Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-09
The OPENING Gun
For the Grand County
Fair Sept. y at Augusta.
Management Presents Novel
Scheme to Kennebec People.
Greatest Event Of Year Planned fol-
Augusta Trotting Park.
To the Citizens of Augusta:

/ ti''PN'eS loPdidily hIoWll DIS lllS
| Augusta Trotting park having recently
been acquired by company of oul
progressive citizens to the end that il
should not suffer humiliation, move
ment which was not only imminent
but which would already have been in
effect but for the timely action taken
by number of public spirited men
there opens up splendid opportunity
to all OF the residents not only of Au.
gusta, but OF adjoining towns and
| cities as well, to boost this beauti.
full central Kennebec valley by means
of establishing an annual county fail
to be holden at a propitious date dur
| ing the late summer or early fall OF
each year. Now it is a cardinal fac!
| that nothing can materialiZe except
| there be beginning. TO begin witt,
a determination to accomplish the de-
| sired end is safe assurance of un-
qualified success.
| Realizing this, small party of men
who are lovers of clean outdoor sports
possessing faith in the ability of the
| Capital of the State of Maine to
achieve as much as the jewellers of any
community on the continent, have
grouped together under the title of the
| County Fair Association for the eX-
press purpose of launching such fair.
1t must be well known to every man
| and child that the old Driving Park
property when acquired was in any
thing but condition to court the at
| teHtion of promoters of any important
project. For number of years it had
been left to it's natural demolition OF
to such demolition as remained for the
| processes Of nature after it's thousands
of feet of fencing, it's two score or more
OF we'll appointed stalls, it's commodi-
Gus grandstand had been RACED at the
hands Of the WreckerS.
1t indeed bore a most gloomy as
pect and a few trips around the Job
| long CIRCLE from the once smooth
surface OF which was wont to ring the
hOof beats of the great harness racers
of the times, was enough to cultivate
| a sorrowful mood, especially on late
summer afternoon when the suns last
rays were cast horizontally across this
natural pleasure field, furnishing an
| uncanny light in keeping with the
sapulchral notes issuing from the
threats of a thousand frogs.
Such, then. was the condition that
| must be met by the County Fair AS
ISOLATION. Now the members of this
| association believe that things easy
do they require the efforts of a de-
termined body; rather that a most
| mediocre body can successfully attend
| to matters that require little or no
effort. .. -.
A desperate case demands heroic
| trea ment at the hands of d skilled and
determined surgeon. 1t presents an
l. opportunity for practical demonstra-
ton of possibilities
This County Fair is the desperate
case" and the association promoting it
| is the determined surgeon" the pub
lie shall decide whether or not the
title be deserved.
| If You will take the time to inves-
tigate you will ind that already
| things have been doing" Along the
western line has risen fence of nine
| feet in height. constructed of first
quality planed spruce attached to sub
stantal cedar posts that will still be
looking UPWARD after the builders
have passed from the field of action.
Along the entire northern line for a
distance OF 500 feet a fence of the same
substantial nature is under process OF
erection. Arrangements have been
made for large addition to the pres
ent graEdstand while another will be
| erected at point about 200 feet north
| of the present one and when completed
| there v,ill be a seating capacity Of not
| less than 20G0.
Plans have also been formulated for
| the various other improvements neces-
sary to the comfort and safety of the
J anticipated large attendance and the
| uneNcelled fields of horses that Will
| furnish part of the entertainment at
the first annual fair, Sept. y.
| The officers and members of the
County Fair Association are not at all
stingy; they are perfectly willing that
all of our good citizens should aid in
rendering this, our first effort. grand
success If our limited wisdom serves
us faithfully, without a single eXcep-
| ton you are anxious to lend us your
| support. We are therefore going t.
take you into partnership with us
along the following lines which we
know will meet with your hearty APP
| prevail We are going to issue 1000
| Honor Certificates and we are going
to allow every citizen of Augusta, Hal
lowell. Gardiner and Winthrop to
| nossess one in exchange for one dollar
These Honor Certificates will each al
nit a gentleman and lady to our
great outdoor entertainment. fair and