Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1955-08-23

ison county. are in favor of calling
a county convention for the pur-
pose of organizing 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, trea-
surer.
AT a meeting of the board of
directors January Is, 1886. it was
decided to sell the old fairgrounds
and secure new grounds, with II.
G. Guy, Hartford Toland and M. L.
Rea appointed to purchase or
lease new grounds. j. j. Clark and
William Curtin, were appointed to
prepare the premium list. How
ever, for reasons, unknown, no
fair was held that year.
In 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 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 Agricul-
tural Society would be pleased to
have the association consider the
matter of granting the privilege of
holding a county fair on the
grounds~and take such action as
shall seem best The proposition
was favorably considered by the
Driving Park Association, which
at that time was about 81 900 in
debt. But the hopes for fair that
year were dashed by the county
commissioners refusing to accept
quit-claim and for the old fair
grounds from the Madison County
Agricultural Society on the
grounds that the society had aban-
doned the grounds.
Permanent Revival of Interest
"On November 9, 1889, an en-
thusiastic meeting of the agricul-
tural society was held at the court
house and interest was revived in
the proposed fair. A campaign was
started to increase membership of
the society. A committee compos-
ed of c. w. Wilson, Fred Wilson
and d. T. Garnard was appointed
to prepare a new constitution. On
April IA, 1890 the society had
meeting at the office of G. w.
Wilson and the matter of leasing
and buying ground adjacent to the
old fairgrounds on North Elm St,
was discussed, two parcels of land
being in view-those of Robert
Boyd and w. II. Chandler. Sr 1t
was finally decided to lease the
Chandler land back of the old
grounds, which contained 25 acres,
located suitably for good half
mile track There were about
eight acres in the old grounds,
well shaded The written PROPOSE
ton of Mr.. Chandler for a five
year lease at $225 was accepted
and the lease was prepared at
once. The state board of agricul-
ture placed Madison county in the
Ohio Valley circuit and fixed the
time for the fair for the week in
cluding September Is. On April
80, 1890, the village council of
London voted $500 from its gen.
eral funds to aid the society in
the improvement of its grounds.
On May 13, 1890, the contract for
building the track was let to Pat
rick MeDonough for $500.
"Over SO box stalls were erect
ed; a large and commodious build
ing for the exhibition of farm pro-
ducts with an upper story devoted
to fine arts, archaeology etc, was
erected and sheds for cattle, sheep
and hogs were built. Four wells
were driven on the grounds to fur
nish water.
The fair was a great success.
Thursday was the big day, it be-
ing estimated that $4,000 people
were on the grounds during that
day, The total cash receipts reach
ed about $4,000, leaving surplus
after paying premiums and run
nlng expenses.
THE Madison County Agricul-
tural Society has continued to give
an annual fair at the fairgrounds
since, with varying success. In
1900 the lease on the grounds ex-'
pired On May 19 the commission
ers voted to extend grounds and
to make improvements not to ex-
ceed $1,000.
| On September 3, the board
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