Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-03
MANY ATTRACTIONS
AT WESSERRUNSETT
FAIR At ATHENS

With the bluest of blue skies
forming a beautiful canopy and one
of the fairest of October days was
Tuesday, the day set for the Wes-
serrunsett fair, held at Athens. with
an attendance of between 1000 and
5000 people. The fair grounds. upon
which many repairs had been made.
was open to the public at 7.30 A. NJ.
and all exhibits were in place by
the noon hour. Crowds began to
arrive at an early hour. From II
to 100 p. NJ. the ladies OF the Athens
Grange with Mrs. Harriet Elliot
banquet room of the Grange hall.
The ladies of the Methodist church
with a tent pitched across the street
from the fair ground, served dinner
and lunches at noontime, and re-
freshments throughout the after
noon, and there were places with
out number on the fair grounds for
hot dogs. @"'' drinks, ice cream and
soda ~e released. For all of
the m. = t present, none need
ed to cry. The exhibition
hall Wa i. most interesting place
to pass IL few hours and was crowded
with people from miles around who
had come to the beautiful village of
Athens at the foot Of the hill to at
tend the fair.
At the entrance was a display of
vivid and attractive bedspreads and
hand made quilts of every descrip-
ton. Two paisley shawls Of an an
cient date were exhibited by Mrs.
Horace Elliot and Mrs. w. Z. Jones.
A beautiful display of flowers were
artistically arranged about the plat
form, where there were many arti-
Giles of special interest, among them
being a model ship shown by Roy
McCollar, an old fashioned tea set
shown by Lillian Hurd. hand quilt
ed petticoat 125 years Old, which
Mrs. John Hight, and an ancient
carpet bag owned by Mrs. Clarence
p. McCollar, which formerly belong
ed to her grandmother, Sarah Mar
tin HarVille. There was most fas-
cinating array of fancy work of
many different kinds and various de-
signs. 1t is doubtful If any vege-
table can be grown in this climate
which could not be found among
the large vegetable exhibit, which
was the largest vegetable exhibit
shown in this section.
While the dairy product exhibit
was not large. it was of excellent
quality. G. l.. Dutton had an eX-
cellent display of honey. On the left
hand side OF the hall were arranged
many handsome hand made rugs,
which represented many hours of
patient work. One of the exhibits
which attracted a great deal of at
tention was a splendid display of
canned fruits and vegetables. Mrs.
Fl. H. Hubbard of Palmyra, former
ly Hattie c. Marshall of Augusta,
and Miss NJ. NJ. Davis of Meth An
son had splendid displays of fail and
winter millinery.
At the right entrance to the fair
ground was the secrctary's office,
where the secretary of the associa-
ton. Howard Chapman, assisted by
Mrs. Chapman, Barbara Allen. Eli
nor Tufts and Mrs. Roy Tibbetts
performed the many duties of the
office most efficiently.
The Guilford Band, stationed on
the band stand on a knoll at one
side of the ground. furnished excel
lent music throughout the afternoon.
Roland T. Pappen introduced the
speakers of the afternoon who were
Dudley Alleman of Augusta. editor
of the Maine Farmer, and w. Thorn
as of China, master of the Maine
state Grange. who also had a fine
showing of stock, swine. sheep and
poultry. the merry go-round was
the center of attraction in the mid
way and there were many bowling
places and chance games with a
number Of booths where retail
merchants displayed their wares. of
fering them for sale.
The daylight fireworks were set
up most successfully and were real
ly something new under the sun and
to most of the people who saw them
delight.
There was a fine showing of 1924
automobiles.
At all times and in all places dur
ing the day order prevailed and as
was often expressed, one of the
greatest pleasures of the fair was
the meeting of old acquaintances
and old friends, some of whom had
not been in Athens for several years.
dance was the closing feature on
the days program. which was hold
in Grange hall. with excellent music
furnished by H. Jorps Orchestra.
At the midnight intermission the
Grange ladies served delicious
supper. The 1923 Wesserrunsett
Valley fair was replaced upon the
pages of history as one Of the most
successful events ever held by the
association. and one of which any
l.