The Citizen, 1992-07-01, Page 40PAGE A8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1,1992.
East Wawanosh Township 125th Anniversary Commemorative Edition
Published by North Huron Citizen
Belgrave School Fair’s roots date back to 20’s
Return engagement
Riding in the Belgrave school fair parade on Sept. 19,1990 were participants from the first Belgrave school fair, which
was held on Oct. 5, 1920. Eight schools took part in those early years of the fair and the exhibits were spread out
through the Foresters' Hall and Presbyterian and Methodist church sheds.
A bit of the past blends with the present
each September in Belgrave when Ontario's
only remaining school fair is held.
Fairs like the Belgrave, Blyth and Brussels
School Fair were once common place
throughout rural Ontario. They brought
students together from the scattered one-
room school houses on the concession roads
across the townships to show off their best
work.
The fairs were encouraged by the
Department of Agriculture which handed out
a package of seeds to each student of each
school. At one time the Department even
delivered three settings of Barred Rock eggs
to each school.
The Belgrave School Fair grew out of a
meeting between school board trustees with
S. B. Stothers, the first representative of the
Department of Agriculture in Huron.
Richard Procter Sr. of Morris Twp. was the
first president and the directors included
teachers from the local schools and two
representatives of each school section.
The first fair was held on Oct. 5, 1920.
Eight schools took part in the early years of
the school fair and exhibits were spread out
through the Foresters' Hall, and Presbyterian
and Methodist church sheds.
In 1921 a fundraising concert was held
that became a tradition for 45 years. Part of
the concert was a musical competition
among students that became a Music
Festival in 1945.
Changes in the governing of school
changed the way the fair operated over the
years. In 1945 the East Wawanosh School
Area was formed and all schools in the
township entered the fair as well as the three
Morris schools that had been part of the fair
since its beginning. It meant a total of 14
schools were taking part. In 1946 all schools
in the Morris School Area entered, bringing
the total to 21. By 1949 the fair reached a
record of 2,818 entries.
Centralized schools and the formation of
the Huron County Board of Education meant
more changes in 1967. The fair became
known as the Belgrave, Blyth and Brussels
School Fair.
School children still get package of seeds
each year (now a package of flower seeds
and a package of vegetable seeds). In 1930
the Department of Agriculture withdrew its
support and no seeds were given out in 1930
and 1931. The Department of Education
helped out from 1934 to 1940. Belgrave, in
1934 had 1343 entries, the largest number of
entries of any school fair in the province. In
1940 the Department of Education withdrew
its support for school fairs and many folded
but the Belgrave fair board decided to
continue supplying each child with a
package of seeds. In 1970 the Huron County
Board of Education began an $800 annual
grant to the fair.
Since 1949 the fair has been held at the
Belgrave Community Centre. The fair has
generally enjoyed good weather but a deluge
in 1986 wiped out most of the outdoor
events.
In 1990 the fair celebrated its 70th
anniversary and there was a good turnout of
people who had exhibited in the first fair in
1920. They saw a fair that has grown over
the years. The fair now averages about 2500
entries. Though the fair has had its ups and
downs, people today perhaps recognize its
benefit more than people have for many
years.
FOLK ART TREASURES
OF HURON COUNTY
A treasure of a book celebrating our county’s folk artists
in conjunction with the
Sesquicentennial of Huron County 1991-1992
A peek at the pork
There are many interesting exhibits from the youngsters at the Belgrave
School Fair, a tradition that has been part of the township since 1920.
Sabo's Restaurant ®
& Gas Bar
Open Daily
New
Sunday Hours
for July & Aug.
9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Jerry & Helen Sabo
Auburn 526-7759
Available
at the
Blyth Festival
Box Office,
Huron County
Museum,
or
by mail.
Weather Vane or Whirlygig
lllus. from Folk Art Treasures
To: B. Walker, RR 3, Blyth, Ontario. NOM 1H0
Please send me...............copies of
‘Folk Art Treasures of Huron County’.
I have enclosed $15.00 for each copy.
(Plus $1.50 for shipping - taxes included)
Name.............................................................................
Prov./Postal Code
Phone No............