The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-09-29
ALBERT TOZIER TELLS
OF TRIALS OF FAIR

lnasmuch as this season marks the
sixtieth anniversary of the Oregon
state fair, pioneers are recalling
years when the annual event was in
the making Albert TOZier, of Dee,
who perhaps knows more about the
yearly event than any other native res
ident, and who in turn is more widely
known than any other attendant, has
mind stored full of interesting facts
and "reminiscences.
Mr.. Tozer has been actively identi-
fled as mayor of the famous old camp
ground adjoining the fair grounds
proper, for great many years, and
will serve in the same capacity again
this season. Up until 20 years ago,
when it was accidentally destroyed.
Mr.. Tozier had in his possession data
and information invaluable to future
historians. He had the name of every
officer and member of the state fair
board from 1860 to 1900. every mar
shal, every Judge of the race course,
every superintendent, all weather con-
ditions, tickets, badges, folders, prem
ium lists, autographs and much other
accumulation of historical notes, in
cluding hundreds of press clippings
furnished him by the late John Min
to of Salem, former secretary.
In speaking of the early fairs, Mr.
Tozier says, 4: Zone great drawback
of the event was the fact that its date
of holding necessarily had to be at
such times as the farmer could attend.
This was after harvest, and generally
the rainy season, making the attend
ance poor. One of the big fairs was
held in July.
Before railroad days and when rail-
roading was in its infancy IN Oregon,
the Oregon state fair grounds being on
the main artery of travel between
Portland and southern Oregon was
made the general meeting place Of
friends who had come from other
states, and the Oregon state fair the
time for that meeting. Freighters to
and from Portland made it point TO
reach Salem at those times, and ac-
guaintances Of long ago were re
newed.
The camp grounds originally consist
ed of the section Of land which now in
cludes the race track, grandstand and
every building on the fair grounds,
west, north and south. The camping
feature is peculiar to itself 1t has
been maintained a third Of a century,
after its disconlinuance in other
places.
The president of the Oregon state
fair campers association, the only or
ganization Of its character, is William
Schulmerich, Of Hillsboro; secretary,
Mrs. A. King, of Salem. it holds its
annual VFannfHnor fha EreH hf .rFs D.
fsir and takes up all matters relative
to camping. Ii is the one organized
friend of the state fair, and one that
tends TO make bigger and better the
great show itself.
+. H. Flagg, representative from
Marion county, secured the passage Of
the bill that made the grounds the
property Of the state. TINS bin en-
abled the payment Of back debts such
as salaries, wages, premiums and so
on. This was at the 1897 session of
the state legislature.
Among the early attractions at the
first state fairs were five-mile races.
bull races, the last Of which was IN
1896. and also feats Of equestrisnshin.
in which women and girls participated.
Premium lists were originally issued
after a fair instead of previously az
now. Among the Oldest ones still in
existence are the property of J. T.
Hunt. of Salem. county commissioner,
whose father served as state fair sec
retary at one time. Prizes were
awarded for working oxen, fat hogs,
matched carriage horses, displays Of
mechanical dentistry, surgical instru-
ments, home-brew, homemade medi-
cines. penmanship, zephyr work, COW
erlets. hand-knitted goods. and many
other things that would seem a freak
exhibit today.
The state fair was at first under the
supervision of the State Agricultural
Society, with a full complement Of
officers and committees. Classifca-
tions we're gradually added with exhib-
itors along about 1870 required to sc-