Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-10-03
Annual Fair at Bethel.
FIFTEENTH EXHIBITION OF THE RIVER
SIDE PARK ASSOCIATION.


: FIFTEENTH EXHIBITION OF THE RIVER
81 SIDE PARK ASSOCIATION.
Those fairs scheduled for last weel
: had a somewhat varied assortment o
D weather. Tuesday, the opening day
B was marked by what was almost
September gale, without rain. Wednes
. day was comparatively quiet, but witt
overcast skies, and just suspicion o
| raw edge to>the breeze, that made ligh
; coats and wraps q necessity, and Thurs
r day proved very comfortable day.
Tuesday was day of busy prepare
) ton at the grounds of the Riverside Parl
Association at Bethel, and the bleal
, wind, while it blew down and tore tn,
/ merry-go-round canopy, and made
| things generally disagreeble and I'm
, comfortable, was not allowed to inter
, fere with the lively work of the officer.
and exhibitors.
II The officers of the association for this
year, who have as a rule worked well
for the success of the fair, are:
Presidential. 8. Hastings.
.President-J. A. Twaddle.
| Secretary-L. A. Hall.
| Treasurer-E. G. Rowe.
Trustees-H. s. Hastings, o. P. Harrington
j. NJ. PhilbrO0k, +. c. Rowe. w. r. Chapman
Seth Walker, }. A. Twadde. F. L. Edwards.
F. l.. Edwards had charge of the stock
department, II. S. Hastings of the
horses, and DR.. F. B. Tuell of the hall.
No fair ground in the state has more
picturesque surroundings than that at
Bethel. Situated in the midst of the
level plain of the Androscoggin valley,
but few rods from the river itself, it
presents in every direction a beautiful
view of the towering hills and mount
aims of northern Oxford. 1t is also in a
good agricultural and stock raising Sec
ton, and much larger and more credit
able showing than is made might be the
result if the people in the vicinity could
be induced by local pride to take hold
of the enterprise more generally and
give some of their time and effort to it.
As it is, while much that is good is
shown, the exhibit as whole is far
from being fair representation of the
resources and products of the section.
At the horse stalls the great object of
interest was the handsome black stallion
Ell Sable, owned by Hall & Young of
Bethel, together with number of colts
of his get. In fact, Hall & Young led
off quite prominently in the horse ex-
hbit, taking seven blue ribbons.
The midway was lively place. The
canopy over the merry-go-round was
back in place by noon of Wednesday,
and the revolving horses did a rushing
business thereafter. Bill Bailey was
there doing the lodging act, and forty
other fakirs, with all sorts of goods and
schemes, made the air resound with the
clamor of their "barkers."
The Berlin Band, Frank p. Knapp
leader, played on the grand stand We'd
nesday afternoon.
The "Frankfut" man and other cater
ers in tents dispersed refreshment, and
in the big booth, which was run by
Twitchell Bros. of Oxford, good hot
roast meat dinner was served.
SOME OF THE CATTLE.
A Hereford bull for stock use was
shown by Fred j. Philbrook, and Dur
ham bull. 2 years old, by A. r. Merrill.
Three-year-old steers were shown by
A. R Merrill and j. S. Allen.
Trained steers by A. r. Merrill.
Town team of working oxen by Newry,
also town team of steers by same.
Matched oxen by j. NJ. Philbrook,
Grover German two yoke, e. F. Saunders,
Martha Bartlett, w. II. Thurston 2 yoke,
Stanley & Carter. One of the pairs
shown by w. H. Thurston were so large
and heavy as to cause surprised com
ment by all who came in sight of them.
Matched 3-year.old steers by j. NJ.
Philbrook, A. X. Merrill, w. II. Thurs
ton, j. S. Allen.
Matched 2-year-old steers by A. R.
Merrill, 2 yoke, also one pair matched
yearlings by same.
Four good Holstein heifers were shown
by E. j. Hobbs of Norway Lake.
SHEEP AND SWINE.
A fair lot of sheep and swine was to be
seen in the pens.
Flocks of sheep and lambs we're shown
by II. S. Hastings and A. r. Merrill.
Buck for wool by II. S. Hastings, and
buck for mutton by A. X. Merrill.
Sow and pigs were shown by II. +.
Maxim and T. H. Jewett, Poland China
boar by II. F. Maxim, and Chester boar
by C. l.. Davis. Fat pigs by II. F.
Maxim and T. II. Jewett.
POULTRY.
A very creditable display of poultry
was made.
Rhode Island Red fowls were shown
by Una Roberts and Joseph Wilson;
Light Brahmas and Brown Leghorns by
l.. A. Roberts; Bantams by Roy Thurs
ton; Buff Leghorns by Joseph Wilson;
Bantams by Taylor.
Rhode Island Red chicks were shown
by II. S. Hastings, Una Roberts, Mrs. d.
a. Trask, and Joseph Wilson; Standard
Golden Buff Rocks by Z. l.. Arno; Light
Brahmas by L. A. Roberts; Wyandottes
by T. II. Jewett.
Turkeys by Mrs. l.. A. Roberts and
Irving l.. Carver, 2 coOps.
Geese by Mrs. l.. A. Roberts.
Ducks, four pair, by e. B. Jewett.
VERY GOOD HALL SHOW.
The display in the hall, though not ex.
cessively large, was very creditable and
larger than in some previous years. A
space at the end was occupied by Bear
River Grange, which was the only
grange to make an exhibit, and which
had a very attractive arrangement.
Features of the collection were eight deer
heads, a number of traces Of handsome
yellow corn, and fine lot of sofa pill
lows and fancy work.
A large assortment of farm produce
was shown by II. S. Hastings of Newry,
prominent feature of which was a
number of mammoth squashes.
Collections of garden vegetables and
fruit were exhibited by F. A. Brown,
Charles Cross and A. observation-disclosures.
OF these the largest and most conspicu-
GUS was that Of F. A. Brown of River
View Farm, Bethel. 1t was varied, all
of good quality, and we'll arranged.
There was a good quantity of fancy
work, number of quilts and rugs, and
small show of bread and dairy