Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-01-03
HAD A GOOD YEAR.
Agricultural Society Successful In Spite of
Rains at Last Fair.

Rains at Last Fair.
The annual business meeting of the
Addison County Agricultural society was
held on Wednesday, Jan. l, at the Addi-
son House in Middlebury. The meeting
was called to order at II 30 by Vice
President w. A. Lawrence of Bristol.
The regular order Of business was at
once entered upon, and Secretary c. S.
Dana of New Haven presented his report,
which was accepted. 1t was as follows ::
sECRETARY's REPORT.
Gentlemen The 57th Annual fair was held
at Middlebury, Sept. 10, IL and II with the
most unfavorable weather we have had in a
number of years. | think it is generally con-
ceded had the best allaround agricul-
tural show last year ever had. The dis
play of fruit and vegetables and some of the
live stock departments " ere much better than
at the state fair at Rutland. We had fine
exhibit of horses, sheep and cattle; also of
matched and single driving horses, besides
the remarkably fine collection of 36 horses
shown by Dr. w. Seward Webb of Shelburne,
which was one of the great drawing cards of
the fair Prof. A. G. Holden, who dropped
from a tower 10 feet high into tank contain.
ing about five feet of water, gave the most
sensational attraction we have had, and
2
The attendance on the second day of the
fair in the rain was remarkable, the receipts
from the grand stand alone being $l56, and
tends to show that you Icannot keep the
people away from an Addison county fair.
The ground rents last year, including the
merry go round, were 1856, the largest amount
ever received. The expense of stalls for DR..
WeDb's horses was nearly $780, and they gave
only one exhibition and that in the rain; but
they drew out large number of people and
think would be a good attraction for the next
fair. No one expected that the premiums of
the last fair would he paid in full, but they
were and there is stiI money in the treasury.
/ think that it is not too much to say that had
we had good weather the surplus would have
been $500 at this time.
Our selection of dates for the last fair was
most unfortunate. Brattleboro, witch has
the most successful fairs in Vermont, has
held fairs for a number of years the last week
in September and has not had any rain for
years.
Among number Of things which aided us
to cone ont so well financially under most
lnauspcous circumstances was gift to the
society of nearly $50 by Hon. Joseph Rattell,
ana also one OF Sij by DR.. w. :. Adams of
Forest Park stock Farm of Brandon, as Dr..
Adams very kindly donated his premiums TO
| the society.
| The people of the county seem to feel
/ kindly toward the society at the present
! time and to take an interest in its success.
Addison county has for years stood in the
| front rank for agricultural perfection. Her
| Merino sheep and Morgan horses won most
of the prizes at the Worlds Columbian Ex.
position at Chicago in 1893 and at the Pan
! American Exposition in 1901. Take n trip
! through any of the neighbOring towns and
note the many fine farm buildings ana excel
lent farms, well stocked with horses cattle
and sheep. With our many rural deliveries,
with library, a telephone and an organ or
piano in nearly every home, there is no
reason why the farmers of Addison county
should not be prosperous, contented and
happy, and there Is every reason why the
Addison county fair of 1902, with good
weather, should be a rouser and eclipse any
of our previous efforts.
Wishing the officers and members of the
society happy new year, respectfully sub
nit this report.
G.. 5. DANA, Secretary.
Following Secretary Dana's very cheer
full and optimistic report came that of
Treasurer A. p. Roscoe; and in view of
the hard luck accompanying the last
fair. as set forth by the secretary, the
financial statement certainly presents a
healthy appearance. It was as follows
TREASURER'S REPORT.
I'm 1f.AI -