Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-01
Washington County Fair.

The annual fair Of the Washington County
Agricultural Society was held Mt Prospect Park
in Montpelier on Wednesday, Thursday and Fri
day Of last week. II was the intention Of the
society TO hold only two-days fair, but the
weather Of Wednesday proved unpropitous
that Friday was added to the fair calendar.
Our county fair, as is known to most Of our
readers, has been held ut Fast Montpelier for
several years. Last year II was determined to
hold It here, aud 1t was at that time generally
hoped that the limits Of the fair would embrace
the whole county, instead Of having II divided up
into three fair districts This hope has however,
"a yet not been realized, and our county presents
the spectacle Of three medium annual fairs,
where there should be only single rousng one,
as there used to be. However, the fair held this
year was most excellent one, and, with the ex-
ception Of numbers in attendance, was fully equal
to any county fair ever held within the limits Of
this district That so good n show should have
been brought out was exceedingly creditable TO
our people, and we trust will have tendency to
consolidate the various fair interests in the county,
and unite us, as in former days when the Wash
ington county fair was conceded to be one Of the
very best in the entire state.
foot, the various articles and animals intended
for exhibition began TO arrive in very consider.
able numbers. The work of assigning places and
getting things into position went promptly for
ward, despite the rain and the general gloom
which permeated everybody and everything. As
the exhibits gradually began filling up floral
hall, and the fine animals slowly but surely used
up the space assigned them it became evident
that n rich and varied show would be presented
one Of the best II not the very best, ever offered
in the county, and this proved to be the fact
The success in this particular was especially graf
flying, both to our people and to the exhibitors
who had braved the storm to bring out their
meritorious articles for the healthy competition
which fair so generally elicits.
OF course the central and most attractive place
was, as usual,
THE FLORAL HALL,
which afforded most grateful shelter from the
rain and the piercing wind, which seemed to de-
light in rendering every one uncomfortable. And
1t Is no more than fair to state that more at
tractve collection of things Of beauty which are
a joy forever (your reporter really conldn't help
Juggling this I'M and utility, have never before
been on exhibition, in this county. The state
fair somehow seemed to awe our people so that
they were not inclined TO trot out their household
penates for the admirng gaze of the assembled
| multitude; but for the more modest pretensions
| Of county fair they were fully prepared, and
the hall was filed to repetion with very merit
orious and interesting collection. The commit
| tees were promptly on hand, and, pushing their
way through the throng Of people they en-
| deavored to do equal and exact justice to each
and every exhibit and exhibitor And, by the
way, theirs was sinecure position; AMI where
| so many worthy articles were 20 be inspected 1t
| would not be wonderful il in the confusion many
| deserving exhibits were passed by unnoticed and
unnamed. It will be impossible to more than
briefly mention some Of the articles in this depart
ment Many to which no society tag was at
tached, or which were placed high in the
building that it was impossible to decipher the
name or examine closely into the merits of the
article, will have to be passed by.
