Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-21
TEE CENTRAL SOCIETY.
a Bit OF Very Interesting History.


In the wear lS55-thirty. one years ago-the
Virginia state Agricultural Society, which
had held its fairs and exhibitions annually ia
the city Of Richmond, having been refused GER
tain requests made by the society, determined
10 hold their next fair aRd exhibition In such
city or town IS should otier The society the
most favorable terms. In answer TO the cir
cular inviting proposals those Of Petersburg
we're accepted - the most favorable, and &C.
cOrdinglV the fair aud exhibitions Of 1850
were held in that city Tho effect OF this
action OF the State Society was the formation
OF tie Central Society, the object OF which
was to insure to the people OF the State an
annual fair and exhibition at Richmond -
the seat OF government. As sO0l as the
Central Society was organized James Lyons,
its president, aud Richard Barton llaXall
and Sherwin McRae, two OF the Executive
Committee, were appointed 10 select the
most eligible grounds which could be OBJ
tanned IN Richmond or its vicinity for hold
ing fairs and exhibitions. and 70 canvass the
city TO procure The funds necessary 10 pur-
chase such grounds.
The required sum was subscribed and
paid for 0y one hundred and twenty per-
sons, each subscribing one bundred dollars
on the assurance that these grounds would
never be abenated by the society, but remain
ever is u pledge for sn annual fair at Rich
mOnd and TO be used a. a PARK OF The city.
consistently with the fairs and exhibitions OF
he Central Society, and If for any cause they
should cease 10 be so used they should be
held ~ the city Of Richmond as one OF is
parks. These grounds were prepared and
buildings erected with great expedition IN
time for The October fair OF 1868, held by the
Central Society. Thus the annual fair at
Richmond, To which the farmers and people
Of the State were accustomed, was preserved,
and saiety-yalve found for the excitement
produced nv the expected loss OF the usual
annual fair a, Richmond. The State Society
held its fairs and exhibitions In 1853 and
1859 in the CITY OF Petersburg, and then
resolved to hold all future fairs m the vicinity
Of Richmond, to accomplish which purpose
M Effort was made 10 procure suitable
grounds for holding an independent fair Ia
1860. This effort proving unsuccessful, the
State Society proposed 10 the Central Society
TO unite with II in holding the fair aud eXh.
billion OF 1860. This proposal was accepted
with a readiness and cOrdialIty which ex-
pressed the pleasure Of the Central Society
al the return Of the State Society 10 bold It's
fairs and exhibitions at The city OF Rich
mond, and resulted in the splendid union
far OF the two societies held In October.
1860. The union fan Of toe two societies was
really the consolidation OF the two into one,
and was The union OF hearts az well as OF fairs.
From this tue the two societies were one In
reality though two In name, and the transfer
OF the title TO the State Society would have
been made soon after the Union fair In 1860
but for the Impending war during which
the FsIr.GFounds became 4 military camp,
aud at its close succeeded by military
domination, which suspended the lie OF the
State Society until 1869.
Richmond should never forget the ex ella.