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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-09-10, Page 9THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1986. PAGE 9. Brussels Fair celebrates 125th anniversary ED. NOTE. - The following information was taken from the June 28,1972 issue of the Brussels Post, published on the occasion of the Village’s Centennial, and loaned to The Citizen by Edith Pipe of Brussels. The first local fair was held in Ainleyville (later renamed Brus­ sels) in the fall of 1861, under the sponsorship of the Grey Branch Agricultural Society. Early fairs were held in Victoria Park, with insideexhibitson display at the Armstrong Hotel. OnSept. 19,1874, the Society purchased 3 3/< acres of land for $575, and the next summer work was begun on an agricultural hall, which was completed in time for the 1875 Fall Fair, at a cost of $600. With the re-organization of electoral boundaries that year, a new agricultural society was form­ ed, known as the East Huron Agricultural Society, which oper­ ated under the auspices of the Grey Branch until 1906, when the new society became autonomous. Donald McLauchlin was the first president of the East Huron Society, Wm. Grieve and Robert Gibson were vice-presidents, and Daniel Stewart was secretary­ treasurer. There were nine direc­ tors and a total membership of 80. From 1875 to 1885, the Society also heldaSpringFair in April; both shows were mostly for the exhibi­ tion of stallions, bulls, and the latest in farm implements. MORE SPACE, NEW COMPETITIONS In 1886, prize money totalled Choosing queen will be difficult The judges charged with choos­ ing a Queen to reign over the Brussels Fair next week will have a nearly impossible job, as they try to selectoneofthe 11 lovely ladies vying for the title. Judges Bev Brown of Brussels and Roy and Margaret Bennett of Wingham meet the contestants for the first time this Saturday after­ noon, and over the next few hours must come up with a Brussels Fair Queen, afirst runner-up, and a Miss Congeniality. Each girl, who must be between the ages of 17 and 23, and be single, is sponsored by a local club or business, which are also very Competition Continued from page 1 forth and Nancy Norris of Staffa, was Lisa Beattie of Clinton. Other winners were as follows: FRIDAY EVENT SLOW STEAMER RACE, 1st, Findlay MacDonald, Ripley; 2nd, Doug Macintosh, Embro. SATURDAY EVENTS BELTING UP TO TRACTOR: 1st, Bob Machan and Jim Sloan, 1:34; 2nd, Harry Wilkins and Eddie Zehr, 1:59. MEN’S LOG SAWING: 1st, Jim Sloan and Harry Wilkins, 7.4; Willard Calhoun and Jim Sloan, 7.8. LADIES’ LOG SAW­ ING: 1st, Claudia Normington and Jenny Sloan, 25.9; 2nd, Judy Smyth and Marie Weaver, 32.5. MIXED LOG SAWING: 1st, Wil­ lard Calhoun and Judy Sloan,13-2; 2nd, Harry Wilkins and Marie Weaver, 15.6. JR. GIRLS LOG SAWING: 1st, Christine and Shan­ non Hallahan; 44.6. JR. BOYS LOG SAWING: 1st, Greg Gorside and Michael Grahlmon, 1:31:0. BAG TYING: 1st, Jim Hulse, 16.6; 2nd, Fred DeBoer, 16.8. OLD TYME FIDDLERS CONTEST OPEN CLASS: Eddie Mole, Owen Sound; 2nd, Margaret DeLong, St. Marys; 3rd, Ron Hughes, Cree- $606.25. In 1888, the Raymond Sewing Machine Co. offered one of their machines for the best 50 lbs. tub of butter; the prize was won by Mrs. John McDougall. In 1891, 10 more acres of land were purchased from John Leckie in time for the fair’s expanded exhibits and crowds. Brussels Fairs have always been held on Thursday and Friday, with exhibits open for viewing on the first evening, and a musical program provided for entertainment. In 1889, an Indian Club Swing­ ing contest was held for the first time, with Nina Rogers, Lizzie Roddick and Maude Hall winning first, second and third prizes of $1, 75 cents and 50 cents. In 1891, horse races were held for the first time, with a one-mile “trotting pace”, a half mile dash of two heats; and in 1892, a class was introduced for the best