The Bourbon news., 1911-09-08
HISTORY OF FAMOUS
FAIR ASSOCIATION
Bourbon County Agricultur-
al Society Organized in
1886 Most Success
full in the State
OLDEST FAIR IN WEST
Early Records Show First
Meeting Held in Year of
1921 Foundation
for the Society

The event Of the season, COM
mencing Monday, marked the
63 annual exhibition of the
Bourbon County Agricultural
Society and the gates of the his
toric organization will be thrown
open to the public this morning.
The annual fair in this city has
for years past attracted people
from far and near. and the eX-
hibition which will begin this
morning, give promise of a sue
cessful week from every point of
view.
Lacking a little less than a
month it has been seventy-five
years since the Bourbon County
Agricultural Society was first or
ganized and the first fair held
under the direction of the orga-
nization.
During the many years inter-
vening the popularity of the
Bourbon fair has been attested
by the worldwide reputation it
attained, and since its birth has
been at the head of the county
fairs of the State, and widely
known as the oldest fair west of
the Allegheny mountains.
Few are alive today who can
recall the first fair held in Paris
under this organization. The
original charter Of the Society is
on record in the County Clerk S
Office and is regarded as rare
document.
While history shows the first
fair was held in Bourbon county
in 1886, there are records to show
that as early as 1921 a fair was
held in Col. Clay's woods, a few
miles from Paris on the Win
chester pike, 1t is understood
to have been an exhibition of
stock alone.
The organization Of the Bour-
bon County Agricultural Society
was first determined upon June
6, 1886, when a number of farm
ers met in this city on court day
when the subject was taken up
resulting in the calling of a meet
ing for that purpose to be held
on the ninth of July. General
Garrard at this meeting was
elected as president of the new
organization, VIM. P. Hume and
Nimrod Lindsay, vice presidents;
Thomas Y. Brent, treasurer;
Thos. P. Thornton, correspond
ing secretary, and Hiram Bled-
seem, recording secretary.
A committee was appointed tt
prepare a constitution and at a
meeting on July 80, 1886, the or.
ganization was completed by the
by the adoption of the constitu-
ton and the election Of a boarc
of directors composed Of Geo. w.
Williams, Henry T. Duncan,
Henry Clay, Sr.. Jas. w. Coggs
well, Brutus ]. Clay, Col. Johr
Cunningham, VIM. Hickman
Jere Duncan, Chas. S. Brent and
Henry TowleS.
The first fair under the new
organization was held the last
day of September and the first
day of October, 1886. The list
of premiums was not very attrac.
tive and the schedule of entries
was very short. The entire re-
sources of the Society, including
subscriptions, donations, entrance
fees, etc., aggregated 1854. so, of
which amount $3.50 were paid out
in premiums and $35 for other
expenses.
After serving the Society foi
two years President Garrard dieC
and in 1888 VIM. P. Hume sue.
ceeded him, filling the office un.
til 1841, when Major George w.
Williams was chosen.
Up until the year of 1845 simi.
lar societies throughout the state
suffered a decline under the
pressure of financial troubles.
Leaving the Bourbon Society the
only survivor, with its condition
weakened by the financial strain,
but during the year following
conditions and prospects were
considerably improved.
Up to that time the..exhibitions
had been held on the piece 'ot
bottom land near the junction OF
Stoner and Houston creeks, and
portion of what is now known
as White Addition. A subscrip.
ton Of stock in shares of $33. sc