The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1922-09-28
1t Took Four Days To Go
To First Whatcom Fair

Lynden's first newspaper, the
Pioneer-Press, published by L.
ID. Pangborn, is on exhibition at
the County Fair this week, and
this first issue of Oct. 16, 1888,
tells of the first fair ever held
in Whatcom County.
Charles Cline describes the pi-
oneer fair as follows in the yell
lowed old newspaper:
l went to the fair last week |;
made quick trip on the steamer
Cleaner, started Monday morn
ing, and arrived in Sehome
Thursday morning, just in time
to witness the trial trip of the
first locomotive in Whatcom
county. The engine started from
the Sehome wharf at 10 A. NJ,
with two flat cars, amid the
cheers and waving of handker-
chiefs of the assembled crowd.
The fair was held in the city
park, Whatcom, in lieu of more
appropriate grounds. Four large
tents filled with display of
natural and artificial productions
occupied a central position. The
rest of the enclosure was devoted
to live stock and agricultural
implements. The north tent con-
tanned the vegetable show which
have never seen equalled any
where. Rutabagas weighing 25
pounds; mangel wurtZels, of
which three weighed fifty-seven
pounds; monster squashes; mag
nificent displays of potatoes, and
in fact every product of this ia
vored land were to be seen on
every hand.
The east tent was devoted to
the art display, and taken all in
all, after making due allowance
for rainy weather, was a credit
able showing. Where everything
was so good it would not do in
the limited space allotted me to
make individuous comparisons.
The south tent contained a Jap
anese bazaar; the fine display
of harness, etc., by Mr.. Dickey of
Whatcom, jewelry by Mr.. Bemis,
and a fine cabinet of fossils and
shells, by Messrs. Collins and
Powell, all of Whatcom. The CEN
trail tent contained horticultural
feast fit for the gods. Apples
and pears very large and luscious
looking; peaches, grapes, and all
of the earlier fruits, preserved
in cans and jars. My vocabulary
is too limited to do full justice
to the display in this department.
Hon. H. Bucey, President of the
Territorial Horticultural Society,
said he had never seen its equal.
Mr.. Bucey had a fine lot of
fruits on exhibition, as did A. N.
Miller of Puyallup, and VIM. Lee
of Tacoma. Mr.. Bennett received
first prize for the finest display
of apples. Owing to the rain the
! stock fban & show was much smaller
bers, Lynden's only competitor
in this department, received
first premium ON his bull "Glad-
heifer Pearl of Green
land" calf "Jagurtha," and
second premium on bull George
of Greenland" The entrees from
Lynden were only two, as nearly
as l could ascertain, in all the
other departments, both by Mr..
Fl. A. Judson. His large head
of cabbage, weighing thirty-five
pounds, took first prize. The hill
of corn sent by Mr.. Judson was
the most widely noticed article
at the fair. 1t measured fifteen
feet in height, and had six fine
ears of corn. 1t, together with
the cabbage, is now on exhibition
in the Reveille office in What
com.
The attendance was only fair,
owing to the weather. Mr.. Bucey
made an address, and told the
people of Whatcom county many
pertinent things in regard to
fruits and fairs. On Saturday all
the fruits and vegetables were
sold for the benefit of the So
ciety.