davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19

house, nor any person who seems
to remember when the new wings
were added to the old structure.
However, trim on a part of the
shell which is still standing and
carving on torn out mantels of
which there were several, indicates
to some local students or archi-
lecture that it is Greek revival
which could mean that it was built
around 1910.
One part of the house, still stand
ing, and in all probability one of
its most distinguishing features, is
the stairway. OF solid maple, it is
built in a semi-circle to the second
story. The side of each step was
ornately carved, but the rail and
bannister have been torn away.
1t is believed that the stairway
was patterned after those in the
houses on plantations in Virginia,
Mr.. Buffenburg's native state. Ru-
NOR has it that one owner refused
$500 for the stairway.
Entrance to the upper rooms
from the landing which centered
the curving stairway, was through
a large doorway having the same
stately carving that framed the
outer door of the house.
There was no entrance in the
upstairs from the new wings into
the old part of the house. The
rooms all opened to the left off
the center hall.
From the first large upper
room on the left were found two
steps leading to another large
room on the front, said to have
had many windows. Here, accord
ing to rumor, Mr.. Buffenbure
would stand and train his fielc
glasses over the landscape tt
watch the progress of his tenants
of whom there were 50 according
to the history.
What strange sight would bt
communicated to the owner were
he to spy out his land today. Many
of the fields where cattle grazec
before are now planted with wav
ing wheat and rustling corn.
Another rumor had it that treas
ure was stored in the old house
But, blackened plate silver, fount
cached away in some of the beams
is the only evidence in fact. In tn,
attic room, however, Mr.. Isaac
stated that his sons, of whom
there are four who assist him il
farming the land, discovered
great brick vault with an openin,
in the top, which they though
might have been used as a safe
in the olden days.
Continued on Page Two
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19

remained for the fair, which prov
ed a grand success.
"In September, 1854, the society
purchased eight acres and 80
perches of land, in survey 5670
from John T. Maxey, paying for
the same $475. This tract is To-
Gated in the northeast part of Lon
don, and the fairs were held there
for Ia years with varying success.
The last exhibition was held on
September Is, 19, 20, 1867, the
following being officers at that
time, ]. Swetland, president; John
Reed, vice president; S. w. Durfl-
niger, secretary; Preston Adair,
treasurer.
Many causes led TO the aband-
onment of these fairs. In the fall
of 1868 a Union Agricultural So
ciety was organized in Mechanics
burg, which had for its promoters
some of the leading citizens of the
northwestern portion of Madison
county, who belonged to the Mad
ison County Society. A. second
cause was the absence of a track
where horsemen could exhibit their
animals. The grounds were small,
and races were not part of the
program of these fairs; hence one
of the principal attractions was
missing. The principal cause how
ever, why the fairs in London were
abandoned, was on account of the
rapid growth of the Madison
county stock sales, at that time
and for years the glory and pride
of this portion of Ohio. This county
needed no annual fair, for it held
one every month. The Madison
County Agricultural Society, how
ever, still lived; its organization
was kept intact and its financial
condition healthy. It's officers were.
Stephen Watson. president; Jeriah
Swetland, vice president; j. Q.
Bridgeman, treasurer; Edwin Phi
fer, secretary.
London Driving Park Association
"The first step taken toward the
revival of the county fairs was
probably the organization of the
London Driving Park Association.
This association was formed early
in the year 1888 and soon after
leased go acres of land for park
of r. B. Cowling about one mile
east of London, between the rail-
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19
WORLD NEWS BRIEFS



ciNcNNAT-Pretty Joan Best escaped bisamous marriage
Thursday
wedding will
GIRL 20year-od daughter paoman,
intended Woodrow Ennis, wife
had fathered six children.
PORTSMOUTH, chiicothe
bid the site temporary headquarters of
billion dollar built Pike Both
about 20 miles from the 6ooacre plant site Wavery the
located between Portsmouth
apparently
the building
WAsHINGToN-of that originally into the
mot single stick is left
President
which bought presidents
instance, he added
antique end of the
country the other"
cLEvELANDThe fire chief of suburban North omstead and his
their light
villages victims William NJ Bid
fire chief 1887 and Robert kesserng 49, Of CO.
the poed by BidduIph to
have beenc a before the
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19

