The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1911-09-05
HISTORY OF FAMOUS
FAIR ASSOCIATION
Continued from Page 2.

the old Kentucky Midland depot |
and the grounds improved. The
amphitheatre was constructed in |
a circular hollow, the side being |
graded in seats for the accommo-
dalton of the spectators. A
board fence four feet high sepa-
rated this from the show ring. |
Marks of this rude arrangement
remained for several years.
Four years later, in 1850, a
tract of ten acres was added to
the first purchase and the whole |
was enclosed by a high board |
fence. In 1852 Major Williams
rendered his resignation as pres
ident of the Society and Brutus
j. Clay was elected to succeed
him. At cost of approximate
! ly $4,000 a new amphitheatre,
handsome cottages and conve-
nient booths were erected. Short
| ly afterwards eight more acres
of ground was added, making a
total of twenty-eight acres. In
1856 the State Agricultural So
ciety erected a floral hall and a
number of box stalls which were
subsequently purchased by the
Bourbon County Agricultural
Society. To these more improve
ments were added.
With the guidance of tie or
ganization gradually passing into
Younger hands, the young men
composing the majority of the
Board of Directors desiring to
keep fully abreast with the times
decided to introduce new fea-
turss in the way of trotting, run
ming and pacing races. To this
end the old circular amphithe-
atre was torn down in 1886 and
in the early spring of the year
! following several more acres of
ground was purchased, a splen-
did half mile track built, and a
new grandstand seating 1000
people, judges and music stands
and new stables built. A new
floral hall was erected just south
of the grandstand. At this meet
ing the fiftieth anniversary of
the existence of the Society was
celebrated in an appropriate
manner and in the presence of a
large crowd.
The change from the old to the
new ideas of conducting the
county fair did not meet with the
approval of the farming classes
and the attendance dwindled
down year after year until 1896
the society was confronted by an
overwhelming debt. The fate
of the organization was decided
on December 10, 1896, when fire
destroyed the amphitheatre.
stands and a goodly portion of
the fence around the race track.
Already burdened with debt
the society decided not to rebuild
and with this decision passed the
hope of reviving the famous old
Bourbon Fair, and ten years
passed before the movement for
recognizing the Society was
considered.
The question of recognizing the
! Society was agitated year after
; year following the destruction
, by fire of the buildings, but
without any result and the
grounds of tee Society were di-
vided into small tracts and pass
ed into the hands of real estate
, spectators and home builders
, and is rapidly becoming one of
the most attractive residene sec
tons of the city.
The reorganization of the So
eiety was undertaken in the ear
; ly spring of 1906, when it was
proposed by the promoters tc
. float enough stock to purchase
suitable grounds and erect q
stand, stalls and other necessary
buildings.
: The proposed movement met
. with hearty support and a trac
! of land containing % ga acres
at the intersection of the Bethle
hem and Maysville and Lexing-
: ton turnpikes was purchased
u from Mr.. E. K. Thomas at a cos
: of So, 500.
. An amphitheatre fashionec
|, after that erected in 1852 wa
: built and stock stalls erected
: The grounds were improved b,
: the planting of trees, andsbeaut
!, full walks were laid from eacl
!: entrance. All this work wa
: completed before scheduled dat
: of the fair, and the first exhibi
= tion hold hv the newly orUanize