The first articles to the left of the main entrance
were two oil paintings by Miss Ellen Wheaton of
Barre, an excellent crayon portrait and specimen
of pencil drawing by Laura H. Sabin of Montpe-
| lier; two water-color crayons by g. II Foster,
Montpelier; a crayon picture by Mlrion Grennell,
Barre Mrs B. +. Patterson of Orange exhibited
feather wreath and other fancy articles, as did
Mrs. n A. Cutler Of East Montpelier; Mrs. Rich
ard Dillon of Montpelier had a most creditable
show, consisting of n sofa cushion, lambrequin
sheet and pillow shams, an afghan, braided rug
and a splendid silk and log cabin bedquilt
| Some fine specimens Of worsted work were dis
| played by Lucy A. Densmore of Elst Montpelier
Fila Wheaton of Barre, and Mrs c. r. Sabn Of
Montpelier the Lords Prayer, in worsted by
| Mrs G. b. Persons OF East Montpelier; and Mis-,
Matte HOLSTER of Marshfeld, Mrs. S f. Cum
mngs of Fast Montpelier exhibited some fin'
specimens OF this work, as did also many others
Mrs Jennie A. Smith of Montpelier had pair o
photograph eases; Lucy A. II lister of Plain
field wonderful toy parlor suite, and Ellen S
Leonard of Barre, towel rack. Tides Of yari
Gus kinds and most exquisite patterns were show
by Miss Ella Howe of Mortified, Mrs II. & Dew
ing and Miss Nellie Keith of Montpelier Mrs K
II. Barnett Of Middlesex, Grace l. Andrews o
Berlin, Delta b, Perkins OF Montpelier, Mrs
Henry Averil of Mortified, Mrs. S. +. Cumming
of East Montpelier, and Mrs. G. W. Smith o
Barre, Lucy p. Clark of E,st Montpelier, Mrs
Aaron Bancroft Of Montpelier Miss Susie IIoliste
Of Marshfied and Mrs. l.. II Barnett OF Middlese
sex exhibited some fine specimens of fancy needl
work Embroidered flannel work of the choices
patterns was exhibition by Mrs. n. A. Cutie
Of East Montpelier and Mrs }. c. Gallup of North
field while embroidered linen, the cunning work
manship Of the deft fingers of our fair ladies', wa
in profusion, and greatly admired by all. Anon
the more prominent exhibitors were Mrs. A. {
Cummins, Mrs Carlos Bancroft. Mrs Richar
Dillon, Mrs. c. r. Sabin Of Montpelier, Mrs I
+ Willard aud Mrs. Chester Beckley of Barre
Mrs n. A. Cutler of East Montpelier, and Mi:
Jennie A. Moulton OF Mortified
t Alma r. Huntley Of Mortified and Mrs H. {
t Dswlng Of Montpelier exhibited fine lambrequini
D and the latter had in addition some magnifcer
wax flowers. Cardboard picture frames by GraC
L. Andrews of Berlin and Mrs l.. j. Roberts
i Waterbury attracted considerable attention, an
Q n spa,ter cross made by Mrs. S. l. Cummings
East Montpelier was greatly admired. LAM
e mats by Mrs. F. D. Beckley Of Barre, card-recei'
j. ers by Mrs Clarence G Carr of the same plac
: work basket by Ida May Gale of Barre, an
n spatter work by Mrs J. c. Gallup of Northfell
were well worthy of notice. The Union Car
d Company had samples of their work on han,
: Mrs. A. o. Cummins exhibited very handsome
$ decorated vases and painted shells, painted pa
els in oil, point and applique lace, decorate
shells, silk jewelry, and fine cretonne embroder
d The exhibit was very fine one and was ADM
70 ably supplemented by Master BERTHE Cummin
Il who brought out some fine bracket work MI
1t C. C. Eaton and Mrs. l. II. Barnett of Middles'
n had some very handsome braided rugs, and NJ
o Gilman b. Dodge made a fine show OF boots Al
IT shoes.
y The display of quilts, now that the cold wealth
is upon us, was exceedingly timely and We
elaborate Besides Mrs. Dlllons contribute
u there were exhibits of these articles by MI
~ Hamilton Webster of Barre, and an "Afric'
10 Rose" by Mrs. T. l.. Emerson OF Berlin. MI
u Webster also exhibited a "Log-cabin qui
. which was greatly admired Mrs. John Scott
y Berlin had fine quilt, and Mrs. Aaron BancrC
81 Of Montpelier and Mrs. C. c. Eaton of Mddese
an excellent knit bed-spread The silk pat
work bed-spread Of Mrs. Carlos Bancroft attract
70 no little attention. and Mira. l. II. Emerson
" Berlin had fine quilt. A basket bed-quilt
Mrs. l. II. Roberts OF Waterbury was an exc
y lent piece of workmanship Drawn rugs, We
40 fine, were exhibited by Mrs william Smith
d" Mortified, Mrs ID Markham Of Montpelier a
a braided rug by Mrs. Stephen Greeley of Mar
field fine piece OF work was the 0aklea
s- quilt Of Mrs. o. L. Cummins of East Montpe
e and the charm quilt and lap robe of Mrs B
ms Patterson OF Orange. Fine specimens OF worst
NJ knitting were exhibited by Mrs. N. NJ Cutler
H. East Montpelier, Flora NJ Hnntley OF Northfie