Wingham Advance-Times, 1981-10-07, Page 5,4 • :7?':
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•
. ,
tEEsioteR FAIR QAY used to be revered as ablii4t00
Years ago no one worked on fair day' and the whol.fialVik,
to see such things as horse 'races, freak veh101a
, 1
• *•,;',
126•years of tI,c.ditIoli
he
• h* •
judging of livestoCk. This photo shows a section of the parkin
during a fair held sometime In the 1930s.
lot
Jor .Fair. is- -OM
cornmunity
There's an old adage that
goes, "The more things
change, the more they stay
the same." That saying
applies to the Teeswater
Fair.
After 126 years, "Canada's
Largest Rural Fair," as it is
billed,is still going strong.
Over the years it has de-
veloped into an institution in
the community, and
organizers are determined to
keep the spirit of the fair
The first fair was held in
1855 and called the Culross
Toiinship Exhibition. In the
early years, the fairs rotated
from lawn to lawn in the
village, and during the early
1860s were even held at a
Teeswater tavern, The
Traveller's Rest.
By 1891, agricultural so-
ciety members were in
general agreement that if
the fair wereto expand, land
for a 'fairgrotind would have
,t0
In '1896 the societY 'bought
. the 28 -acre plot of land where
.the fairground stands today
for.$1,500. A hall for exhibits,
which now is known as the
Pioneer Hall, was built the
same year, and a racetrack
•
..,,,N$;x:xzwomomm**!&moiammiftIggag
Snap up the opportunities
in the
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also was c.Cimpleted...
Previously races had been
held on the main ktreet. •
The fair grew bigger and
bigger during • the early
1900s, New pens for livestock
were built, also' a grand-
stand, a food booth and a
horse barn.
THE PEAK YEARS
The 1940s proved to be the,
peak years for the Teeswater
Fair. Record crowds at-
tended the fairs, with as
many as 15,000 • people
present in 1942.
In the"1942 fair prize list, a
Red Cross division' was
featured, including a section
for remodeled clothing and
clothing for British civilians
and for those serving in the
military.
The agricultural society
also purchased a $5,000
Victory Bond in 1942. The
poultry -section was
eliminateduring the war
years and its 'trite, money'
crenated to various war
charities.
special train for
fairgoers ran from Toronto
to Teeswater in 1946, but it
did not run another year
because it did not pay, ac-
cording to the agricultural
society past president, Ken
MacDonald.
The .first beauty contest
associated with the fair was
held in 1946 and Mrs. Walter
Ross, a Teeswater store -
owner, offered a new dress to
the ,war bride who placed
highest in the competition.
Any returned soldiers
from Culross Township were
• admitted free to the fair that
year.
MEMORIES •
OF THE FAIR
Mrs.' Donald Ireland, wid-
ow of a former agricultural
society president, remem-
bers that when she was a
child, Teeswater Fair day
was looked upon as a special
outing.
At that time, the variety
concert drew top en-
tertainers from all over the
area and a dramatic
production was staged.
Mrs. Ireland expressed
optimism about the future of
,stitt;f4iNtaiasd it is
justas
asmany
eiffitatg ,bneadded, "It is
Wee to ".:nee the younger
peoplein there showing."
Gordou ''Stobo, another
society' past 'president, also
has. Seen, Marty changes in
the fair over the years.'
He 're*entiliers shoveling
snow iiffAthe seals in the
grandstand and one year in
the 1950S when the executive
met at 7; a.m. at the fair
gates in the pouring ram to
decide Whether or not to
cancel the fair. (They did
not.)
Mr. Stobniattributes the
drop in -fair attendance in
recent years* the inerease
in other forms of entertain-
ment. He Said' years, ago'
people 'didif:t travel to the
CNE; but, torilay it is com-
monplace... Movies,
television, Wier local fairs
and bad: Weather all have
played a phrt in decreasing
the fair's attendance.
Ken MacDonald has not
missed a Teeswater Fair
since 1940, and said the fair
has changed in every way ,
possible since he,was a boy,
Mr. MacDonald said the
fair is bigger tocgi, but it
does not have the same sort
of neighborhood involvement
as years ago.
"At that time people
donated more time -and ef-
fort and had more pride in
their fair," he said, but
added there are still a lot of
people today who spend a lot
of time and expense
preparing for the fair.
