Homecoming '87, 1987-07-01, Page 34PAGE A-34. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1987.
_Homecoming ’3 7________________________ _____________„ -< . ......,
Agricultural Society is older than the village
‘ ‘The eighth annual exhibition of
the Grey Branch Agricultural
Society was held at Ainleyville on
Tuesday, the 12th inst. Notwith
standing the wetness of the
morning and the bad state of the
roads, the turnout of people was
decidedly in advance of anything
formerly seen in this society. The
entry of horses, cattle and sheep
was unusually large, and the
marked improvement in the in
door department was ample proof
that the neat and nimble fingers of
the ladies have not been idle since
last show day.”
It is now 125 years since Fairs
were first held in Brussels (Ainley
ville). The earliest reference to this
fair was found in a Seaforth paper
in 1869, which referred to it as the
“eighth annual fair.” Thus it was
organized in 1861, and was known
as the Grey Branch - Agricultural
Society.
The first fairs were held in
Victoria Park, with the inside
department housed in the hall at
the Armstrong hotel, later the
American hotel. The 1913 Brussels
Post’s comment was that the
Society was organized “about 50
years ago.”
At the annual meeting in 1872,
the officers and members of the
Grey Branch decided it was
necessary to purchase a piece of
ground for the purpose of erecting
a hall and forming exhibition
grounds. A committee was formed
to investigate the possibilities of
buying some land and the price of
same. At a meeting a month later,
subscription lists were put into
circulation to raise money to
purchase a site. Three and three
quarter acres were purchased and
the deed of land is dated Sept. 19,
1874 and the price was $575.00.
The next summer contractors
commenced work on the new
Agricultural hall, which cost $600
and was in readiness for the 1875
Fall Fair.
Due to the abolishing of the
North Riding in Huron County, a
new Society was organized on Feb.
5, 1875, and was known as East
Huron Agricultural Society. Not
until the annual meeting in 1885
was the name of any officer
learned; Donald McLaughlin was
president that year.
The annual meeting of East
Huron Agricultural Society was
held on January 23, 1885, in the
Town Hall with, vice-president
Wm. Grieve in the chair, and a total
80 members
in 1885
membership of 80. Officers were:
President, Donald McLaughlin;
1st Vice, Wm. Grieve; 2nd Vice,
Robert Gibson; Directors, Charles
Hingston, Robert Brown, James
Ferguson, Robert Miller, G. Mof
fatt, Thos. Kelly, Alexander Ste
wart Jr., A.L. Gibson, David
Milne; Auditors, F. S. Scott, W.
H. Kerr; Sec.-Treas., Daniel Ste
wart, Delegates to Provincial
Exhibition, Robt. Gibson, Daniel
Stewart.
At a meeting on Feb. 7, the
directors decided to hold the show
on the first Thursday and Friday in
October.
The grounds on which the Fair
was held were small and inade
quate . At the annual meeting of the
Grey Branch in 1891, the question
of enlarging the grounds was
discussed. The directors decided
to buy 10 more acres from John
Leckie on condition that $600 be
received as gratuity from the funds
of the late Caledonia Society and
Driving Park Association, and that
the Grey branch agree to fence the
said grounds and hold it subject to
future lease or other arrangements
with a Driving Park Association,
should such be formed. This land
was purchased and in readiness for
the Fall Fair in 1891.
Value of prizes awarded in 1886
as follows: Horses $184.50, cattle
$71, sheep, $73, pigs $20, poultry
$16, implements $22.50, grain $37,
roots $17, fruit $12, vegetables
$23.25, dairy produce $19, ladies
$57.50, fine arts $20, plants and
flowers $14.25, Specials $4.50.
In 1888, as a special prize, the
Raymond Sewing Machine Co.
offered one of their machines for
thebest501b. tubof butter. The
winner was Mrs. John McDougall.
In 1887, to increase interest, they
offered valuable prizes in a butter
making contest. Each contestant
had to supply her own equipment,
cream, etc. to make five pounds of
butter. The day was very wet so we
presume no one entered the
contest as there was no report
about it in The Post.
