Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-20
TOOTH ANN|VERS AIRY READF|ELp
FAIR, OLDEST IN THE COUNTRY
Has Been in Existence Since Before Maine
Became State. Financial Storms Wea-
thered and Prosperity Seems Assured

A.. Hurdredth Anniversary Of the
W xsnnebec County Agricultural So
ciety, Readfield, Maine, Sept. IS, 26
and ~, 1928.
n, Sept 25. 1928. the Kennebec
..,,n.v Agricultural Society will open
y. Gates for the purpose of celebrat-
~. the Tooth anniversary Of its annual
".s,hitions. This society. said to be
a.. Oldest of it's kind in the United
s.s,ss has a historic record. Prior to
90 admission of Maine as a state. GER
..;r filters of the soil in the settle
u,.n, Of Pond Town. now the town of
Winthrop. Maine. conceived the idea
'. having a social gathering when
.s,ir crops were ready to be gathered
sra hiring to the meeting some of the
sost specimens of their different crops
sor comparison and for discussion of
.Ss hest methods for planting the seed.
rhsse annual gatherings proved so
,roftable to these farmers that in 1919
snnljcation was made to the Massa-
ssnsetts General Assembly for char
Wv as an agricultural society. This
s,.tion was favorably acted upon by
,he General Court and in February of
hat wear a charter was granted to the
rs,tioners and the society became in
rrornorated under the name of the Win
tsrop Agricultural Society. For quite
, neriod of years these annual exhibit
,ons we're continued by the society.
IN 1927, seven years after Maine be-
came a separate state. the society was
Incorporated by the General Court of
Maine as an agricultural society under
the same title as before.
Al first. the society had no pornna-
rsnt abiding place but boarded
.rornd" in about the same way as the
n;oneer school teachers of those days.
and on one occasion. the annual eXhi-
htion of this society was held on the
Grounds of the State House at Augusta
snd the display of farm products was
made in one Of the rooms of the State
unuse This is certainly uniqUe
record. Fifty years or more ago the
r,re of the society was changed by
legislative enactment to the kenne-
r,c County Agricultural Society ard a
n.rmanent home was provided in
Ppadfeld very near Fcadfeld Corner.
since which time it has continued the
work so auspiciously begun. In 1872.
financial clouds lowered threateninglY
rron the horizon and the Old society
was driven to the wall. It's annual
fvhhitions were suspended from that
yrar until 1916 when few faithful
friends rallied to its support and the
annual exhibitions continued. Since
that time it has come back strong
and the fair Of 1922 was one of the
hest in it's history.
An attractive program has been ar
ranged for the fair of 1923. consisting
Of seven horse races. interesting pull
ing matches by horses and oxen, Sc
rias Of interesting baseball games for
nurse of money. interesting vaude-
vile acts, athletic events for the boys
?nd girls, baby show. series OF
horseshoe pitching matches. both sim
gle and double events. for the cham
nionship of Kennebec county, concerts
by the Augusta Cadet band. demon
st-ation of wonderful radio science.
while the buildings will be crowded to
OVERCOMING with cattle, horses, sheep,
swine and the products of the farm
and home.
Fifty years ago the patrons came to
the fair on foot, on horseback, or in
OK or horse drawn vehicles. Today
the larger number Of patrons attend in
automobiles. Last year the first day
was designated as Ford day and many
valuable prizes were given away TO
these who enter the Ford day events.
Ford day certainly proved to be one
Of the greatest attractions of the fair
and this year moro elaborate plans
3 have been made to celebrate Ford day
on Sept. %. and many valuable prizes,
list of which Will appear in this
paper. have been offered. The Mid
way will also be a place of great inter-
est as many concessions have already
taken space. The boys ard girls will
have an opportunity to ride on a splen-
did Merry 20 round, a machine that
was built new last year at cost Of
owe. $4,000.
Since the revival of the fair in 1915.
the exhibition hall has been made
quate to accommodate the many ex-
hbits. A commodious now hall is an
absolute necessity and it was planned
to build one in time for use at the
coming exhibition. Help was SO scarce
and materials were so expensive that
It was deemed advisable to postpone
erecting the new building until after
The close of the present fair. This de-
lay is matter OF economy also. as one
" tHC HiOSl uIltluC ttliu tIllSiFSlIIiS az
factions of the fair will be the actual
saving Of the lumber for tho new
building on the grounds during the eX-
hlbiton. This is made possible by the
Aorcross Motor Sales of Winthrop
which saws the lumber without charge
as demonstration of the efficiency of
aportable saw mill. Undoubtedly this
is the first time in the history of any
ssncultural society when the lumber
ior new exhibition hall was actually
sawed on the grounds of the society
auflng the progress of its annual fair
another event which is creating much
interest is the tug Of war contest be-
tween the members of Lafayette Lodge
u Masons and Readfield Grange which
VIII De held during the second or third
s way The winner takes the purse of
80 and much interest is conferred in
WIS event as the grangers. farmers,
nave much more Drawn and muscle
aan the Masons who are speculative
svrhers. In 1924. it is planned to
..,eprate the socicty's Tooth anniver-
s srt! and the erection Of tho now eX-
'''''on hall in an appropriate manner.