The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-09-05
BRA DF0RD FAIR.
Pleasant Weather, Large Crowds Of
People. Sharply Contested Races,
Floral and horticultural
Exhibits.

The first annual fair Of the b sdfotd Agri-
cultural and Trottng Association was held
on its grounds at Bradford, during three
days of last week. The weather was pleas.
ant and the attendance large there being
fully 5000 people on the ground the second
day of the fair
Perhaps in writing the story of this fair R
little early history in connection with Brad.
ford and Orange county fairs would be of
interest to some Of our readers. Through
the kindness Of Hon. II. @ McDuffee, Ex-
Governor Farnham, Colonel Andross,
Colonel Stearns, Chas Fl. Jones and others,
data and records we're unearthed which
disclose the facts that the Orange County
Fair had its origin in Chelsea in 1876.
Meetings were held there until 1851, at.
which time they we're transferred TO BraI-
ford. When the first fair was held in the
street near the churches the church sheds
being used for stalls for the exhibition of
stock, and the horse racing vas conducted
upon the upper PLANE" The present fair
grounds we're fitted up and the first fair
held in 1856 under the name of the Con-
necticut River Valley Agricultural and In
dustrial Association. The association en-
braced the towns on both sides of the river
for distance of some forty miles. The first
pres dent was Thomas g. Mason of Oxford,
N. H., and Alexander McLaine of Fairlee
was the first secretary. The address was
delivered by George p. Marsh, then United
States minister to Turkey. Elk Governor
Farnhsm, then principal OF the Academy,
WAS superintendent OF floral hall.
A very amusing incident ia this connec-
ton WAS burlesque poster headed, THE
First Annual Fair OF the Salt River Valley
Gouging and Sponging ASSOCIATION" offer
ing $4,000 900 in premiums, $4,000 being
for the Longest lady's dress most elegantly
managed in crossing muddy street,
Another, 81 cents for the "Ablest political
Sabbath discourses" The announcement
for the second annual fair of this associa-
ton stated that owing to mismsnagement
and other causes the association could offer
only 1850 in premiums, one being four cents
for a horse that drew . premium on his own
merits and not that of his owner. Copies Of
these posters are now among Hon. II. G.
McDuffees possessions and are amusing
reading.
In 1869 the organization known as the
Orange County Ag icultural Association
came into existence, and fairs were con-
Quoted under that name until 1885, AL
though Bradford fair met Us apparent
death from natural causes in 1888, after a
continuous existence of thirty-seven years,
and had been slumberiDg for twelve years,
resusctation came in 1900 under new
name, with strength and vigor enough it is
believed to sustain it through q long period
to come. The grounds have been rehtted,
old buildings repaired and some new ones
built. The officers of the association are
president, #. o. Kennedy; vice-presdent,
l.. j. Brown; secretary, N. w Cunningham
treasurer, Is. S. Hooker; directors, f. o..
Kennedy, L. j. Brown, 7. j. Albee H e.
Parker, X. q. Martin, M. A. Jenkins, e. IL.
Nye; j. M. Taylor, clerk; General Superin-
tendent, #. o. Kennedy.
The pace the officers have sat in their first
annual fair will be a hard one for their sue
cessors to follow. The first day, as usual
was devoted to the entry Of exhibits ana
the busy work of getting the fair under
way. Entering the grounds on the morn
ing Of the second day "A handsome string of
oxen and horses attracted the reporters
attention. A few people were inside the
circle OF the track, but where was the
crowd? AS this mental inquiry was made
music was heard which was found to come
from a steep rise in the ground, covered
with trees, constituting natural grand
stand. Back of this was a level plain, and
the people. Here were the side shows"
and the eating houses. leaving the track
and the grounds inside for the exhibition Of
horses and other stock.
HORSES, OXEN, OTHER STOCK AND POULTRY.
At eleven o'clock the town teams parad-
cd around the track headed by the band.
Twelve entries in the class of brood mares
with foals were shown for premiums and a
better show OF colts is not often seen at a
fair. Premiums we're awarded as follows
W. NJ. Award, Haverhill, frst III e. Wood
ward. Lyme, second A. o. Kidder, Brad
ford, third.
The handsome stallion, Dandy Lambert,
owned by j. w. Davis of Fairlee, was the
only animal in his class shown with 81 ock.
However, he is whole show in himself.
Nearly all the colts shown at the fair were
of his get, indicating that he is q favorite
among breeders in this section. Fairlee
Lambert, five-years-old stallion by Dandy
Lambert and owned by Davis, was exhibit
cd hut for IA
be a premium winner, however. when
beauty, style and action were considered
Zoe S., by Golden s., a yearling filly own
cd by Harry Smith OF Washington, was an
easy winner of first premium in her class.
Her age is fourteen months, weight 900
pounds and is in every way perfect pat
tern. The colt shown by G. w. Rutledge
OF Oxford was awarded second premium.
In the other classes OF colts the entries
were light, but some good animals were
shown.
Among oxen five yoke constituted town
team. w. M. Merrill won first, and G.. W.
Baldwin second, premium. Frank @. Cove
OF Bradford exhibited five pairs of horses as
q town team, and received first premium.
This was inueed handsome team, being
uniform in size and color. The trial OF
strength between draft oxen and horses
was in every way first class exhibition.
#. @. Cove won first and second premiums
on utbVy uIhit uOrbobi II. n. uhulIOTu won
first on light draft horses and j. @. Hast :
ings second.
Draft oxen: Heavy weight, John Luf-
kin won first and Ira Low second premium;
light weight, w. NJ Merrill took first; O.
e. Thurston, second. Working oxen: John
Lufkin, first; Ira Low, second. Fat cattle,
John Lufkin, first; Ira Low, second. AL
though at this season OF the year the stock
is largely away at pasture there was a cred
liable show OF milk cows, young stock and
sheep.
PoULTRY.-The exhibit in this class was
large and nearly all standard breeds were
represented. M. A. Jenkins and II. W.
Heath were the largest exhibitors. receiv-
ing 1876. "a and $12 "a respectively in pre-
miums. M. A. Jenkins was superintendent
of this class.
FLORAL AND MECHANICS HALL.
Mr.. and Mrs George W. Wright had
charge Of this department. Space will not
admis Of giving the premiums in this de-
partment, and the reporters pencil would
fail in an attempt to describe the array of
paintings, needle and fancy work that was
artistically displayed in this spacious hall.
The horticultural exhibits were necessarily
light, owing to the early date OF the fair.
Mechanics hall was we'll filed. One of
the special features was hand separstors