On the Thursday evening of the
annual fairs, the Palace was open
and the public invited to view the
exhibits. Each year a program of
music on the organ and violin and
an orchestra was provided for
entertainment. In 1889, an Indian
Club swinging contest was held,
where the entrants gave an
exhibition of club swinging. There
were four classes in this competi
tion, but only entrants for girls
under 16. Prizes were first $1, 2nd
.75c, and 3rd .50c. Winners were
Nina Rogers, Lizzie Roddick, and
Maude Hall. Other entrants were
Lily Ainley, Jennie and Kate
Wilson, Edith Whitely, Nellie
Ward, Maggie McNeil, Alice
Watt, Rosie Watt, Rosie Le Bon,
Bertie Robertson. Each of the
non-winnersreceived .35cfrom
the Editor of the Brussels Post.
In 1891 horse races were intro
duced as an added attraction.
There was a mile trotting pace won
as follows: Philip Ament, Peter
Scott, Bert Gerry. A half mile dash,
two heats, won by: F. S. Scott,
Beattie Bros, and George Baker. In
1892 a new competition was held,
to determine the best lady driver.
Results were: Miss Cameron of
Tuckersmith, Mrs. W. Cameron of
McKillop. Among the notes on this
fair was one stating that a new
exhibition building was of stern
necessity. 197 panes of glass had to
be replaced in the skylight of the
Palace “owing to the wanton
destruction of mean boys.”
In 1895 there wasaField Crop
Competition, the first sponsored
by the Society. The crop was
turnips and mangels with 8 entries
in turnips and 3 in mangels.
The plan adopted in judging
was : The proper acreage of crop
was taken in one block, either
square or oblong. The competitor
was allowed to choose the place of
beginning. After that there was no
further interference allowed. The
field was divided into five sections,
from each of which nine feet were
carefully measured by tapelines.
All the roots coming from this area
were pulled, shaken clear of earth,
topped and weighed, five weighing
or lifts being thus taken diagonally
across the field. The sum of these
weighs was taken as the standard
of comparison.
The system seemed to meet with
the hearty approval of all competi
tors. Results as made known by the
President and Secretary were: 1
acre of turnips, John McKinnon,
Con. 8, Grey - 133 lbs.; Charles
Knight, Con. 10, Grey, 139 lbs.;
Bird Bros., Cranbrook, 88 lbs.; J.
McCutcheon, Con. 7, Morris, 123
lbs.; Jas. Speir, Con. 6, Morris, 143
lbs.; Jas. Burgess, Con. 10, Grey,
120 lbs.; Jas. McCallum, McKil
The first “Palace” at the old Agricultural Fairgrounds at the north end of Brussels was erected in
readiness for the 1875 Fair. The new building cost $600, and was used until the new “Crystal Palace” was
built in 1906.
lop, 150 lbs. Prizes $3, $2, $1.50,
$1.00.
Mangel results: Jas. Speir, 199
lbs. $3; Jas. McCallum, 176 lbs.,
$2; Alex Gardiner, 171 lbs., $1.50.
In 1898 Annualmeetingofthe
Grey Branch we find the first
itemized financial statement, as
follows: - Receipts: Balance from
last report, $304.02; Legislative
grant, $81; Municipal grant $20;
Member’s subscriptions, $117;
Admission fees to exhibition
$401.45; Rent for grounds and
stalls $10; Miscellaneous receipts,
$21.60; Total, $955.47. Expendi
tures: Granttounion exhibition
$200; Fitting up grounds etc.,
$85.98; Paid on mortgage,
$100.20; Paid on interest, $60;
Miscellaneous expenses, $2.25;
Total $448.43; Balance on hand,
$507.04; Valueof Land, $2,000;
Value of Buildings $800; Mortgage
on property, $700; Interest on
mortgage due, $25.25.
The union exhibition was the
Fall Fair held jointly by the Grey
Branch and East Huron Agricul
tural Societies. It is interesting to
compare the financial statement of
Grey Branch with that of East
Huron.
The following is the treasurer’s
report for East Huron 1898:
Receipts, Balance from last audit
$192.19; Legislative grant, $426;
Prizes
over $100
Member’s subscriptions $86;
From Grey Branch Society, $200;
Total $904.18. Expenditures: Priz
es at Fall Fair. Prizes paid for 1896
$23.75; Working expenses $76;
printing on judge’s expenses
$64.75; Balance on hand $99.03,
Total$904.18. Prizesyettopay,
$78.30.
In the report of Brussels 1898
Fair, the Brussels Post had the
following headlines: “A Record
Breaker’’, 37th Annual Fair at
Brussels - Increased Entries,
biggest crowd, and Greatest Suc
cess Financially. There were the
usual attractions.
