Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1901-10-24
AND THIS is
THE END OF 1T ALL.
The Agricultural Society Fair
Grounds Sold Saturday After
noon by the Sheriff.

hOOh Ut OuO lCAlOIIHs
1.-THE bid is $4,000. Without ad-
vance it will be sold. Once, twice.
third and last time-all done, going
gone, and the buyer is Samuel M.
Coombs for $2OOO.''
Sheriff Hendee's auctioneer Satur-
day afternoon repeated these words,
and as he closed his remarks, the end
of the Cumberland County Agricul-
tural and Horticultural Society was
announced.
The Sheriff had advertised the big
fair grounds, with all of the exhibi-
tion buildings, grand stands, stables,
etc., to be sold to satisfy mortgage
of $1,000. The complainant in the
foreclosure case was Samuel M.
Coombs, and he bid in the property
for $4,000 through his counsel, Joseph
H. Powell, and that was the only bid
made.
Away back in 1923 a number of ag-
riculturists met at the hotel of Smith
Bowen and on February 18th, the or
ganization was permanently effected
The first fair was held Nov. 18,
1923, and was fairly successful, de-
spite the fact that there was a light
fall of snow the day before.
Each year there was a successful
fair until 1897, and then the associa.
tion failed owing to general lack OF
interest. Twenty-four years after
ward, another meeting of farmers was
held in the old Davis house, the first
meeting being Dec. s, 1851. On the
10Th of January, 1862, the Cumberland
County Agricultural and Horticul.
tural Society was formed, the late
Lewis Mcbride being the first Presi
dent, the first exhibition was held
Sept. 2Sth, 1854, upon the property
now bounded by Commerce, Oak,
Giles and Lawrence streets, at this
time covered by handsome, substan.
tial residences. In 1860 large tract
OF property was purchased by the So
ciety, on Vine street, and in 1882 ant
1883 three adjoining properties were
purchased, giving the Society trac
of 1917 acres. In 1882 permanent ex
hibition buildings were erected, tax
ing the place of the tents formerly
used for exhibition purposes.
Later the big grand stand at the
Woodbury. fair ground was purchased
and moved down here.
Few now but can remember the
September fair days. Great crowds
of people came to Bridgeton, and the
occasion was always an annual holi
day. For many years the society
fourished, and was one of the most
successful in South Jersey.
Then came the purchase of the
Coombs property upon Fayette street
Handsome fair grounds were fitted up
but mistake was made. Far sighted
members of the organization wanted
to locate the new grounds upon the
line of the trolley, but this PROPOSE
tion was turned down.
The Fayette street grounds were in
accessible. Hackmen wanted fiftee1
cents to take the people there, and
there was never really successful ex
hibition, financially, held upon the
grounds. Those at the head of the or
ganization worked hard, and several
gentlemen personally involved them.
selves to support the institution, but
the enterprise was doomed to failure,
and for several years there have been
no attempts to give show there.
The association would have long
| since given back the grounds to Mr..
| Coombs, but he could not thus obtain
legal title, and foreclosure proceed
ings were resorted to.
Of the old, fourishing Cumberland
County Agricultural and horticultural
Society, nothing is left but memory.