Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-10-11
The Fifth Alpena County Agricultural
Fair.

The Fifth Alpena County Agricultural
The fifth annual fair of the Alpena
County Agricultural Society came to
a close last Friday, and was very sue
cessful in many respects. Some of
the departments were much better
than those in the years past, but
others were lacking in the number of
exhibits. The quality of the various
articles shown were equal to those of
succeeding years. The fair was so
well patronized by the citizens, that
the society will have, we believe, no
difficulty in meeting its liabilities.
The weather, the early part of the
first day, gave unpleasant indications
of rain, but later in the day the signs
of rain vanished, and a fair day clear
ed away the gloom that had begun to
gather on the faces of the friends OF
the society. The first day was most
ly occupied in getting the various de-
partments in order. In the after
noon several town horses exhibited
their speed on the trotting course.
On the morning of the second day,
rain commenced to fall, and the pros
poets for a successful fair were gloomy
The superstitious thought that having
the fair on Friday, fair weather could
not be expected, but they were DOOM
ed to see their prophecies not fulfill
ed, for, shortly before noon, the rain
ceased coming down, the clouds dis
persed, and the sun gladdened all
we'll wishers of the fair with its bright
rays. The weather during the re-
mainder of the day was all that could
be desired.
After dinner the citizens in large
numbers began to wend their way to
the fair. Numerous teams were on
hand to transport the pleasure seek
ers from the city to the fair grounds,
charging twenty-five cents per head
for so doing, and all the many con-
veyances did thriving business. II
they had charged less they would
have given more satisfaction. The
various saw mills were shut down,
and the day became q general holiday
An inspection of the cattle depart
ment showed considerable improve.
ment. In number there were some
twenty-seven cows, ETC., in the stalls
of sheep we counted twenty-five, and
of horses seventeen. A bear cub at.
tracted considerable attention.
The east wing of the agricultural
hall was filled with fine exhibit Of
vegetables of all kinds, the exhibi
ton being, so we were informed, main,
ly from Alpena township; Long
Rapids had two exhibits, Wilson one
exhibit, and the townships of Green
and Ossineke were not represented in
the vegetable department. JOIN
McSorley, of Wilson, had some thirty
seven varieties of vegetables on ex
hibition. In quality the exhibition
Of vegetables was all that could be
desired, but it does seem to us that
this county could and ought to show
a far larger variety than was at the
fair. The south wing was partly oc-
cupied by vegetables and small ex
hibit of grain. The grain growing
interests of this county were repre-
scented by two exhibits of wheat, two
exhibits of oats, two exhibits of buck
wheat, one exhibit of rye, three ex
hibits of beans, and number of ex
hibits of corn in the ear. All the
exhibits, as regards quality, were good
but it does seem to us that if all the
empty spaces had been occupied by
vegetables or grain, it would have
been far better advertisement fol
this county that we are all SO prout
of, and it would have tended TO create
q far more favorable impression among
people whose only chance of judging
county, is by the exhibits at thu
fair. The annual county fair is no
merely matter of prizes, but, OF
the contrary, is an annual advertise
ment Of what county is capable Of
and every year should show an i'm
provement.
A visit to the center part of tn
building left different impression OIL
the mind of the spectator. In thi
section was exhibited the finest an,
best display of fruits ever shown a
the county fair, and very gratifyin,
to the beholder. John Newton, O
) Alpena township, exhibited six va
+: rieties of apples and two varieties o
+, crab apples. Walter Gavigan, o
Alpena township, exhibited two va
rieties of crab apples and fine dis
: play of Duchess of Oldenburg ar
y pies. j. A. Case, of Alpena town
ship, exhibited one plate Of pears, tn
: Flemish Beauty, and four varietie
) of apples, in which were tempting
display of Duchess of Oldenbur
apples. Presque Isle county was re
presented by four varieties of apples
two varieties of crab apples, and on
: variety Of plums, making, altogether
a good display. r. Naylor, Of Al
pena township, exhibited some fin
specimens of Pierce's wine apple
the largest of which measured in Gil
A cumferance 13a inches, also two othe
varieties of apples, and four varietie
! Of crab apples. Joseph Bryant, Q
! Long Rapids township, had larg
+ and fine exhibit of fruit, consisting Q
= two varieties of plums, two varictie
|. of grapes, one variety of pears, an
n twelve varieties Of apples-the largcs
9 OF which measured in circumference
s eleven and one-half inches. Charlie
b. Greedy, city, exhibited fine sc
lection Of pears. The city was ais
/, represented by plate of plums.-
s Among the apples were three cxhil
: its Of the Duchess of Oldenburg ar
3 pie, one Of which was grown ON ella