lady driver. That same year, 197 panes of glass had to be replaced in the skylight of the Palace, owing to the “wanton destruction of mean boys.” In 1895, the first field crop competition was held, with John McKinnon winning $3 for the best turnips, and James Speir winning the same amount for the best mangels. By 1898, the Brussels Post reported the 37th annual Fair as a record-breaker, with “Increased Entries, Biggest Crowd, Greatest Success Financially.” The newest attraction was the Comfort Soap Race, in which contestants raced 80 yards, picking up a bar of Comfort Soap every 10 yards, and generous in providing prizes for the competition. Each contestant will meet with the judges for an informal and candid interview on the afternoon of September 13, and will later attend a dinner sponsored by the Men’s Division of the Brussels Agricultural Society, at the Brus­ sels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. At8 p.m. that evening, the girls will appear before the public to give a two-minute speech on ‘ ‘ What my Fall Fair means to me, ’ ’ a special topic chosen to commem­ orate the 125th anniversary of the Brussels Fair. The Queen of the Fair dance hearty at 25t more. 16 AND UNDER: 1st, Denise Johnson, age 12, Stratford; 2nd, Murray Perkins, 15, Babbing- ton; 3rd, Mathew Johnson, 5, Stratford. INTERMEDIATE: 1st, Lawrence Edgar, Atwood; 2nd, Betty Mitchell, Owen Sound; 3rd, Bill Clark, Kippen. 65 AND OVER: 1st, Reg Freer, Kerrwood; 2nd, George Gagne, Sombra; 3rd, Jack Warrick, Brussels. SUNDAYEVENTS BELTING UP TO TRACTOR: 1st, Carl and Darryl Fearson, 3:10:0; 2nd, Findlay MacDonald, and Jim Sloan, 8:4:0. BAG TYING: 1st, Arnold Lamb, 13.9; 2nd, Arnold Oliver, 14.5. MEN’S LOG SAW­ ING: 1st, Hardy Young and John McDermid, 5:9:2; 2nd, Jim Sloan and Wilbur Phillippi, 5:9:3. LAD­ IES’ LOG SAWING: Marg Sparl­ ing and Bev Garside; 16:3; 2nd, Marian Hallahan and Joanne Phelan, 20:4. MIXED LOG SAW­ ING: Judy Sloan and Willard Calhoun, 8:2; 2nd, Marian Halla­ han and Wilbur Phillippi, 8:7. JR. BOYS LOG SAWING: 1st, Jason and Jim Searson, 12:7; 2nd, Greg Gorside and Jim Sloan, Jr., 18:6. JR. GIRLS LOG SAWING: 1st, Yvonne Brewer and Tanya Stain­ carrying them in an apron supplied by the soap company. Each competitor got to keep the soap, as well as the apron. The first ladies assisted in setting up the exhibits in 1900; so useful were they that “two or three Ladies were appointed as assis­ tants” each year thereafter. In 1902, there was a poultry exhibit from the Dominion Poultry Station in Holmesville; the feed for these birds was mixed on the fair grounds, and the fowl fed while spectators watched “solely for the exhibit’s educational and instruc­ tive value.” The next year, a contest for killing and plucking chickens was held, with each contestant getting to keep his bird. The government appointed jud­ ges for horses, cattle, sheep and swine for the first time in 1905. There was also a competition in “Fancy Drill by School Children”, with the 25 children from Ethel Public School taking first place. BIGGER AND BETTER YET In May, 1906, the Directors of the Society decided to build a new and larger hall, which was comple­ ted in time for the Fall Fair, at a cost of $3,145. This year, too, the old Grey Branch Agricultural Society decided to hand over the lands and buildings to the East Huron Agricultural Society, and a “Branch Society with a record not easily equalled for good Fairs, and united and agreeable effort” passed into history. begins at the community centre at 9 p.m., and the judges retire to make their final decision, which will be announced with the crowning of the Queen at the first dance intermission, approximately 10:30 The winner will then go on to compete in the Miss Midwestern Ontario competition at the Luck­ now Fall Fair Sept. 20, and will also go to the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto next summ­ er, to compete for the title of Miss C.N.E. In the intervening year, the Brussels Fall Fair Queen will represent the Brussels Agricultur­ al Society at a number of local functions and events. h Reunion ton, 26:0; 2nd, Christine and Shannon Hallahan, 31:1. SUNDAY EVENTS- STEP-DANCING CONTEST OPEN CLASS: 1st, Lisa Beattie, Clinton; 2nd (tied), Lynn Harris, Stratford and Sheri Preszcator, Clinton; 3rd, Susan Elliott, Tiver­ ton. 9 AND UNDER: 1st, Laurie Nicholson, Monkton; 2nd, Carly Huitema, Stratford; 3rd, Jennifer Szusz, Londesboro. 