Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-09-17
SPRINGFIELD'S FAIR.
EVERYTHING CONTRIBUTED TO A
SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITION.

Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Swine, Fruit, Vege-
tables in Quantity and Variety-A Crowd
in nAttendance-Good Weather, and a Good
Time.
Springfield is noted for its fairs. For
16 years the town has had an annual ex-
hibition which has been the pride of her
farmers and the pleasure of those at
tending. In those 16 years the influence
of the fair has been noticeable from year
to year, and farmers have become more
and better acquainted with each other
and with successful methods. The stock
and farm products have increased in
quality and quantity until few towns in
this vicinity can equal Spring gfield in the
class of products and stock shown.
The most noticeable feature of this
improvement is in horses and cattle.
Farm horses, drivers and trotters have
been improved in blood and style. Dairy
ing has received an impetus which har
placed Springfield in the front rank as
dairy town. Notable herds are plenty
and when one comes to that. one will
find herds which will compare favorably
with anything in the state.
Sheep husbandry has not increased
much since the war until recent years.
Sheep are now bred quite extensively
by Springfield farmers and they are
steadily improving them, both for NUT
ton and wool. 1t takes time for all this.
1t takes years for leaven to work no
matter how good it may be, but he who
attends the fairs here now and compares
| them with those of ten years ago will
notice q vast Improvement in the annual
exhibits. Progress is the word, and
| springfield has caught the step and goes
forward in the grand movement which
ever leads onward and upward.
| And Springfield itself the village, is
on the upward grade. For years there
has been a besitancy, a slow pace which
has contrasted badly with the opportu-
mites for business development offered
| by the natural advantages of the place.
| Now there is progress. Electric lights,
strong prospect of railroad in the near
future, are but milestones which mark
the beginning of the movement for
growth and development in the future.
Springfield enjoys the distinction of
producing the greatest variety of manu-
factured goods of any town in the state,
and many of our couutry's prominent
men passed their childhood here. But
with all its manufacturing, a large part
of the inhabitants of the town are en-
gagged in agriculture, and the exhibits at
the annual fairs of the Springfield agri-
cultural society testify to the excellence
of the soil and the energy of the farmers.
At the dissolution of the Tro5ting
association which built the race track,
the fair ground property was decided to
i the town for park and improvements
have been made from time to time till at
\ essnt Il is sssepssssetl for -eenvehiencea
" but few fair grounds in the country.
Some new buildings have been erected
the past year, and more time devoted to
advertising the attractions, the result
being clearly manifest in the large at
tendance and increased number of exhib-
itors.
| THE FIRST DAY.
The sixteenth annual fair opened Tues
day, the weather being perfect and bring
ing large attendance for q first day.
The entries in all departments were the
largest for many years, and floral hail
was we'll filled with fancy articles, fruits,
dairy and farm products, etc. The fruit
Shown was remarkably good for the
season, and the display of vegetables
was also excellent. There were only
few exhibits of maple syrup and honey,
but Mr.. Wheatley of the Vermont
Exp riment station. was there with y
samples of maple sugar, showing the
percentage of sugar in the sap during
the early, medium and late runs during
the season, and sugared off at different
degrees of temperature. This is most
interesting exhibit to farmers, showing
them at glance just what they want to
know, and it will doubtless greatly i'm
prove the quality as we'll as increase the
quantity of sugar made in future.
The grade. of the sheep in
this vicinity is constantly improving,
and Merino flocks We're shown by Leon
A. Cutler, G. H. Hubbard & Sons. l..
Streeter and Son, E. & F. L. Piper,
George F. Wiley and others. o. R.
Hadwen had some fine Southdowns; Fl.
NJ. Arms, Hampshire Downs. and e. B.
Howard, long wools. The accommoda-
tions for the sheep were Inadequate,
although more pens have been built this
year, and other quarters had to be appro-
priated.
Bur few cattle were brought in the
first day, but the exhibition of horses
was large and some fine animals were
shown.
In the afternoon the interest centered
in the horse races.
The first race was for the 2:45 class,
for purse of SIS, with six starters, and
won By Cecil in three straight heats. Fol-
lowing is the summary:
Cecil, b. M, E. L. Putney, Newport,
Il \. H.......... .....-..-......I L
Abdallah Patchen, r. s., II. Frost, Bel
lows Falls. s............-......-.-.....3 8
Gray Eagle gr g., W. I'll. Walker,
WINDSOR
Dixie, b. G., c. Haskell. Troy, n. H....2 8
Flora Co. blk. m, B. B. Fullam. Lud-
loW...... .-..-------"4
Logan, b. g., ii. r. and B. 5 Bran
mock, Brownsville. lle........-..........6 )
Time 2471s, 2461s, 44A4.
In the half mile pony race, for a purse
of SIS. Waiter Browns pony won in two
straight heats.
There were seven starters in the home
race for so purse, which was hotly
contested, Belle Ellen winning in the
fifth heat. Ii was nearly dark before the
race was decided, but the crowd waited
for tBe finish. Tho summary follows
Belle Ellen. b. M, E. L. Keyes,
Springfield. d....--.-..-.....-.-..-..2
. | By Bye, br. m, G. Stearns, Perkins
I Vllle--. = 1
l Rob, eh- &. J. Call, Perkinsville.-..3 .3 ?
Prince, b. $, c. Blood, Charlestown.4 3
Firenxe, br. M, J. III. Mcdonald,
: Claremont.. ........... ..-.-..-..6 )
Mascom Moore, b. g, f. Freeman,