prepare the premium list. How
ever, for reasons, unknown. no
fair was held that year.
I'm January, 1887, G. w. Wilson,.
then president of the Madison
County Agricultural Society met
the directors of the London Driv-
ing Park Company, and asked if
practicable to hold a fair on their
grounds this year. "The society is
without funds to purchase grounds
and can only purchase if favorable
terms can be had. The Agricultural
Society would be pleased to have
the association consider the matter
of granting the privilege of holding
county fair on the grounds and
take such action as shall seem
best. The proposition was favor
ably considered by the Driving
Park Association, which at that
time was about $1,000 in debt. But
the hopes for fair that year were
dashed by the county commission
ers refusing to accept quit-claim
and for the old fairgrounds from
the Madison County Agricultural
Society on the grounds that the So
ciety had abandoned the grounds.
Permanent Revival of Interest
"On November 9, 1889, an en-
thusiastic meeting of the agri-
cultural society was held at the
court house and interest was re-
vived in the proposed fair. A cam
paign was started to increase
membership of the society. A COM
mittee composed of G. w. Wilson,
Fred Webster and D. T. Garnard
was appointed to prepare new
constitution. On April Ia, 1890 the
society had a meeting at the Of
flee of G. w. Wilson and the mat
ter of leasing and buying ground
adjacent to the old fairgrounds on
North Elm Street was discussed,
two parcels of land being in view
those of Robert Boyd and w. H.
Chandler, Sr. 1t was finally de-
cided to lease the Chandler land
back of the old grounds, which
contained Is acres, located suit
ably for a good half-mile track.
There were about eight acres in
the old grounds, well shaded The
written proposition of Mr.. Chand-
ler for a five-year lease at $225
was accepted and the lease was
CONTINUED on Page Two)
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19

Behind the sixty-third annual
Madison County Fair, August 16
through Thursday, August 81, lies
an interesting story as compiled
from perusing the two histories of
Madison county ,one published in
1883 and the other in 1915.
I'm 1916, the Clark and Madison
County Agricultural Society was
organized, which held fairs alter
nately at South Charleston and
London. The last of these fairs
was held in London the 9th, 7th
and 9Th of October, 1852. On the
18th of November, 1852, the fol-
lowing Agricultural notice appear
ed in the Madison Reveille"; We
the undersigned, citizens of Mad
ison county, are in favor of calling
a county convention, for the pur-
pose of organizing a county agri-
cultural society within and for
Madison county, separate and
apart from Clark county; and rec
ommend such convention to be
held on Saturday, the goth day of
November, 1852. In response to
this call large and enthusiastic
meeting of farmers, mechanics and
business men took place in London
on that date.
1.-The meeting was organized by
appointing T. J. Stutson of Jeffer-
son township, chairman and Will
liam H. Creighton, secretary. Of
ficers elected were, Richard Cowl-
ing, president; DR.. j. Stutson, vice
president; John Rouse, treasurer;
w. H. Creighton, secretary.
1.-The first fair of the Madison
County Agricultural Society was
held on the ground where Jeriah
Swetland's residence now stands
in London on Sept. 1928, 1853
under the direction of these Of
ficers elected on June a. 1853, John
H. Findlay, president; James Fos-
ter, vice president; John Rouse
treasurer; j. F. Freeman, secre-
tary.
'"The day prior to the opening of
the fair, the sale of imported
thoroughbred stock brought from
Europe a short time before, took
place, and gave the new enterprise
of the agricultural society an i'm.
petus it could have received in nc
other way. Hundreds of leading
stockmen attended the sale, anf
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19
293 PINTS OF
BLOOD GIVEN
BY MADIS0N-CO.

Madison county contributed a
total of 29S pints of blood in the
three visits of the Mobile unit
from January to June 80, 1852, ac-
cording to Judge Maurice E. Bea-
thard, chairman of the Blood Don
or program for Madison County
Chapter Red Cross.
The Plain City area contributed
148 pints, Mt. Sterling, 81 and
London "a, with an additional 1876
pints at the London Prison Farm,
when the mobile unit visited each
community during the six months
period.
The demand for blood, stepped
up because of the dire need for
veterans in Korea in addition to
the constant drain on the stockpile
for hospitalized patients, gives i'm
petus to the appeal of the Red
Cross for donors.
During the last IL months, 25,-
TAO pints of blood have been ship
ped from the Columbus center to
Korea. On top of that 1889 pints
have been donated free of charge
for patients in the II hospitals in
this area.
The Columbus center, of which
Madison county is a contributing
unit, is part of the vast network
of blood centers and mobile col
lecting units in addition to special
railroad cars operating on four
lindy throughout the country. The
Red Cross operates total of go
blood centers; IS of these collect
blood exclusively for national de-
fense.
There are 80 privately operated
community blood banks cooperat-
ing in the national program by
making their facilities available
for the collection of blood in the
communities where they operate.
In addition there are 33 armed
forces blood collecting centers To-
Gated on military installations.
Schedule of the mobile unit in
cludes two visits to Madison
county this fall, one September %
and the other October 27, with
designation of locality to be an
nounced within a short time.
A definite quota of 1900 pints
per month has been assigned the
Columbus center fo rnext year, for
wounded veterans This means an
about plea for donors, officials
stated.
Our appeal says Judge Bea-
thard, lis that Madison county
residents be mindful of an oDliga-
ton to those men who are fighting
our battles on foreign fronts. A
pint of blood here, may mean the
saving of a life in a faraway
country. When announcement is
made that the until will be in Mad
ison county, we hope the regis
trars are given big rush by any
who can give blood he concluded.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19
Fair Boasts Co|orfu| Background,
Once A Joint CO. Exposition

