1866: THEY PIONEERED IN DISTRICT FAIR

WAUGHTAL, DEXTER, RANDALL, TREVITT, KEERL, MCMILLIN, PALMETER, TENNEY, SIRRINE, VERMILYA, EMSLEY, FELT, WILSON, ROCKWELL, CARD, BROWN, REED, GARNER, TENNEY, BRENTNER, PERRETT, BEMUS, MUMFORD, CHURCH, PALMETER, OGDEN, KLING, HENDERSON, MILLER, GIBBS, MARTIN, CRANE, NICHOLS, WILLIS, BAILEY, ROCKWELL, COOK, DOUGHERTY, PATTON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 11/18/2014 at 11:56:02

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Monday, June 01, 1953
Mason City Centennial Edition, Section 3

1866: THEY PIONEERED IN DISTRICT FAIR

[Section 3, Page 12] The idea of a North Iowa Fair that would serve an area of several counties had its origin back in 1866 when the Cerro Gordo County Agricultural and Mechanical Society held its sixth annual fair in Mason City. Several other North Iowa counties were invited to have entries in the Cerro Gordo County exposition.

Although organized in the fall of 1859, the fair had been small events during the Civil War years. But the exposition on Sept. 21 and 22, 1866, with the war over, the boys back home taking part in the building of the community, was a true reflection of the enterprise of the people. The first railroad was still three years in the future, however, and all transportation and communication was by oxen and horses.

The Cerro Gordo County Republican, giving ample space to the project, announced 32 committees were to have charge of the various departments of the fair.

Committees Named

Among the committees were those on blacksmithing, wheelwright work, cooper work, cutlery, peat, boots and shoes, plowing, cabinet and joiner work, ambrotype [a positive image placed on glass] and photographic pictures and grove timber. The only cattle mentioned were Durham and there were French and Spanish Merino sheep.

"An invitation is extended to Hancock, Winnebago and Worth counties to join in the fair," said The Republican. "Said counties will be allowed to compete with Cerro Gordo County for premiums and no additional entrance fee will be required of any person desiring to exhibit any article at the fair from said counties.

"It is the intention of the officers to have one of the grandest exhibitions of stock, grain, mechanism, etc., ever exhibited in Northern Iowa and they confidently expect that various communities will be prompt in the discharge of their duties and report as early as possible on the second day of the fair to the secretary the names of all persons entitled to premiums."

194 Exhibits

The total number of exhibits was 194 and $211.50 was paid out in premiums.

Among the exhibitors were:

Fred Waughtal five head of cabbages

Mark Dexter two-horse wagon

Millard Randall 100 pounds of flour

Isaac Trevitt two-year-old Durham bull

Henry Keerl five lambs

Mrs. John K. McMillin bed quilt

Mrs. Theron Palmeter coverlet

C. W. Tenney buggy mare

R. O. Sirrine span driving mares

George Vermilya three-year-old grade heifer

Mrs. T. G. Emsley butter and embroidered slippers

William Felt two pigs

Alonzo Wilson peck of apples

G. B. Rockwell sheep

Dr. Card span of roadsters

Elihy Brown best mare

Lorenzo Reed best acre of grove timber

Mason City Factory best cheese

A. Garner best orchard

Thomas Tenney two gallons sorghum

Mrs. Eliza Brentner best equestrianship

The association received $45 from the state auditor as state aid. Thomas Perrett, Rock Falls, was president and T. G. Emsley, Mason City, secretary.

Showed Cattle

For some reason Floyd county was not asked to join the fair but Dr. D. M. Bemus came from that county with 34 heads of cattle which were of such excellence that the association held under obligation for him for his help and voted to give him $10.

J. V. Mumford, J. S. Church and T. Palmeter were appointed a committee to solicit donations to purchase fair grounds.

The board adopted resolutions declaring that the raising of grain in this section of Iowa except for what was needed for home consumption fell short of renumerating the farmer for his labor and recommended the raising of more sheep and building a woolen mill to manufacture yarn and cloth. It also called a meeting to organize a Wool Growers Association.

The fuel question was evidently an important one for prizes were offered for peat and Mumford and Emsley exhibited a peat machine and some samples of compressed peat.

Indicative of the urge to fund new outlets for agricultural products William Kling was given first prize for an acre of broom corn and on manufactured brooms. That industry, however, did not [arrive?].

On Ogden Farm

There is nothing to determine where the early fairs were held but in 1872 it was announced that after much difficulty in obtaining grounds, the fair would be held one mile south of Mason City on the farm of Dr. J. G. Ogden. Suitable arrangements were made to accommodate stock and a temporary building was erected to shelter such articles as needed protection from sun and storm.

George Henderson, who had served as president of the old society, called a meeting in the courthouse March 30, 1872, to reorganize the association. At this meeting a committee made up of George R. Miller, Alonzo Wilson and B. F. Gibbs was named to set up the organization on the basis for selling shares at $10 each. In the old society the memberships were $1 each.

Articles of incorporation were adopted April 13 of that year and the following officers elected: George R. Miller, president; Charles W. Tenney, vice president; Thomas G. Emsley, secretary; Henry Martin, secretary [treasurer?].

From Townships

The articles provided the board should be made up of one from each township. The board members were: Mason, T. N. Miller; Lake, T. Palmeter; Falls, Thomas Perrett; Lime Creek, C. E. Crane; Clear Lake, E. Nichols; Lincoln, H. J. Willis; Owen, J. G. Bailey; Geneseo, George V. Rockwell; Portland, A. S. Felt; Grant, Joseph Cook; Dougherty, Daniel Dougherty.

In 1873 the fair was located on the grounds purchased on 12th N. W., where it remained until a new revival of the fair established the grounds at their present location in 1907 under the leadership of W. L. Patton.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2014