Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-01-02
The Bethel Fair.

organize new agricultural society I'D
Bethel, as well as every one else in Bethel
and the surrounding towns, are requested
to meet at the Wilson House, Bethel, at II
O'Clock in the forenoon OF Wednesday
Jan. s, 1896, for the purpose of organizing
new society. Tue Vermont Standard OF
Woodstock says in its issue of Dec. 18th:
at seems strange that the people OF Beth
Ell cannot see themselves as others see
them; that they do not realize that not
only reputation but dollars and cents are
to be reaped by grand annual exhibition
on their magnificent fair grounds, stu
ated as they are in locality second to
none, where thousands of people would
be glad to come and spend their time and
money ii any effort was made by Bethel
citizens to have them. Local strife and
personal differences ought not to enter
where the general good is concerned
Surely divided we fall" We thank the
Standard for these remarks for although
rect in others. As it hints, personal diff
ferences have had much to do with the
poor success Of the society, but 1t should
not be understood that all OF the citizens
are to be included in the mush. Taking
the history OF the society, 1t will show
that for the money received the fairs at
Bethel have given as much and more en-.
tertainment than any fair in the state.
There have been certain things open to
criticism, AS there have been in every other
society in the state, but the Bethel citizens,
or at least part of them, have contributed
very literally to keep it alive as its history
will show. BY looking back we find that
the original society, in its nine years OF
existence, had contracted debt Of $4500
which party OF ten or q dozen were
obliged to pay. To relieve them the pres.
ent society bought shares at twenty. five
dollars each to help those people out. No
sooner had this been done than many of
those who had been helped turned against
the society. Two years nearly fifty OF our
citizens paid five dollars each out of their
own pockets that exhibitors might have
their pay. No society has tried harder to
give the people Of its section good en-
than has this society. The
fairs OF the past two years have been pro-
nounced, as far as they went, equal to any
in this section Of the state. Each year we
had an elegant floral hall and, IL not as
fast, as honest and exciting races as given
on any track, and a fine balloon ascension.
Other years such men as Henry Ward
Beecher in his prime, Hon. N. P. Banks,
Hon. George F. Edmunds,. Hon. John
Gregory Smith and many other distin-
guished men have addressed the people.
some OF the finest horses ever produced in
Vermont have been shown, the finest con-
gress Of athletes ever gathered in Vermont
was brought here for wrestling tourna-
ment and inn1merable entertainments OF
lesser note have been here. As there are
few fancy cattle in this section, and as we
could not get money enough to pay for
those that did come, they were left out
but it is intended, u new society can be
organized, to include cattle, sheep and
hogs and have regular agricultural fair.
To this end we ask every one to come and
help US. Any one can be member of the
society, entitled to a vote in all its meet
lngs and to season ticket, by paying
lee OF dollar year. For any informa-
lion write E. A. Markham, Bethel.