road and the jefferson Pike. On
March % Of the same year, they
gave the contract for building a
half mile dirt track to Morris
Nevils for 1899, the track to be
finished by May 1. During that
spring the local papers began the
discussion of the revival of the
old county fairs. The park was
opened on July a, with the follow
ing program of races: Gentlemen's
trot, 800 trot, purse S100; 2:40
pacing, purse S100; 2:35 trot, purse
$3.50; one-half mile running and
one-half mile bicycle. Admission
was placed at so cents for gentle
men, ladies free. Meet was sucsess-
full with approximately 500 to
thousand people in attendance. c.
F. Richman, president of the as
sociation; A. w. Boyd, secretary;
F. T. Creamer, treasurer.
"On August 8, 1883 another
succe essful race program
was held. There were 200 shares
of stock in the association with 1872
sold.
I'm the Democrat of March a,
1885, is found the following: We
the undersigned citizens of Mad
ison county, are in favor of calling
a county convention for the pur-
pose of organizing a county agri-
cultural society within and for
Madison county, Ohio, and recon-
mend that said convention be held
at the court house in London on
Saturday, the 14th day of March,
1885 and respectfully invited all
persons interested to attend said
convention About $50 persons
signed the call The immediate re-
suits of this meeting are not quite
clear, but it is recorded that on
January 5, 1886, the Madison
County Agricultural Society met
and elected the following officers
Stephen Watson, president; F. c.
Gillett. vice president; Erwin Phi
fer, secretary; Job ]. Clark, treas
urer.
"At meeting of the board of
directors January Is. 1886, it was
decided to sell the old fairgrounds
and secure new grounds, with H
c. Guy Hartford Toland and M. l.
Rea appointed to purchase or lease
new grounds. ]. j. Clark and Will
liam Curtin, were appointed to
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19
Kroger. A & P
Sponsor Awards
For The Fair

The A & P Food Store and the
Kroger Store at London are spon-
soring special wards in connection
with the 4-H Club program at the
Madison County Fair.
The A & P Food Store will pro-
vide trophy for the high indi-
vidual in All livestock Judging.
The Kroger Company will provide
a similar trophy for the exhibitor
of the All grand champion beef
steer.
These awards which are now on
display in London stores of the
two firms will be presented to the
winning All Club members at a
special ceremony on the county
fair grounds by representatives of
the respective firms.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19

STATE FAIR TO
OPEN AUGUST u

Expanded exhibits, new program
attractions and additional parking
space will be available to visitors
at the Ohio State Fair this year.
The 1852 Fair is to run eight
days with the opening to observe
Youth Day, Friday, August %. An
elaborate parade with floats rep
resenting II youth organizations
will point up the celebration of
the 50th anniversary of All clubs
and the increasing Importance of
the Junior Fair.
Other outstanding events during
the Fair will be the opening of
harness racing and the Knights of
Pythias picnic, Saturday, August
%; Veterans and Armed Forces
Day and Press Day, Sunday, Au-
gust "a, with mile-long parade of
military men and veterans, and an
airplane parade of Flying Farm
ers, Friday, August %. Young peo-
pie are entered in statewide
baton twirling contest and there
will be a showing of fail styles
four times daily.
Representatives of newspapers in
Ohio will attend on Press Day
when they will be guests for a
special program in the Grandstand.
State Fair Manager H. S. Foust
and members of the Board of Ag-
riculture will welcome them and
extend an invitation to see all the
many educational and entertain
ment features of the 1852 State
Fair.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19
New Hudson To Be Giuen
Patron of County Fair

