The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-10-05
President Harris Comments On the I
i. Fair

because | seem to take some interest
in it, as | certainly do
People tell me 1t was a success.
While am well aware that 1t did not
reach the ideal in every particular,
on the whole | think il will be re-
membered as having answered its
general purposes to amuse, entertain
and instruct, pretty well.
To be successful, a Fair must have
careful thought the whole year
around by a good many competent
people, and a whole lot of hard work.
On top of that there is a good deal
of luck about IT. We had some splen-
did workers and it is well enough
to say right here that there were a
whole lot of people who should have
pitched in who didn't do it-probably
the same lot of selfish, thonghtless
shirkers that you would find in most
any community. This makes the
magnificent work done by those who
did take hold the more notable and
makes me glad of this opportunity to
thank some of them publicly for ii.
Now, | know | shall not get into
this comment all who are entitled to
commentator. There were hun
dreds who did humble tasks in an un-
ostentatious but very faithfl way but
| cannot recall all of them. Some |
did not even know by name. | wish
| could remember every one and to
thank them in the name of Skowhegan
and Somerset County. But | shall
try to mention some who were espec-
tally helpful.
We were very fortunate in our tick
ct department this year. E. c. But
Ter, when in earnest has a glance,
which looks right through you-it
would not remind you of Moonlight
on the Wabash" He has the cour-
age to execute Justice every time and
the keenness to tell a straight story
from shifty one. He goes on the
principal however that it is better to
let dead beat. now and then, get by
the gate than to hold up a perfectly
honest party on some teehnicality. He
is just about stubborn enough and of
the right makeup for the big job he
had during fair week.
Marsh Viles worked early and late
beginning long before the days of the
Fair, to make the cattle department a
success and in this he had the help of
a good many faithful workers. Ernest
Avore was very faithful and efficient
in taking care of the big exhibition
building and everything that went
with it. Cecil Tilton did a whole lot
of very unselfish, efficient work for the
big show. He figured in ON about
everything and was handy by and
willing in case of any emergency His
special job before the Fair was max
ing arrangements for the automobile
exhibition. e. l.. Savage came to Mr.
Tiltons assistance at just the right
time and is one of the best and most
efficient workers we ever had. Geo
A. Innes is one of our lucky strikes
He has only been in Skowhegan few
years but he is an enthusiast in the
poultry line and makes his enthusiasm
count in mighty nice way ito hell
out the Fair. His work was always
courteously rendered, both to the Fail
officials and the public and was a
constant help and encouragement
Fred c. Dunlap with his sheep and
land with the poultry and swine rem
dered some splendid service.
Freddie Weston worked early and
late to take care of the race horse
department. His Job required him
to be around at all times of day and
night to see that the horsemen had
every want satisfied, and he tended tC
it, no matter how arduous, without a
murmur. He knows every horse and
every driver from Truro to Boston
and is a mighty handy man in all such
matters.
Right here | want to mention the
youngsters which joined in the rush
perhaps for pure love of the thing but
guess also because they really en-
joyed helping where help was needed
must mention one by name and let
that do for them all. Wilfred DoIt
comes to my mind. He was our Of
flee and errand boy and was a CON
slant marvel. We could give the
name of some concessionist whom he
did not know and whom nobody knew
and he would find him and bring him
in-we never really understood how
he could do it.
OF course we must not forget the
work done by other Fair officials no,
above:
Secretary George H. Plummer and
assistant secretary Lancaster. No
body knows the hours and days they
put in, entirely without recompense,
and for pure love of the thing.
| find | do not know where to stop
but | suppose the Reporter does not
want a column or two of this kind of
comment.
The Somerset Central Fair has a
wonderful future. We are just In
shape now to do business. We have
the best grounds, naturally. that ever
laid out doors, rebuilt track, splen-
did equipment of buildings and more
than all this we have an honest-to-
goodness reputation for running a
show right. We have the friendship
and good will of horsemen, conces-
and the public, which is worth
more than everything else to an asso-
citation like ours.
| ought not to close without thank
ing the thousands of patrons, locally
and from all over Maine for their pa
tronage and cooperation. We hope
to see them all again next wear and