Another ala age Mr.
MacDonald noted was that
now exhibitors tri
miles around to ompete,
'while years ago was
limited to competitors from
within a radius of a few miles
of Teeswater.
In spite of the many
changes it has seen in the
past 126 years, the
Teeswater Fair has survived
and become enshrined in the
community.
Mr. Stobo commented that
years ago, all work ceased
on Teeswater Fair day, and
•some of that old feeling of
tradition for attending the
fair still seems to continue.
• It has rained on Teeswater
Fair day for eight of the past
Mae years, according to
Irene Smyth, society secre-
tary -treasurer. Organizers
hope clear, mild weather will
favor the fair this year and
attendance will be up.
THIS YEAR'S FAIR
Mrs. Smyth reported this
year's fair will be officially,
opened Friday evening at a
variety concert of. local
•entertainment. The queen of
the fair will be chosen also.
Saturday's activities in-
clude a giant parade at 12
noon, harness racing, saddle
races, a horse show, log -
sawing championships,
clowns, arena en-
tertainment, livestock
shows, a midway, exhibits
and helicopter rides.
Two dances on Saturday
, evening to Tiffin's Orchestra
and "to Drumlin, both in We
community centre, will
bring the fair to a close.
•
THE PION EERMALL, as it is known today, was constructed in 1.896 for Tees -
water Fair exhibits. The hall is still used to house exhibits for the fair, although it
was moved to a flew location on the grounds several years ago when the new com-
munity centre was built.
THE CROWDS GATHERED at the Teeswater Fair
for horse racing. This photo depicts a close finish In a
race and is -thOught to have been taken during the
•
€ft�et44quw ,
attodustoogey,Ogo,-
He added a er..onJ
comment that -the 41.101401:1 •
Aniffhas lot% **try of
dealing with Avow
problems and, "#rareno
profits In Jigs ohlY
losses:"
Pastor Hog) 1,940`
told cotine4 htylVaatiPeOing
an behalf Of members Odle
Wingham Rapt Cbtweb.
"and other • ,teetiatalersrov:
described in an impassioned
speech the problems already
associated With drinking at
he arena.
Ile lives beside the arejta;
he said, and has seen and
heard the drinking and the
dreadful language that
accompanies it at all hours
of the night following hockey.
games.
He challenged council
members to come down to
the corner of 'Vietoria and
Josephine streets at two Or
three o'clock in the morning
to witness it for themselves.
Issuing a liquor licence
will not correct the
problems, he said. That is up
to the police, and council
should see that they do it.
Lorraine Poulin, the+
spokesman for the CWL,
presented a petition with 23
names opposing the liquor
permit. She also said her
group was not confused
about what was being
proposed by the hockey club,
but it still doesn't think the
arena is the place for liquor.
Legitimizing the drinking
would be telling the youth
that liquor is acceptable at
sporting events, she said,
adding it shouldn't . be
necessary to sell liquor at the
arena, when it is already
available not far away.
Rev. Paul Mills and Rev.
John Swan of the
Presbyterian and Anglican
churches in Winghamf also
attended the meeting and
addressed council.
Mr. Mills explained he is
new M town land not that
familiar with the back-
ground to the debate, but he
said that as a former police. -
man in New York State he
knows that a licence isn't
needed. to , control iliegal
drinking. Existing laws give
the police power to control
that, he noted. ,
He also noted that the issue
is not just good times and
comradeship, "it also has to
do with the dismal record of
society in dealing with
alcohol."
He knows from personal
experience that normally
well-mannered people can
become vulgar and abusive
under the influence of
r
MRS. GEORGE BROWN
wOihttna}cii
ien ia!Ict 4 94:4 Pv 114'
iotgiteeh,se
th
ortxaspri°1195;loadoPsr:)40.ne
using ' •
recreation, liet,,,.fegc
• ‘"Thearetia'*.aff
C000V44.*,4401:4
from former Mayer
at being. hhah
wiesse
regraideetni; WhO eXpi
dipoalettlfiedneid.0,:h04thi:1114e0:
gay feel I1 you.
ha• ‘isrnleostoPer"batovon434e • "
con-
vinced the application shorikl
teanttor4iSe mOney.
