Morning journal and courier., 1883-10-04
SOurnxI xua GOurigr.
Thursday, October 4, 1888.
Fair at BranfOrd.

Long strings of Oxen-Boautiful Carts
 Large Exhibits Dancing, Racing,
 Speech-Makfng and Splendid Drum
 Corps.
 Yesterday morning dawned bright. and
 clear and the postponed Branford fair was
 suffered to go on The air was cool and it
 was fine fall day. Shortly after 10 o'clock
 the strings of oxen and the decorated carts
 were escorted to. the Green by tho Branford
 cornet band, the North Bfanford drum corps
 and the Branford drum corps. The process
 sion was gay one. There were six carts
 gaudily trimmed with every variety of
 vegetable and flower. Two of them were
 especially elaborate and were covceived and
 executed extremely well. One was In the
 form of horse car, like the open cars run
 ming on the New York Third avenue railroad.
 This cart was the work of citizens of Stony
 Creek. The other was log cabin. It was
 made of logs and corn and trimmed with the
 fruits of the earth. Notices hung in and
 around it and it had a wonderfully homelike
 and cheerful appearance. It stood first Tn
 the estimation of the judges There were
 sixty-nine pairs of oxen in the procession, and @ few more came in afterward. Of these
 North Branford sent thirty-three pair and Stony Creek eleven.
 The trials of working oxen took place on the Green. Several pair contested and they
 tuggod away at the stone boat loaded with pig iron. The contest for steers of one year
 old and under was won by the team of N.
 Foot, of North Bradford. John Whalen's
 yoke came off with the second honor. Then the four-year-old class were judged and John Whalen got first premium, and Michael Mason second. w. D. Fords five-year- olds got first prize and John Bishops second. The exhibits of vegetables and fancy goods took place in the Town Hall, located on the Green. Owing partly to the
 bad weather of the previous day, the dis plays were not in all respects up to the aver age. The display of potatoes was very large. R. Dibble with ten varieties, J. Griffin of the town farm, Oliver E. Knowles and others were exhibitors. There were also beets, tur- nips, squashes, corn, onions and other vege- tables in abundance. Some of the largest onions ever shown at Branfordwere displayed
 by Oliver E. Knowles. Some very fine gol- den globe turnips were shown by R. Dibble. Other exhibitors of vegetables were R. H. Coe, E. E. Page, B. F. Jordan, Ebenezer Dudley, Charles Frisbie, Albert E.. immense cabbages were shown. Some better onions wero shown than were seen at the State fair. R. Dibble showed four fine varieties of corn. Some popcorn was ex- hibited that was planted and raised by Mas l ter Merle E. Towner, aged seven years. On the first floor Of the Town Hall was also ex-
 hibited collection of dogs which kept up a able attention, however. There were pup pies of the LleBellyn setter breed and an Eng fish greyhound by J. W. Nichols, of Cherry Hill, and others by William Bryan, of BrRnford. One of Mir. Bryan's dogs of the English pointed breed took prize at 8 New York dog show.
 The display of fruit was not large, c. H. T AT Baboock, Samuel o. Plant Dr. c. W. Gay lord G. 0. Field, E. Coe, Richard Crosby were exhibitors. noticeable case of foli- age plants and ferns was shown by Mrs s. E. Linsley. Eighteen varieties of seeding ! foliage plants were shown by T. F. Ham mond Floral pillows and bound boquets were exhibited in profusion. Very hand { some ones were shown by Nj. F. Page anG { Miss Sadie A. Dibble. Native wine wa: shown by Mrs. L. Buckley and F. Jourdan The display of fancy work was large and varied. Silk quilts in all hues and shapel were hung about and lact work, hand paintings and man. different kinds of work were shown. Two ! fine stuffed birds, sea gull and gray eagle I were shown by 0. H. Frisbie. A case of olt and rare kinds of government bills, grand mothers chair one hundred and thirty year old, hair flowers, string of buttons, violin (hand made), collection of minerals, Her ! cules club, cactus plant, winter squsshes O | peculiar kind, and many other cuPiosities \ were exhibited, which drew the attention O. | bevies of ladies all the afternoon. Some O \ the exhibitors were: Silvia l.. Gates, c. s Bradley, Bunneu Brothers, Edward Crouch < A. Louis Rogers and J. F. & A. L. Shepard
 The display of poultry was small. J. w Nichols and MT. Hammer were the exhibitors The display of cattle was only fair. Draf cattle were shown by J. A. Blackstone ani Richard Howard, Attorney Durham. A fin.
 OK team was the exhibit of J. A. Blackstone l and native and Alderney COWS by T. F. Ham mer and c. H. Milford. R. Averill and Hen
 ry Averill exhibited fine family horses, and horses. Draft horses and mules were shoWI
 by Edward Stent. There was good exhibi ton of colts and farm implements
 Among the exhibits that worthy o 7 especial praise were the spring beds of Bun nell Bros., large collection of the best il
 the market; two carriages by Lynde Row ian which attracted universal admiration; tht carriage fixtures of the Messrs. J. $ A. Shep pard of New Haven for their beautiful work and the ingenuity displayed in theiI construction, and the moulder's reflector by Walter s. Swincoe. The reflector Is largely used in foundries and is very valuable. A
 dressrnakers gauge by MrsJ. D. Ward, Bran ford; sewing machine by A. c. Ely and a collection of locks, latches, door
 knobs and bell pulls received first premiums and are worthy of especial mention. Also.G veteran war horse ridden by Marshal Charles
 Frisbie, North Branford, which is twenty. nine years old and has been at all the fairs held at Branford. The old veteran stepped off as lightly and proudly O young colt. Two notable curiosities were the rare old clocks shown by D. A. Crouch. which took
 first premium, also watch made by Admiral
 Strade, who died in 100. One of the clocks was made in u639, the other previous
 to 1900. They received much attention. About 2:30 in the afternoon the band es-
 corted the oxen from the Green and the
 largest part of the crowd drifted over toward
 Montowese street where the races took place.
 The band played, the judges, among whom
 were Lagyer Zacher, took their positions on
 the piazza of house opposite the finish and
 waited for some horse to cross it. Parshley E
 horse finally did so. There was some misun- derstanding about the start, and about twelve heats more or less were trotted before the end was announced. Parshley's horse was the winner, Granniss' second, Ely's third
 The bicycle race ended in a header for two
 of the coatestants. No one hurt.
 There was also foot racing, wheelbarrow races and plenty of races by carriage drivers. An addressTRs delivered from the band stand
 by Lawyer J. 0. Sharkey of Branford. He spoke for half an hour and held the attention of the people very closely. Dancing was carried on in 8 tent erected in the shadow of the church. The tent was filled all the after noon with merry party.
 The attendance was very large. People from all the neighboring towns were present, The fair gave universal satisfaction. The managem ent was effective and the n1arshals and special police kept good order. One accident happened to a teaul belonging to MT. Buel. The horse kicked over the traces and smashed the wagon somewhat. No other damage done The management was: G. M. Prout, acting comrnittee on hall, president; John Bishop, acting secretary and treasurer, and G. F.