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From local community and county fairs all the way up to the Ohio State Fair, many Ohioans look forward to fair season every year.
These celebrations recognize agricultural achievements and showcase the talents of neighbors and friends with domestic arts exhibits. Spirited competition helps to embrace a sense of community.
The Kinsman Stock & Agricultural Association's Fair is one example of a bygone cherished community event. In 1883, E. N. Howell, James King, G. S. Brackin and other friends got together to show off their livestock and race horses. These founding members formed the privately owned fair corporation and helped grow the fair over the years.
One-hundred-and-forty years ago, this would have been the first fair week in Kinsman. Early on, the festivities were held the last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in August on a wide section of state Route 87. A decade later, it was relocated to a parcel of Kinsman family land on State Street.
According to the 1891 fair program, admission cost just 10 cents, and children under 10 were admitted free. People of all ages were drawn to the exciting horse races that boasted monetary prizes for the winners.
Horses were not the only animals to be found at the Kinsman Fair. The community's cattle, sheep, swine and poultry competed across a variety of categories. Other competitions were held across the three days.
The Vegetable Hall showcased entries for everything from the "best display of potatoes" to the "best 5 pounds of butter," while the Domestic Hall displayed handiwork such as "best crochet wool slumber robe" and "best gent's woolen socks." All competitors hoped to win the top prize.
Over the years, the fair grew in popularity, requiring it to expand and upgrade. A grandstand was built to seat about 2,000 people, "commanding an unobstructed view of the entire track." It was advertised that seating for 7,000 was also available in the natural amphitheater. Other featured attractions were cold spring water, a beautiful grove of oaks for picnic grounds, and new and improved buildings and exhibits.
Corresponding to another Kinsman historical highlight, the 1896 fair program contained an advertisement on "How to Reach the Moody Meeting" which was held Sept. 9 and 10 that year on the Kinsman fairgrounds. Trains transported thousands of visitors to these evangelical gatherings from the surrounding counties and from as far away as Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
In 1933, the Kinsman Fair Association celebrated its 50th anniversary. Notable son of Kinsman, Clarence Darrow, was in attendance, and held a reception in front of the grandstand where he connected with old friends and neighbors. In coordination with the anniversary, the Fair Association welcomed all couples who had been married 50 or more years to attend the fair for free.
The technological advancements on display at the anniversary celebration were in striking contrast to those of the first fair; from "horse and buggy crowds, and the one-horse shays, to the present, with the airplane and the automobile." Despite improvements and many cherished memories, the Kinsman Fair only continued for another few years. From humble beginnings, the Kinsman Fair developed into one of the most successful fairs in the county until it closed for good in 1938.
Souvenirs from the fair can be seen at the Kinsman Library in the Local History Room. Photos of the track and grandstand can be viewed on the Kinsman Historical Collection online database at www.kinsmanlibrary.org.
For assistance, email reference@kinsmanlibrary.org. The Kinsman Free Public Library is located at 6420 Church St.
Straub is the Reference and Adult Services Librarian for the Kinsman Free Library.