Someone will attend the Madison County Fair and go
home with Hudson automobile.
The Madison County Auto Dealers Association has pro-
vded the Hudson to be presented to patron Of the
63rd annual county exposition conclusion Of the fair
August I'll.
Any who attends the fair may have opportunity
Of being presented with this handsome There
strings according to the fair officials and representa-
fves of the Auto Dealers Association
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19
FORSTER IMPROVING

John Foster, Midway Street, who
with Mrs. Foster, went to Che
boygan, Michigan. several weeks
ago for the benefit of his health,
has written friends that he is inn
proving.
The Fosters address is 347 Dres-
ser Street, Cheboygan, Michigan
% Alice Temple.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19
Another Landmark Fades
Buffenburg House Razed

One by one Madison county
landmarks are passing into obliv-
ion. Some are bending to the will
of progress and others are falling
into decay through lack of habita-
ton.
Noticeable among these is the
old Peter Buffenburg home, Hut
son Road, perhaps not too well
known, but in its day one of the
finest mansions in this section of
Ohio.
Peter Buffenburg, of Prussian
stock, was born in Petersburg,
Virginia, May 3, 1884 and died in
Madison county September 26,
1867. He came to Ohio in 1907 with
$1,000 in gold. According to the
Madison county history published
in 1888, he located on Paint Creek
in Paint Township about 1910. He
entered a part of his homestead,
starting large tract that has been
known for more than century as
Buff Prairie"
He began grazing cattle on the
prairie and was very successful.
Profits were invested in real es-
tate adjoining the original pur-
chase and finally he had obtained
a beautiful farm of 5000 acres
About 1916 he fenced in large
tract of these prairies for his in
creasing livestock business.
His land holdings grew until he
had 1900 acres reputed to be one
of the largest in Ohio. The land
and his personal effects brought
his fortune to an estimated one
half million dollars.
At the advanced age of IS he
married Miss Angeline NJ Hutson
They had two daughters, Eugene
Jeanette, who married Johr
Crawford of New York City anc
Mary May, wife of Clinton Morse
of London. He left the three in his
family 4200 acres in addition tC
700 acres he had previously decided
to his wife.
Describing the old house is now
largely by guess and by gosh,
since it has been uninhabited fol
some years. 1t is in such state tha'
it is being razed by the present
owner, Stanley Isaacs, who lives
across the fields on the Linson Rd
If blessed with an imagination, one
can conjure up some semblance O
what it might have looked like il
its heyday.
Exact date of the building ol
the house is unknown though it i:
presumed that the original two
large rooms, one below and one
above, were built shortly aftel
Peter Buffenburg came to tn,
county. The house is on a sligh
prominence overlooking the vas
acreage of his estate The huge
hand hewn corners, sills and raft
ers were put together with square
nails. Workmen demolishing tn,
house have been unable to discover
any recalling dates.
Neither is there any date on tn,
wings added later to the origina
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19
ADMISSION AT
COUNTY FAIR

Admission price at the Mad
ison County Fair are as follows:
Membership-$2.4o; Gate -
Day and night so; Grand Stand
Day and Night, tax included
go; Grand Stand-Children un-
der IL years, tax included .25;
Children under t2 years, Day
Gate rs; Service Truck or
Wagon $1.o0; Auto to park .25;
Exhibitors Tickets 200; Help
er's Ticket $500; Regular Tick
ct $2.40. All members of the
armed service in uniform ad-
mitted free.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19
Madison Press To
Close Fair Week

Offices and plant Of
The Madison Press Company
will be closed during Fair
Week, Monday August Is,
through Saturday. August 23,
for vacations for the entire
staff.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19
Cur+iss Ponies
To Be At Fair

The famous Curtiss Ponies, six
pony hitch. will thrill spectators
at the Madison County Fair. The
Curtiss ponies have been booked
to stage an exhibition before the
Playground grandstand.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19
IN HOSPITAL

Mrs. Harry Pugsley, Sedalia,
entered Grant Hospital Tuesday
evening for observation. Her room
number is 102.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19
IN HOSPITAL

IN HOSPITAL
Mfs. Otto Daily, South Madison
Road is recovering in Mt. Carmel
after a major operation. Her room
number is 229.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1952-08-19
Associated Press

Full Assoeiafed Press leos-
ed wire service for sfGfe. ma
fionoI and world news. The
Associated Press is entitled
exclusively - use clI ieeal
news in fhis newspaper.
Evening star., 1952-05-22
; Past Winners Enter
Assistant Pros Event

