Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-09-04
MARATHON COUNTY FAIR
Just What Secretary Christie Said 1t
Would Be THE Largest in the
History of the Organization

If the management of the Marathon
county fair had ordered just the kind
of weather it wanted to promote the
success of the Marathon county fair
it could not have been handed out any
better than that which was given it
for from Tuesday until Friday, not a
drop of rain-nothing but sunshine
from start to finish 1t was fairly
cold in the shade Tuesday and We'd
nesday and especially on Wednesday
night it was cold enough to wear
heavy wraps. Thursday and Friday
were delightfully."- warm days. We'd
nesday the grounds were crowded with
people from every part of the county
and all who could came from the city
and adjoining places. 1t was a sort of
a home coming and familiar faces that
had not been seen in our city for many
day were among the crowd, and
there was an exchange of greetings,
such as only can come between old
time friends, who had, in many in
stances been long separated. Occa-
sionally one would hear a conversa-
tiOn between old settlers, something g
like this: "Well we were here when
the first county fair was held on these
grounds on Sept. "a and 25, 1858. We
did not have such a race track or
grand stand, or stables, or sideshows
as this year, but we had a good time.
Do you remember the speech made
by Secretary w. c. Silverthorn, in
English and one in German by Chas.
HOefiinger? and the grapes shown by
Mr.. Hoefiinger; the apples by Henry
Paff the vegetables and grain by
Dan HOllinger; the horses of Hon. w.
ID. Mclndoe; the fancy driving team
by Mat DeCoursey and the novelty
cane by w. w. DeVoe; and the band
in which such men as Plumer, Gems
mann, Kolter, Bauman. Mueller aud
others played the good old tunes of
long ago. How the names of the win
ners of premiums were read off from
the top of large pine stump, etc"
1t was the time to get down past
history if only the stenographer of to-
day could have been present to take
down all such talks.
Prof. Moore told Secretary ]. d.
Christie that the Marathon county fair
was the best in the state and that its
fair grounds could not be excelled
The attendance on Wednesday was
fully double that of last year and the
gate receipts showed such to be the
case. Thursday, the big day of the
fair, when the stores and factories
were closed, to give all a chance to
attend, was a record breaker. By
those competent to say, and Judging
SfrOm the gate receipts and free ad-
missions. the attendance was placed
at 10000. The grounds were filled
from the grand stand to the main
building with automobiles and there
we're hundreds parked inside of the
race track. 1t was estimated that
there were 1000 cars on the grounds.
1t demonstrated that if our fairs were
continued to be worked up by boost
ers," such as made a trip through
out this county, Lincoln, Langlade,
Wood, Portage, Taylor, Clark and
ShawanO counties, and are to be fur
nished with all sunshine weather,
grand stand that will accommodate
1000 or 5000 will have to be built
and hotel accommodations provided
for all who may come. AS it was, many
had to sit up in chairs or walk the
streets on Wednesday and Thursday
nights
The fair eXcelled any one ever held
in the county for years, notwithstand-
ing that it was a week earlier than
usual and the season several weeks
late.
The main building was filled and
there were numerous tents holding
displays and the live stock poultry,
fa r,,, nrpdrynD in ~ rin or b1nc
and buildings were such as to make the
heart of every citizen of the county
swell with just pride.
The horse races and attractions
were especially good. The manage
ment eXerted every effort to get good
horses to fill the races and it was
eminently successful, as those who at
tended never saw a better line of fast
horses. all out for blood, at any fair,
end the attractions which gave exhibit
tions on a large platform in front
of the grand stand, proved a great
drawing card. Splendid exhibitions
were given by Romano Ortiz, the tight
wire performer; the Four Pierrots, in
acrobatic stunts; Hermany's cats and
dogs; Ducharme, the strong man
singing by the Florida Troubadors and
solos by Will LaCerte, and a great
pleasure through the fair were the
concerts by Dana's Military band.
The evening entertainments consist
ed of a program in which all of the
above took part and which lasted un-
til about 8 o'clock, when Martins Fire
works gave an hour of the most won
derful display of shooting rockets
bursting bombs, beautiful designs
spinning wheels, curtains of fire, etc
Especially on Thursday night were the
grounds crowded During the after
noon il was estimated that there were
10000 people on the premises. There
were fully as many present in the
evening. II was good natured gath
ering, all bent on having a good time
The midway had all kinds of good
clean shows and games, and not the
least wss its merry -go-round, and al
was especially attractive with it's myri
ads of electric lights, and the shouting
of those trying to attract people t
their various shows.
The Marathon county fair for 1911
will long be remembered for its ex
cenent displays: for its splendid at
fractions: its high class band musi,
and the perfect article of weather fur
nished by the weather man. Thi
could not have been made possible
texcepting the weather, and we viii
not admit that the management di,
not have something TO Go with tn
furnishing of this.) if it were not 70
the great eXertions made by the Off
GERS of the society and they are de
serving of great credit for the pro
nounced success of the fair.
The Displays
The large tent put up at the south
east of the main building by the Coun
~ Council of Defense, covered a larg
area of ground and was as attraetiv
as the main tent in a circus. Tn
Council of Defense department wa
represented by W. X. Mitchell and h
was instrumental in getting the ter
here from Madison. which was loane
u-ifhpuf cost and Mr. Mitchell super