Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-09-21
THE CALEDONIA COUNTY
FAIR.

&nn--@.s.<zz..s.~..-
THE CALEDONIA COUNTY
FAIR.
We visited the Caledonia Fair on
Wednesday and, as we always have
been, were amply paid for the time
and labor spent. We are indebted
to the Union for many facts and de-
tails herewith given. The favorable
location of st. Johnsbury; the large
population in town, and convenient
access by rail make it comparative
ly easy to get an attendance suffi-
cient to make a fair pay. This has
encouraged the FAIR Ground Compa-
ny, both to make improvements on
and about the grounds yearly, and to
increase from year to year the premi-
ums, till the fair has become large
enough to pay exhibitors. Some
years since rivalry sprang up among
the towns nearest the fair ground
relative to an exhibition of oxen. At
ST. Johnsbury the Falrbankses had
in use large and fine cattle, which
made, oftentimes, the larger part of
the "string" of oxen. The Roys and
other Scotchmen at Barnet began to
compete for string premiums, and
later, Waterford, Lyndon and other
towns went into the big oxen contest,
till there has been during the last ten
years remarkable exhibits of oxen
and cattle at these fairs. Ever since
the start of Caledonia cattle shows
some breeds of thoroughbred stock
have been shown at the annual fairs
which have attracted attention. The
Halls of Burke, Bemises of Lyndon,
Batchelders of Danville and others
first began to show the Devons 9TH
ers had the Durhams, and later, the
Fairbankses introduced to the atten-
ton of the public the Jerseys for but
ter stock. Within a few years Messrs.
Harris and Vail of Lyndon have
gone into the Hereford and the An
gus breeds of cattle, and this year
Mr.. Reyes of Newbury and Messrs.
Drury of Greensboro, though outside
of the county, made good showing
with Holstiens and Ayershires. This
year ''sweepstake" premiums were
offered, both by the Fair Ground Co.
and by individuals for the best herds
of animals, and for best animals.
This called out a great deal of stock
and brought the different breeds into
competition somewhat. Besides a
large number of oxen and steers that
did not compete in strings, there
were five strings OF eight yokes each,
one each from Barnet, Waterford,
st. Johnsbury and two owned by L.
d. Hazen, set to Concord. The heav-
lest yoke belonged to James Roy of
Barnet and weighed 1920 the aver
erage weight of the oxen was 1913.
Mr.. Hazen's heaviest string averaged
4143 pounds per yoke; his second
eight yoke averaged $40. The I'm
ION is probably right in thinking that
no town in New England could equal
the show made at this fair.
L. B. Harris of Lyndon recently
returned from the New England Fail
and also from the State Fair, where he
took leading premiums. Mr.. Harris
deserves not only premiums, but cred
it for the introduction of his fine
breed of cattle into this section. He
has had sales of calves at $500 9
head, and has others on which he sets
a higher value.
Mr.. Vale, his neighbor, is raising
the black, polled Angus, beautiful
animals, which like the He1efords
are especially valuable as beef ami
mails. His cattle were as sleek a:
otters and as near alike as peas in /;
pod. The Holsteins are black and
white cattle, similar to the Dutch O
Orleans county. They are a large
thrifty breed, combining milk an(
beef qualities. The Jerseys found {
prominent place and are always pop
ular as dairy animals. The Messrs
Drury of Greensboro exhibited al
AyershTe herd.
The sweepstakes premiums on hes
herds went as follows: 1st, gol'
medal to l.. B. Harris, Herefords
End, silver medal to E. & T. Fair
banks & Co., Jerseys; Sd, a bronz
medal to H. w. Reyes of Newbury
Holsteins.
The Passumpsic Railroad prize O
500 went to L. B. Harris, Lyndon
!. Herefords.
, The ST. Johnsbury House prize Q
j., S25 for the best dairy COW went t
!, II. w. Reyes, Newbury, Holstei
COW. The St. j. & L. G. R. priz
! Of $50 for best horned animal wer
!, to L. B. Harris, Hereford heifer.
The impetus given to the fair b
: extraordinary shows of cattle has il
o creased the exhibits in swine, pou
+ try, and specially in horses, in eac
4 of which departments there was a
o unusually fine show.
. The Mechanical department W;
y well filed. Among the carriages ws
y the old wagon made by Sir Tha'
deus Fairbanks in 1916, and tt
# beautiful carriages made by Miller
v Ryan.
# Every department was we'll file
e The ladies Outdid themselves and Il
~ show in Floral Hall was wonderfu
NJ, G;hhc Ho,.;of bod y,,opr boom