Three past winners, including
last years champion, Ducky Miller
of Norfolk, are entered in the an
nual Middle Atlantic assistant pro
championship tomorrow at the All
View Club in Ellicott City.
Bobby Bowers of Indian Spring
twice champion, and Charley Muck
of Belle Haven are the other for
mer winners entered.
The assistants will play So holes
for a minimum purse of $400. Jim
Buckenheimer of Chevy Chase and
Don Saylor of Burning Tree are
among the new assistants who will
be playing for the first time.
Pairings and starting times an
nounced by John Musser. All View
pro:
Auldridge (Bethesdal; 9:O6 and 1,:O6-Pau
esssy Of and Mfe BoSsfs Easi
Potomac): 9:12 and 1:12-Bill Basslel
(Rolling Road, Bin Clarke Baltimore
C. Co and Joe Sullivan (Kenwood);. 9:1s
and 1:1S-Milton Logan EAST Potomac)
Charley Muck (Belle Haven) and Be
Estridge prince Georges); 9:24 and pa
Donald Beach tSuburbanl, Rick McHalt
(Forest Park) and Ducky Miller (Norfolkl
9:30 and 1:3O-Emery Sullivan (Wood.
holme), Severn White (Suburban) and Bill
Collins Bonnie View); 9:36-J. s. Eichel-
berger Hagerstown) Dewey Ricketts,
(Manor) and Charley Easton (Washingtor
G. and C. c.; 9:42 and 1:42-Don l Taylor
Burning Tree. Bobby Bowers Qndiar
Spring) and Jimmy BelliZi Cedar Point)
Evening star., 1952-05-22
Wilson Rated Favorite
As Interhigh Squads
Open 55h Track Meet

Over 200 athletes from seven
District high schools open COM
petition in the two-day 55th
annual Interhigh Track and Field
meet at $3.50 today on the Tech
oval.
All events today will be prelim-
inaries for finals. with the excep-
ton of the pole vault. The track
is in excellent shape.
Wilson, winner of the Metro
track event, will go into the con-
test a slight favorite over Tech.
Wilson has a roster of consistent
performers rather than a few
stars. Anacostia, defending cham
pion, is not rated as a threat this
year, but probably will win the
pole vault with high soaring Bob
Harris.
Interest in individual perform
ers will center on the duel between
Snookie Herman of Tech and Mike
Sommers of Wilson in the 100 and
220-yard daSheS. Sommers de-
feated Herman in both distances
in the Wilson Metro meet, but the
Tech lad may better his time on
his home track.
The mile run also will provide
close competition between Wilson's
Larry Harry and Anacostia's Bill
Stevens.
Final tomorrow also will begin
at $3.50 pm.
Evening star., 1952-05-22
By Rod Thomas

Competition for the District
match-game duckpin champion
ship was down to four men today,
with the title to be settled Sun
day night at Colonial Village.
The survivors of two rounds last
night, all members of the District
Major League, are Russ Spilman
Of the Pabst team; Fred Murphy
of the champion Winchester
Packards; Nick Rinaldi of Valley
Forge and Pat Crescent of Par
sons Restaurant.
OFF his showing last night, Spill
man should be the title favorite.
He averaged 1886 for 10 games
in eliminating Paul Perkins, Al,
and Johnny Mandes, Al. Perkins
won the qualifying round in which
So of the finest duckpin shooters
in the area earned places. Mandes
in the first round eliminated the
defending champion Bill King.
Rolls Game of 1856.
In erasing Perkins, Spilman shot
the top game of the tournament,
1876. in his fourth string, and to-
tailed 696. He followed this with
500 against Mandes. Several years
ago, he was the top-ranking duck
pinner of the area.
Rinaldi had the toughest time
of the four survivors. Lindsay
Stott, last years runnerup, and
George Wilson, a newcomer to the
top flight. carried Nick to the
limit of seven games. In the late
stages of the seventh game with
Wilson, he lost the range, missing
several spares, but in the ninth
box pulled spare in the nick of
time. Wilson marked in the last
frame, only to lose by eight pins.
After whitewashing Bill Taylor.
40, Murphy defeated Paul Jar
man, Al. Crescent, shooting
consistently good duckpins all the
way, averaged 1921 in defeating
Ash Mitchell, Al, and Harry
Stewart, Al.
Geib Brilliant Loser.
Ell Geib, who earlier rolled the
highest five-game scores of the
tournament. 725, fell before Harry
Stewart in another brilliant effort.
Stewart beat him, AZ, with 100