The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-09-26
NORTHFIELD FAIR,

AS autumn approaches and the vanishing
green OF the naples gives way to many
hued foliage, the people in general and farm
ers in particular within % miles of North
field begin to ruminate in the success OF
former fairs held under the auspices Of the
Dog River Valley Association and specu-
late on the attractions of the next. In for
mer years it has been the custom of the
JOURNAL to give detailed list OF exhibitors
in all departments at this fair, with premi-
ums awarded, summaries Of races, etc. De-
parting from that custom it is believed some
general comments on the fair as a JOURNAL
representative saw it will be of interest.
Several years ago the directors and pro-
motors of the Mortified fair determined
that Northfield should be known as the fair
town par excellence Of Central Vermont.
With that laudable idea in mind they have
striven each year to hold fair that would
live in memory from one years end to the
other. These directors and officers are
practical men of affairs. They realized long
ago that the old.time New England cattle
show, with its wrestling Matches cattle
and sheep Of Indifferent breeding slow going
horses and uncultivated produce belonged
to former generation, and that other at
fractions must be provided. To this end
they have bent their energies.
On the grounds at Mortified Wednes-
day afternoon fully 5000 people were gath
cred. 1t was an orderly crowd, and the
special police had little to do. Fakirs were
rigidly excluded, not person was arrested,
and hardly a case of even partial intoxica-
ton was seen.
The principal attraction was the trotting
track. There trotters and PAGERS were at
their best, and special effort was made to
cater to the sporting element. The dust
was six inches deep on the track, but this
did not prevent the races as scheduled.
Interspersed between the heats music by
| glee club and the Randolph Cornet Band
entertained the crowd.
During the past year several hundred
dollars have been expended in enlarging
and improving Floral Hall. Under this
| roof could be seen innumerable specimens
of art, needle work, bric-a-brac, crazy quilts,
embroidery, sofa pillows, ETC., together
with the biggest eggs, the largest squash,
pumpkins as yellow as Ii Hung Changes
vest, remarkable cabbages, mammoth beets,
and scores OF other things OF amazing shape
and size. One OF the most striking exhibits
in this department was the life size granite
statue of female figure cut by Davis Broth
ers OF Mortified.
A tour OF the sheep, cattle and swine pens
showed an exhibit Of such magnitude as is
rarely seen at county fair. Unusual in
terest seemed to center around the sheep
pens, perhaps because OF the possibility OF
Vermonters once more engaging extensive
ly in sheep raising, No finer mutton and
wool producing animals were on the ground
than those exhibited by j. n. Edison of
ohN w Is Va ~'OAp h-
field.
Considerable more than 100 head OF cat
tie were entered and the judges in that de-
partment had no easy task ia awarding
prizes and premiums. The mammoth oxen
shown by Henry II. Martin of Williams
town and Charles /. Brown Of Montpelier,
and the Holstein dairy herd exhibited by
w. d. Plastridge of Mortified proved
counter attractions to the race track. The
o. 1. Hood herd was advertised to be on
exhibition, but did not materalize.
Under the poultry shed the sixty or more
crates and coops OF all kinds and conditions
of fowls, exhibited by Q. @. Paine Of South
Randolph attracted much attention and
drew many premiums.
The officers of the association wore smil-
ing faces Wednesday afternoon and well
they might, as each took turn in attempt
ing to lift the grips in which the treasurer
temporarily kept the receipts. No more
perfect day could be imagined than We'd
nesday proved TO be. The attendance
Thursday was reported quite small because
of the rain.
The management wisely decided not TO
postpone the fair today because Of the rain.
The events scheduled for Thursdayafternoon
will come off il possible The race Of great
est interest booked for this afternoon was
the free. for-all, for purse of $3.50, in which
Il. e. Knott and other feet footed animals
were entered. The race was won by Knott.