Evening journal., 1889-08-17
THE WILMINGTON FAIR.
DESCRIPTION OF HAZEL DELL PARK,
FOR THE BIG FAIR.

Two weeks from Monday the second
great Wilmington Fair will open at Hazel |
Dell Park and will continue one week.
Hazel Dell Park is situated two miles
from the heart Of this city, short dis
tance from Christiana avenue. IL Is
accessible by rail, steamboat and carriage. |
The railroad trains stop at two OF the
gates and trains run at short intervals |
during the fair. The steamboats, stop on |
the river front to the east of the grounds. |
The ride to the grounds by carriage is |
over roads that are much better than |
those of the city Cinders and oyster shells |
crushed to fine powder form the bed of |
the reads, and teach lesson |
to the city governors. To get to
the fair grounds by vehicle
drive over Market street bridge, for Third
street bridge is shut off, and turn down
the first road TO the left. Continue ON
this route until South Wilmington and
Christiana avenue are reached. Drive
down the avenue and turn up the first or
second road on the right and the entrances
to the fair grounds are in view. Another
and good route is to drive down the
causeway about three quarters OF mile
and leave the causeway by road to the
left, which leads to the southern entrance
to the grounds Still another way is to
walk, as an EVENING JOURNAL reporter
did yesterday afternoon. Hacks will run
to the fair grounds during the exhibition,
from Fourth and Market streets.
Hazel Dell Park, the Wilmington Fair
Grounds, contains thirty FIVE and one
half acres Of land. The park is nearly
square and lays north and south. II is
fenced in and is kept in good condition.
The long grass will be cut making a
pleasant walk for sight seers. 1t con
tains the prettiest half mile track in this
part of the country the track is forty
feet wide, fenced on each side, is hard
and even. A number of local horsemen
were speeding their horses yesterday
afternoon. The judges stand is pretty
little structure with three floors; the
first for the colors; the second
for the Judges aud the third for the re-
porters The signal bell hangs from the
inside at the top. The big grand stand
is directly in front of the judges stand.
There is not a better grand stand on the
trotting circuit. It has been recently
enlarged to seat 2, 800 persons. every one
of whom can see every foot Of the racing
track. The stands gables are sur
mounted with flag stats from which will
| float flags of the four states, Delaware,
Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
An uncovered stand, that will seat a
good many persons Is below this struc-
| ture. The spectacle of 5000 persons
arising to their feet, tier above tier, and
applauding a tight contest of speed, is
worth going great ways to see; such
enthusiasm is seldom seen elsewhere
On the line Of the track and to the
right of the grand stand is building lsS
30 feet TO be used by Secretary T. d.
Brown as an Office. The finishing touche:
are being put on to-day.
The exhibition buildings will next b,
described Taking for granted thai
every visitor goes to the race track anC
grand stand, first. The new ladies
building is built on the site Of last year
main building which was destroyed b,
fire. w. f. Seeds is building the new
building, which is fifteen feet longe
than the old. It's dimensions are: Mail
building. 50x100; wings, two, each 35'
40. The work on the building is nearing
} completion; the centre trusse
will be put in place to-day
The plans call for ventilator
extending the whole length of the build
ing. This is an improvement over las
year. 1t will furnish both light and ali
to the whole building and allow FOL
effect in the art department The ladies
building will be for household goods
{ ladies fancy work. flowers and paintings
An order has just been issued by tn
managers that entries for flower and ar
exhibits will be free. this is done to en-
courage competition in both these inter
esting departments The building vii
be completed next week. 1t will b
, painted a bright color with more yelloV
= than has been used on the other build
ings.
Last years annex will be used this yea
r for fruits and vegetables instead Of Tia
big tent
The next building is the main Exhib
tion Building which opens from the east
! with entrances ON the north and south
1t was formerly the Washington Marke
House, but there is no indication that
was ever taken apart, and put togeths
9 again It is the largest fair building i
{ Delaware and for light and ventilation
o is unexcelled. The main floor is S0x21
feet This fair win be used for mercaI
/ tile exhibits, which will be arranged 0
Z the sides and centre The floor plan
4 now at William Lawton's store, wher
merchants may engage spUee. A grea
deal is already taken The buildin
I is painted light green wit
= red trimming In the centre of tn
4 building, hanging from the roof, is tn
, band stand which will be occupied durin
the fair. A stairway leads down to tn
s basement which viii contain the fowl
!, and furbearing animals. Men are whitI
Z, washing the wood work. and stands Il
/ the exhibits are being put up. The bas'
s ment is S0x120 feet and contains thre
passage ways
4 In the space between the fruit depart
ment and the main building, @. T. TOT
!. pin will have a stand, and the carriag
!. house, 160x30 feet will be built. The az
4 ricultural exhibits will be placed in ope
q space to the northwest of the fair builC
d ings.
4 The west, south and east fences of I'll
4 park are lined with stalls for the hor:
and cattle exhibits and for the racin
horses For horses there are 200 be
stalls. In the western side of the grouu
are the sheep and swine pens. This d.
II partment is always an interesting one
Ia fair, and this years exhibit of anima
will be no exception. The finest catt
]. in Delaware aud the neighboring stat'
u will be at the grounds and lovers
blooded stock viii find no end Of pleasui
and profit
e There are now in the horse stalls seve
Wilmington horses, several of whiC
t. will take part in the racing. The stab
o. tboF rn,erfrffnaa ara var