Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-09-22
LIVE YEARS AGO
g'he cold Muster Field" in Brat
tlebOrO

was the Scene of the Fourth Exhibition
by the vermOn mt Agricultural AssOci-
atIOn---sOme Features OF the show.
Those who work for the success of the
Valley Fair, will be interested to know
Il at on Sept. II, IS and ID, 1854, 45 years
AGO this month, the Vermont Agricultural
a ociation, of which ex-Gov. Holbrook
was then president, held its fourth annual
fair in Brattleboro. The location of the
exhibition was on the "Old Muster Field"
owned by George II. Clark, and included
IS acres which were enclosed with board
fence 10 feet high. The event was one of
great Importance for Brattleboro, and the
Brattleboro Eagle, four-page newspaper
edited by the late b. d. Harris, which de-
voted very little space to local events, gave
a page and half to the report of the ex-
hbition.
On the right of the area stood floral hall,
81 by go feet. South of this was the me-
chanies' and manufacturers hall, 230 feet
long by 40 feet wide. On the opposite
side was the horse barn, 109 by % feet.
Near the centre of the ground and of the
half mile track was the gallery" for the
accommodation of spectators. This build
ing was 200 feet long and seated 1000 per
sons. The speakers stand stood in grove
at one side, and the ticket office and judges
stand were properly located.
The citizens of Brattleboro contributed
$1,000 for the purpose of the fair, and ar
rangements we're made with all the rail
roads in the state to carry all animals and
articles for exhibition to and from the
fair free and to carry persons at half
fare. At least $1,000 people visited the
l. L.. al Aoxr hut no
were no accidents and no disturbances.
Luther A. Ham, assistant chief of police
of the city of Boston, was specially en-
ployed to keep the rogues in awe. The
Germania band of IL pieces was engaged
to furnish music, under the conductorship
of Wolf Fries and the leadership of Mr..
Heinicke.
All the departments of the exhibition
were first class. The exhibition of work
ing cattle was avowedly the best ever seen
in the state, there being over 200 yoke, AZ
of which were from West Brattleboro.
Among the Morgan horses were the orig
insl Black Hawk and Green Mountain
Morgan. hon. Charles Theodore Russell
of Boston Gather of late ex-Gov. VIM.
e. RusselD delivered an address upon
"The Acknowledgement of Labor" on the
closing day.
Taking his own idea of the proportions
of the Woodbury. and Sherman Morgan
horses as a guide, Larkin G.. Mead, then
a promising young artist, furnished two
full-sized pictures in chalk of members OF
these families, both of which were framed
and hung one at each end of tbespectators'
gallery. At the instigation of few friends
he also drew crayon portrait of President
HolDrook which was placed over the judges
stand unbeknown to Mr.. Holbrook.
Following is an example of the ford
style of language which characterized the
Eagles report of the affair: "Here, under
a patched and bedaubed canvas covering,
was hidden the lusty proportions of the
state of Maine hog rejoicing in 1900
lbs. of unctuous obesity. There, con-
cealed by the drape:y of an equally dilapi-
dated canvas screen, was the mammoth
heifer Jenny Lind, all the way from the
worlds fair, where, no doubt, her lady
ships nominations were not suffered TO
pass without society. Conveniently near
might have been seen, for consideration,
bebemothish bear,-'the largest in the
world,'- with growl like juvenile
earthquake, and a representative of 1000
lbs, If beastiality in a highly unkempt
state of "Reminiscences ~