The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-08-18
STORY OF OUR FAIR
CONTINUED from page ~

that is standing today and a ticket
office was built. All the trees in the
area enclosed by the race track were
removed.
At the close Of the year 1910 the
agricultural society had an indebted
ness of $50 although it had received
state appropriation of $415.25. Few
person realize how much money is ex-
pended in producing one 6f our county
fairs: The. cost of maintaining the
grounds in good condition and keeping
the buildings in repair amounts to
quite sum and if any permanent i'm
provements are made that is just so
much extra expense. The state appro-
priation each year covers large per-
centage Of the money awarded in pre-
miums but no other appropriations are
received outside Of the county. In the
past 10 years the county itself has
appropriated $4,000 and last year the
village Of Princeton donated $500. All
other money used by the association
must come from private contributions,
the sale of privileges and gate re-
ceipts. No superintendent of any de-
partment receives any remuneration
for his serves and no officer of the
association except the secretary re-
ceives salary. During the last few
years the secretary has been paid
the princely sum Of $3.50 per year
and it is safe to state that no man
who was not willing to give most of
his service gratis could be induced to
accept that office for salary less
than $1,000 per year. In fact that is
the salary received by the majority of
permanent secretaries OF the various
county fairs. All the officers of the
association and a score of other
members who took so active part in
developing the Mile Laos County fair,
among whom should be mentioned
Charles Keith, R. C. Dunn and J. J..
Skahen, are entitled to much credit.
Andrew Bryson who served as presi-
dent from 1910 to 1919, E. K. Evens
who is now president, and Ira G. STAN
ley who has been secretary since 1908
are deserving of especial mention.
Secretary Stanley has been exceeding
ly faithful in performing his duties
and in his endeavor to build up the
fair has given Of his time and energy
without stint.
The Mile Laos County fair is
county institution and the agricul-
tural society is a county association.
The directors are elected by the
members of the association on the
first Tuesday in December of each
year and the directors choose the Off
GERS. It has always been the policy
OF the association to elect as directors
men who represent the whole county.
The following were directors for the
Dan Sunberg, Foreston; J.. J. Skahen,
year 1912: J. A: Allen, Milaca; Andrew
Bryson, Princeton; Peter Jensen, b.
gus Brook; H. J. Mann, Wahkon; S.
s. Peterson, Princeton; Nels M. Pet
erson, Book; George Schmidt, Prince
ton township; Ira Stanley, Princeton;
Dan Sunberg, Foreston; J. J. Skahen,
Princeton, and Ole Uglum, Greenbush.
The building program begun in 1911
with the erection of the agricultural
hall, poultry building 60 by "a feet
and cow barn SO by 96 feet, was
continued in 1912. During that year
the horse barn was remodeled and
enlarged and the administration build
ing and the grand stand were erected.
The ladies Of Princeton and the fair
management built the women's rest
room. This rest room was much need
ed and Mrs. J. J. Skahen was one Of
the women who took an active part in
securing funds for it's erection.
The following year, on the 10Th Of
April, rather disastrous fire visited
the fair grounds. The big barn COM
pleted the previous, year was entirely
burned and the horse barn was par
tally destroyed. The poultry hall and
the grand stand also were slightly
scorched- The barns. were replaced
before the fair the following Septem-
Der and two new buildings were added
to the group, the .caretaker's house
and the art hall.
Some of the most distinguished men
in the county have delivered addresses
at our county fairs, among whom are
our two United States senators, Knute
Nelson and Frank B. Kellogg, and
James J. Hill. The day Mr.. Hill spoke;
September IL, 1913, the gate re-
ceipts were $1,12620, the highest
amount ever reached on any one day
in the history of the fair until August
20, 1919.
A comparison Of the figures in the
table published elsewhere in this issue
giving such data as the gate receipts
and amounts awarded in premiums for
the last 10 years will give some .indi-
cation as to the growth of the fair
during that period of time. It should
be noted that the gate receipts last
year were almost twice those of any
previous year and according to all in
dications, the 1921 fair is going to
break all records.