12 AND UND­ ER (Old Tyme Reel): 1st, Lee Ann Wammes, Clinton; 2nd, Krista Dalzell, Clinton; 3rd, Lesley Dal­ zell, Clinton. 12 AND UNDER (Clog, Jig and Reel): 1st, Chad Wolfe, Kitchener; 2nd Tracey Harris, Stratford and Rebecca Grant, Stratford (tied); 3rd, Le­ anne Storey, Goderich. JUNIOR GROUP: 1st, Friends 4 Ever, Clinton, with Kelly Bosman, Sheri Taylor, Nancy Lobb and Heather Royal; 2nd, Sweet Dream, Londes­ boro, with Jennifer Szusz, Paula Allen, Rhonda Howatt. Secretary Marian Hallahan re­ minds Thresher Association mem­ bers that the annual banquet and dance will be held in the Blyth Memorial Hall on October-17. Information can be obtained from Mrs. Hallahan at 523-9330. Fall Fair day in 1911 was so wet that gate receipts were only $35, and $406 had to be borrowed to pay the prize money. Automobiles were first reported at the fair in 1914, but by 1916, the Post reported there were “hundreds in town on Fair day.” Thebigattractionin 1916was the Baby Show, with 20 babies entered. Prizes were awarded to the mothers, with Mrs. Bynes of Henfryn first, Mrs. Benson Wheel­ er of Grey second, and Mrs. Richard Cardiff of Brussels third. Few changes or additions were reported until the late 40’s, when the traditional evening musical concertwas discontinued, to be J. E. Hodgins (Wingham) Ltd. 11 North St E , WINGHAM - 357-3650 Mon. - Fri. 7:30 a m. - 5:30 P m Sat. 8:00 a m. - 4:00 p.m. Visa/Mastercard — Ample Parking WELCOME FALL Now's the Time to "squirrel away" your Fall supplies and save money too! At the Wingham Sales Arena you will find everything you need for any occasion -- for a handful of guests or for thousands of people. Choice Quality Golden and Sultana seedless raisins, pecans, walnuts, spices and extracts, hard and soft wheat flours, white, brown and icing sugar. Glazed Fruits include - cherries, mixed fruits, pineapple wedges. Bulk cookies, candy, chocolate, snack foods, imported foods. Sultana Seedless Raisins - .89c lb. Glazed Mixed Fruit - $1.19 lb. Walnut Pieces - $2.79 lb. Currants - .99c lb. Assorted Dare Cookies - $1.69 lb. Lynch Beef Soup Base - $2.69 lb. Lynch Onion Soup Base - $2.96 lb. Clothing and Footwear for the entire family. Super saving's on new Fall Fashions. Coveralls for men and boys, work pants, shirt. Safety work shoes, rubber boots, blue jeans. Sporting Goods - new and used guns, ammunition, rifle scopes, hunting knives, gun cases, gun cabinets. New & Used furniture, appliances, antiques, giftware, kitchen suites, living room, bedroom and dining room furniture. Box springs and mattresses, desk, bookcases, bunk beds. TERMS: CASH, VISA, MASTERCARDAND KNOWN CHEQUES GET THE MOST FOR YOUR DOLLAR! SHOPTHE THE WINGHAM SALES ARENA Just North of WingNam on Hwy. 4 Open Mon. - SAt. 9-6 p.m. Frt, nights till 9 p.m. _______ 357-173^_________________ replaced with the first dance ever held in the Palace in 1950. On the Agricultural Society's 100th anniversary in 1961. a new stone gateway was erected at the Turnberry Street entrance, and on Sept. 10. Ida Davis and Beth Hoover, dressed in Centennial costume, unveiled Centennial plaques on the gateway dedicated to the Society and its pioneers. After the ribbon-cutting cere­ mony, 500 onlookers were invited into the Palace for a cup of tea and a piece of Centennial cake, designed and decorated by Ella Shurrie in the shape of the Palace, the new gate, and a section of the fair­ grounds.