Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-11
The Fair Grounds.


TO the Editor OF the Dispatch:
please inform q constant reader II the
,,res,nt Fairgrounds were used as such
before or during the war, and when they
we're first used "a camp for Confederate
troops .',..- ~ -,
the Agricultural Society. answers these
questions at our request-as follows;
The virginia state Agricultural Society
held its first fair in 1888 on grounds b.
Longing Ia the city Of Richmond ana hilel
mn at the expense Of the city these
were the grounds now known as Monroe
park In addition 10 this beneiactioh on
the mart Of the city. an annual appropr'd-
ZION Of 5000 was regularly made 10 en-
oble the society to have creditaoie PR
MUM list and the means 10 pHS "
promptlv. The State fairs were regularly
held on these grounds until the year 49,
eud after the usual preparations h"u W."
made by the Executive COMMITTEE vi t"e
society for "A fair this year, notice came
,rorn the civ Council that the appropria-
lion would be withheld The Executive
Committee met promptly in Richmond ana
went before the Council and frankly tN-
nlained that the arrangements Tor loIr
had so far progressed that the withuraW"i
of the usual appropriation Woula DC N'iS
cnharra sSing n not tatal 10 the Su'''HN
az a fair but the Council refused to re-
c,,le iron, its former action. The subject
then got into the newspapers anu 'ne 50
clety received proposition from inc No'
pOration Of Petersburg, onerihS an aPpi'
priatlon of $500 for the state fai 10 Ds
held in that city on grounds recehuy h''e"
49,, h, ,he south side Agricultural Society.
Of which Mr. James G. Bruce OF ii~iiaN'
x.,as president In this condition there
WA no choice but Petersburg ana theIe
The fair of the State Agricultural society
for 1859 was held.
II seems. however that the Rlchmond
Council had mistaken the sentlhe". Vi 'io
teople OF the city. for wheh IL peOa''',
known that the state Fair was 10 ne NoiN
a. t1.tsrsb,ry there was n great outcrN
This popular movement resulted IN She
formation OF the Central Agricultural -"
ciety. OF which Mr.. James Lyons was
elected president. This energetic organic
ton went 10 work at once 10 io'' -,
in this city the same year. As IL 'h'n
had no act OF incorporation which wouiu
enable Il to hold property. IT was never
theless. decided TO purchase the site oi
the present fair grounds, then the pro,
perty of Mrs. General SCOTS heirs, anu
10 secure this purchase Messrs JANIS
Lyons, W H. mcfarland. ana 'oio'e'
Sherwin McRae executed their pr
sonaI bond. The property was a, o"Vs
ntted up. and fair was held IN tS's ~.
the week succeeding the State fair ="
Petersburg: and II my memory IL coiie''
a Joint fair was held In 1850 by the |e"-
trial Agricultural and State Societies
The civil war commenced the next yea''
and very early the grounds were con-
verted into a camp for military hsuoe
ton. and so continued during the war
thus stopping ali fairs and society organi-
zations. the public mind being ON mueh
srayer subjects.
In January or February. 1869. con.
yention OF the farmers Of the State met
In this city and strongly urged the re-
organization OF the State Agricultural so
ciety and the re-establisfmsSt OF It's iaits'
vbereupon. q general meeting OF the lie"
members VI the society was called. MAJOR