennings,
of Ashtabula, being the largest exhibitor.
Mr.. Simmons, florist from Geneva had a
magnificent show of cut flowers, and floral
designs, none of them entered for premi-
ums, simply being placed on exhibition,
still adding very much to the display.
Fine arts and ornamental work were un-
usually full, and many pieces of uncom-
mon merit. Mr.. VIM. Smith. of Ashta-
bula, had some very fine cemetery monu-
ments.
The dress parade Of the Ashtabula Light
Guards, the ball playing, the singing, ori.
ginal orations, and the several races, each
and all contributed to the attractiveness
of the fair.
Not very creditable for Asthtabula. There
were only twenty exhibitors from that
township.
The largest attendance at any one time, on
Thursday, was about 5000.
Would it not be well now the subject il