Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-04-03
KU KLUX KHAN BUYS MT.
HOLLY FAIR GROUNDS
No Transfer Has As Yet Been Made.
$4,000 Paid For Tract.

ty Fair Association at Mount Holly
has been sold, and according to a re-
port in circulation, which selnms well
authenticated the purchaser is the
Burlington County Ku Klux Khan.
According to DR.. Clinton D. Men
denhall, of Bordentown, president of
the Fair Association, negotiations
have been under way for the sale of
the grounds for some time and that
thirty thousand dollars has been
paid him through New York attor-
ney, but the papers had not yet been
transferred.
DR.. Mendenhall declared that he
did not know who the purchaser was.
This fact, he said, was not divulged
by the attorney, whose name was
Francis.
DIR. Mendenhall said that he un-
derstood that the purchaser of the
Fair Grounds intended to use it as
an amusement park and would stage
automobile races and other kinds of
speed contests on the half -mile track.
Viewed in this light he had some
doubts as to the purchaser being the
Ku Klux Khan.
Richard w. Wills, of Mount Holly,
secretary of the Fair Association, and
one of the most active in trying to
retain the grounds and continue the
fair, also admitted that the ground
had been sold, but declared that he
did not know who the purchaser
was.
The secretary said that he knew
that the purchase money had been
paid to DR.. Mendenhall through an
attorney, but had not yet been in
formed as to who the purchaser was.
1t was generally thought that the
Fair Grounds had been sold to Sam
uel Browne, of Mount Holly, but it
seems that Browne had only taken
an option on the property and that
the deal had not been consummated.
What the Ku Klux Khan will do
with the grounds is only matter of
conjecture. 1t is said that they will
use it as the Springdale Park in
Yardville is used. The 'Springdale
Park was bought by the Mercer
County Ku Klux Khan and some big
khan events were staged there last
summer.
Whatever the use to which it may
be put the Ku Klux Khan has be-
come the owner of fine property.
Not only have they secured an ex-
cellent grandstand that will seat
many thousand people, but they also
have half mile track and a great
oval in the centre of it where khan
activities might be advantageously
and picturesquely staged.
And then again there are the build
ings which may be used for many
purposes. Moreover they have be-
come the owner of property at a
price that looks almost as cheap as
charity.
If it is true that the Ku Klux Khan
has become the owner of the Fair
Ground the end of the. Burlington
County Fair undoubtedly has come.
1t is not likely that the khan will
take up the fair burden, and one of
the finest of Burlington County's in
stitutions seems lost forever.
The Burlington County Fair had
been run almost continuously for
more than seventy-five years. 1t had
become dear to the heart of every
man, woman and shild in the coun-
try, but there was hard financial
shedding the last few years of the
fairs life and finally the association
decided to abandon it.
This was done and there was no
fair last fall to the great regret OF
many thousand people. Several at
tempts have been made by Mr.. Wills
and others to organize a new fair as
ISOLATION and revive the great annual
event, but none of the attempts came
to a head.
1t has been known for some time
that the Ku Klux Khan was seeking
ground in this section. At one time
it was reported that they were about
to purchase large tract of land or
the River road and erect klar
home and other buildings.
Abram Snedaker and wife, o.