Would he better *stay at
home."
arifeem.its;O-thiuerggwes.:41f:ollirtlreel.:.
After hearing all the,'
arguments, Councillor -
Chirmyn 'Said41ie' was •
,be turneadoWn.Noonefroat!.:
the Royals had shOwed.op•ta:',.'
noted.
out in
opposition;
• i
Councillor Hailey; AV' .
piained that a death in the
" -
famRoyaiirs'.spolthausxnad' Kerr
Chomyn said certainly mere -••
foreclub.'
•
tha COI
are others who griuld speak.: •
frthoeyinthti•eAnitt4,.
tha7het:11ss
Mrs. • Bailey then . told
had been asked ' not to
mention it until after the
discussion, the Royals hitt.,
told her they didnut intend to
ask for a licentethis year, 16
they have raised • enough
money to operate the' club,'
but, they might approach
council next year.
Councillor Currie, who
said he was...having trouble
Making up his mind on .the
issues, suggested council "
should Pat. 'qft17 _deatqfil,
for a month to aitpibh,
feedback and he Moved that
it be tabled. ' •
The motion was lost when
the mayor voted against it,
together with Councillors.
Baileyand Miller and Reeve
Kerr, resulting in a 4-4 tie.
"What's the use of
prolonging the thing? We've;
had a month now," Mr. Kerr
commented.
Council then, went on to
defeat the licence proposal
•
Gorrie Personal Notes
Congratulations to Mrs.
Frances Keil for winning the
special prize for the new
exhibitor with the most°
entries at the Howick Fall
-Fair.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Grainger, David and Steven
of Waterloo, visited Cecil
Grainger in Listowel
Memorial Hospital and also
with Mrs. Grainger in the
village on Sunday..
Paul Moir and Miss Sheri
Moody of Grand Bend spent
the weekend with Mr. and
Mrs. Gordon Moir. ,
Family Thanksgiving ser-
vice will be held in Knox
Presbyterian Church on
Wednesday, October 14, at
8:30 p.m. Guest speaker will
be Rev. Wesley Ball of
Thamesford. Families are
urged to a ttend.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hall
of Ayr visited Sunday at the
home of Mr. and Mrs,
Gordon Edgar.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer Nuhn
of Charlton are visiting their
son-in-law and daughter, Mr.
and Mrs. Sandy Gibson.
Mr. and Mrs. Rick Nay of
Trenton and Jeff Nay of
Kitchener visited over the
weekend with Mr. and Mrs.
Bill Nay.
Mr. and Mrs. ' Alex
Graham visited Sunday with
Jim Graham of Waterloo and
Mr. and Mrs. Donald
Graham, Kitchener:
Mrs. ,Dorothy Sheath of
Toronto spent a few days
with Mrs. Gerald Galbraith.
Mrs. Harvey Adams and
Mrs. Harry King have
returned from a bus and
train tour 'to the Agawa
Canyon.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry
Linden, David and Kelly of
London, visited last weekend
with Mr. and Mrs. George
Noble.
Miss Cheryl Mayburry of
Kitchener spent the weekend
with her 'parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Robert Mayburry.
Harmony Unit meets
WROXETER — The the morning church service.
Harmony Unit of Wroxeter Mrs. Fines announced two
.—United--Church—hekt- .its--.-UCW catering jobs._coming_
September meeting at the up in the near future.
home of Sandra Edgar last Plans were made to hold a
Tuesday. hot roast beef noon lunch on •
Jackie Fines and Marilyn Oct. 23,
Elgie* conducted a Thanks- Mrs. Elgie, the president,
giving worship service and reminded the ladies of the
the hymns, scripture, prayer UCW fall rally at the
and readings followed the Bluevale United Church on
theme: "The thoughtful are Oct. 13.
thankful". The topic of the next
Mrs. Elgie showed a film meeting will be the disabled
of lovely fall scenes set to a and each member will bring
musical hack ground and an article of interest.
then she presided over the The meeting closed with
husiness period Nursery the Mizpah benediction and
pveschoolers will Mildred Coupland assisted
Ii e,oducted again during the hostess in serving lunch.
early 1940s, when fair attendance was at its peak. In
1942 It was estimated that 15,000 people attended what
is still billed as "Canada's Largest Rural Fair".