Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-28
/: ATHENS FAIR
Has Biggest Attendance
In It's History
Governor MiIlken with Staff Attends
and Delivers a Short Patriotic Al.
dress-Fine Exhibition Of Pure Bred
Cattle - Midway, Ball Game and
Baby Show Please the Crowd

Athens, Sept. 27.-From north. south,
east and west, In fact. from all over
the State, congregated people in the
quiet little village Of Athens to partic-
ipate in the annual exhibition of the
Wesserunsett Valley Fair Association
Thursday. The town had taken on tho
appearance of a big fete celebration
with some Of Names best blooded cat
tie, high bred horses and household art
brought out to view.
The Midway was clean and interest
ing, the various booths having been
set UP on tine village square where ad-
ditional evergreen trees and gay col
ors had helped to make the spot more
beautiful. The First Regiment Band
Of Skowhcgan furnished music for the
day.
Included among the distinguished
guests were Gov. MillikeD, with MS
staff, Ma jcr j. &. Moriarty Of Lewiston,
Major G. NJ. Elliott Of Brunswick Ma
Jor Charles Z. Davis Of Augusta, Capt.
H. P. WinslCw Of Gardiner and Capt.
w. c. Goddard of Augusta The Gov
ernor and Harvey d. Eaton of Wa
terville. president of the Fair Associa-
ton, with party of gentlemen were
a trihe late in arriving but were met
at the top Of Green hill by the staff
in uniform and the band where a pro-
cession was formed leading to Grange
hall.
In the party were Charles A. Milf
ken. father Of the Governor: William
J. Thompson of South China, master of
the State Grange; George s. Hobbs.
Portland. End vice president Of the
Maine Central Railroad; jefferson c.
Smith Of Waterville. State Y NJ. c. A
secretary; A. A. Head of Waterville.
State Laymen's secretary; William G.
Huntoon of Portland, Industrial agent
OF the Maine Central; John A. Rob-
erts of Norway, State commissioner OF
agriculture; F. s. Adams Of Bowdoin-
ham. State dairy instructor; Colby
Getchell Of Waterville ex-sheriff Of
Kennebec county; r. NJ. Gilmore of
Waterville. secretary Central Maine
Fair; DR.. p. r. Baird of Waterville: r.
A Shepherd Of the Waterville Senti-
rel and John L. Fish Of the Kennebec
Journal. Tables were in reservation for
them in the Grange banquet hall,
where hundreds Of people had dined
upon an excellent meal Of baked beans,
brown bread and pastry.
Shortly after this Pres. Eaton, the
Governor and others Of the party went
to the village band stand. which was
surrounded by an immense gathering
of people. Pres. Eaton presi6 d over
brief program in his usual cordial man
nd In Oh
patriotic address. reminding the peo-
pie Of Athens of the necessity of food
for the armies, recommended the plant
ing of crops and food conservation, and
urged them to make some sacrifice in
tho great national task.
Vice President Hobbs of the Maine Cen
trail touched upon the development Of
country life and the great value a rail-
road would be to the people of that Sec
ton. A. A. Head was the third speaker
He asked them all to consider the In
crease of man-yieid per acre and the pos
sibilites of the future especially with re-
gard to the boys and girls Of today.
The household art of the fair was
shown to good advantage in Grange hall
auditorium. Displays of fancy work were
made by Mrs. ". O. Paul Miss Amy Kim
caid. Mrs. Emma O. Pierce, Alice Leigh
ton. Mrs. s. P. McCollar. Mrs Osgood,
York, Mrs. E R. Taylor and Lottie Lord
Mrs. A. j. Hilton had cheese and Ellen P.
Jones had butter. Mrs. Elsie Magoon
showed crayon and watercolor pictures.
and Claude Barker, G. L. Austin and Mrs
Bert Fish showed antiques. Hattie Dore
exhibited flowers Much yellow corn was
exhibited, w. Thompson winning first
prize, Osgood York. Lester Willis, Ira
Toland and B. P. Barker being other ex-
hibitors.
In the vegetable display leading exhibit
ors were Alden Buchanan Ernest F. Po-
land. Harold Poland and B. P Barker.
There must have certainly been 200 head
Of cattle and probably no fair in Maine
this season has shown bigger percent
age Of pure bred animals. H. D. Eaton
had a magnificent showing of pure bred
Herefords and Ayrshires, and . of
George e. Fosters Guernseys were not
able features of the exhibit. 8. L. Hight
showed Holsteins, Eben Dean & Son Of
Madison 90 head OF Herefords and Beck
with & Taylor were leading exhibitors.
In the horse department were some OF
H. D. Eaton's noted Percherons. a mare
with colt being one OF the imported eight
which Mr.. Eaton maintains at his Corn
Vile farm. Other exhibitors Of nearly ~
head comprising the horse show were F.
H. Robertson. Eben Dean & Son. Fox
Brothers. T. L. Hight, Beckwith & Tav-
Tor. John Curtis. Joseph Barker, Frank
Gardiner and Donald Mclean
Other features Of the afternoons enter
tainment included baby show in Grange
hall dancing party in Odd Fellows
building and a baseball game The teams
were from Somerset Academy and Arson
Academy Ten innings were played. An
son winning by a score OF to 2. A grand
BAH in the evening closed the days pro-
gram
It was all IN ALI probably the biggest
fair ever held in Athens. It was estimat-
"a that 300 people were in attendance.