The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-10-08

39ll Annual EXllDl[. |
A Fine Show! |
A Large Crowd! |
A Complete SuccGssl
The seth Annual Fair of the Portage |
Co. Agricultural Society was in every |
respect the best ever given by this Or
From the first everything |
bespoke success. The weather was
perfect, except a small portion of the
last day. which was rendered trife
unpleasant by a few drops of rain.
But this did not last long, and was
scarcely noticed. Good feeling seemed
to pervade all classes-thOse who were
in friendly competition, as we'll as the
throng of sight seels. All had come
with the intention of having a good
old fashioned time. such only as Is to
be had at this annual gathering Of the
hardy yeomanry from all parts Of the
County, and the result fully justified
their expectations.
The attendance was unprecedented,
During the second and third days full
ly Is, 900 people we're on the grounds,
and probably more, From every di.
rection was seen q continual stream Of
vehicles of all descriptions. filled with
people "going to the Fair"
No disturbance or mishap Of any
kind occurred to mar the pleasure Of
the patrons, an unusual occurrence in
a crowd of such large Dimensions.
There were about 2300 entries, filling
every department to its utmost capac-
ity, and more space would have been
taken had there been any to offer.
much to the regret Of many would-be
exhibitors.
The exhibits were all excellent, and
their number and great variety evinc-
ed the industry, skill and taste Of the
exhibitors, at the same time attesting
their interest in the success Of the
Fair. @
1t is impossible to notice them all
in detail, or to discriminate. between
their merits with any degree of accu.
racy; the red cards marked FIRST fre.
MUM" which were attached to semt
of them decided this point more sef
fsctually. In such fall and merito
rious exhibit our reporter would hard
ly rank as authority as to their merits
In FLORAL HALL,
every available space was taken ant
filled with one of the most complete
varied and beautiful collections Of ex
hibits ever seen in the building. Eacl
department seemed to vie with tn
other in beauty, variety and fullness
Our merchants and those from Ken
,, were we'll represented and made
,, magnificent display of goods. An
to digress q little from Floral Hall, W
will simply call attention to the enter
prise of Mark H, Davis, of Kent
whose headquarters were immediatel.
south of the Hall. This gentleman
, engaged, at his own expense, the ser
vices of Bohemian Band, the mem
bers of which were partly from Gin
cinnati and partly from Cleveland
every one possessing the finest talen
and culture. Their music was of tn
highest order and written for the fines
ear, and during its execution they di'
not lack for appreciative listeners
: This enterprise on the part of Mr.. Da
, Wis is highly commendable, and b
should receive the thanks of all VIII
listened to them, as the securing Q
their services entailed q heavy expense
Returning to Floral Hall, we notices
next the fine Taxidermic display of
G. Catlin, of this place, This has com
to be one of the fixed attractions @
the Fair, and visitors always find MI
; Catlia ready to impart any desired In
formation pertaining to the feathers
tribe. Three very fine collections @
Indian Relics, ,Ons belonging to Georg
!, w. Dean, of Kent, one to Orrin Har
mon, and the other to Joseph Gledhill
both of Ravenna, added to the attraC
tiOns. /. Gregor had choice lot c
Shells on exhibition, embracing near
ly every known variety. G. w. New
toms display of Millinery, in charg
r of Miss Ida Heriff,, was very attractiv
y to the fair ones, whose cOvetOus eye
1 critically examined the beautiful an
8 varied articles which enter into tn
composition of the "lOvelyn littl
ornamental fixtures, called hats, wit
which they adorn their heads. Th
< specimens Of work done by the Whit
: Sewing Machine were especially fin,
Some of the most difficult and beaut
u full designs were made and executs
r by the lady IN charge. Those in chare
: of the Domestic also had many choie
specimens of work on exhibition.
h The deft fingers of the ladies an
. misses wrought bewildering displa
. of articles which rendered the displs
Q In the Ladies' Department more ths
n ordinarily fine.
In the Fruit Department the exhib
ii was very large, the tables being loade
down with luxurious and lusciol
> specimens of the products Of the O
!. chard and vineyard, largely due to til
3 increased interest which our Horticu
o tural Society has awakened anon
o exhibitors. Perhaps as fine an exhiI
a it as any was that of Frank Ford
l. Son, whose collection contained ma,
Il nificent specimens of that prince
v Grapes, the Niagara. They also hs
I. very large collection of vegetable
"a of potatoes alone exhibiting over II