The newest contest was a
“Comfort Soap Race.” The enter
prising Company, which manufac
tured this well known soap,
Messrs. Pugsley, Dingman and
Company, Toronto, generously
donated eight prizes for a race, 80
yds. picking up a bar of Comfort
Soap every 10 yards and carrying
the same in aprons supplied by the
firm.
There were 10 entries and prizes
were as follows: Gold Watch, Edith
Jackson, Morris; Silver Watch,
Dora Simpson, Jamestown; Clock,
Kate Mullen, Grey; Opera Glass
es, Mabel Watson, Sunshine;
Lady’s Chatelaine Bag, Mary
Simpson; Purse, Janet McCallum,
McKillop; Purse, Bessie McDon
ald, Grey; Purse, Jessie Telfer,
Grey.
Mr. Robinson, the gentlemanly
representative of Comfort Soap,
was so well pleased that he gave a
nice picture to the other two ladies,
Mary McCallum, and Grace Mc
Donald. Each competitor became
the owner of the 7 bars of soap
picked up and the apron also.
During the day thousands of copies
of two selections of music and
advertising matter were distribut
ed and Comfort Soap got such an
advertising as it never had before
in Huron. The young laides had
had about as much fun as the
spectators.
Messrs. Melville and Morrison
of Exeter had one of their
automatic Acetylene gas genera
tors at the Fair and had it running
full blast Thursday night. Also
exhibited was a butter-making
machine, made in Sweden, that
manufactured butter direct from
the milk in less than a minute.
In the 1900 financial statement
at the annual meetings, Grey
Branch showed a balance of
$639.01, while East Huron had a
deficit of $113.50. Apparently
there was some trouble dividing
the money between the two
societies as F.S. Scott was appoint
ed an additional auditor for that
purpose.
At a meeting in February 1900
the Directors East Huron decided
to hold a big concert on the Friday
night, following the fair, in the
Town Hall.
The question of building a new
Agricultural Hall was discussed.
The two presidents and two
secretaries were named to a
committee to procure plans and
estimates to lay before the Direc
tors. At a later meeting, these
estimates were considered too
high, and they decided to postpone
building operations for another
year.
At the annual Fall Fair that year
the weather was ideal, with an
estimated attendance of 5,000.
There were well over 1,200 entries
in the various classes.
This was the first year a concert
was held on the second night of the
Fair. The Town Hall was filled to
capacity. Proceeds were $41 after
expenses. Entertainers were H.
Ruthven McDonald, baritone solo
ist; J.H. Cameron, Toronto, stories
and humorous songs; Misses Lyda
Crooks and Lizzie Sample, local
ladies, assisted with vocal solos,
Miss Jean McLaughlin and Mr.
Phelps acted as accompanists.
In 1901, at the Annual meeting of
EastHuron, the secretary-trea
surer Daniel Stewart, declined
re-election. He had sold his farm
and was moving away. W. H. Kerr
became his successor.
Mr. Stewart had been secretary
treasurer of East Huron since it
was organized and also of Grey
branch for many years. The paper
stated he had been connected with
Agricultural Society workfor 40
years.
Later that year the Directors
decided to repair the Agricultural
Hall on condition that the cost did
not exceed $300. The contract for
putting a new roof on building and
$300 spent
for new roof
makingother necessary repairs
was awarded to Arthur McNaugh
ton. The old office for the secretary
was pulled down, and a new,
modern one built in its place.
Ninety yards of cotton cloth had
been procured and placed on the
westerly wall for the ladies work. It
was found that this amount did not
accommodate nearly ail the exhi
bits in this class, which came from
as far away as Goderich and
Newmarket. It is the first time
recorded that ladies assisted in
setting up and displaying exhibits
in Ladies Work. This became an
annual custom and each year two or
three ladies were appointed as
assistants.
There was another Soap Con
test, arranged by the Richard’s
Soap Co. of Woodstock. The young
ladies had to drive six wire nails, 4’ ’
long, into a pine plank, then run 25
yards, pick up .50c worth of soap
and run back to the plank with it.
At the Fair in 1902 there was a
poultry exhibit from the Dominion
Poultry Station at Holmesville. The
manager had several crates of live
chickens. The different crates were
labelled to tell if the fowl was for
breeding purposes or fattening.
The feed was mixed the re on the
grounds and the chickens fed while
the spectators watched. This exhi
bit was solely for its educational
and instructive value.
There was also a display of
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