There is a word not often used, sesquicentennial. Officially, the meaning refers to a celebration of one and a half centuries of something. Here in Williamson County, our grand and noble enterprise, the Williamson County Fair, has earned such a name. It is the Sesquicentennial of the founding of our beloved County Fair. Although the Fair itself will be held in August, as usual, we intend to celebrate its Big Event all year long.
Way back in 1856, when Marion was only 17 years old, a distinguished group of our earliest settlers and civic leaders came together and formed The Williamson County Agricultural Society. Our first U.S. Congressman, Willis Allen, was its President. The Mexican War veteran, soon to become Civil War hero at the battle of Fort Donelson, John H. White, was its Secretary. Other well-known names from the founding era of Marion were included in the ranks of The Society, names like Pulley, Goodall, Cunningham, Hundley, Binkley and Campbell.
These gentlemen bought up ten acres of land west of the young city of Marion from T.A. Aikman to be used as a place to hold a County Fair. The purchase price was $5.00 per acre. The men built up and improved the site by themselves, and then made a gift of the completed fairgrounds to the Agricultural Society.
In those early days, the fairgrounds were not elaborate by any means. There were no buildings to speak of, not even a ticket booth. Everyone who entered did so by purchasing their ticket through a hole cut in the fence, where a dry goods box served as the ticket office. The lines of trees standing on the grounds served as part of the exhibit sites. Cotton ropes were strung from branch to branch and used to display items hung from the ropes. Other, bulkier items were placed on boxes and crates, on tables, or set on the ground.
The first fair was held in 1856 and the gate receipts totaled only $80.30. But from those proceeds every debt was paid in full and the project was considered a great success. And a Williamson County Fair has been held every year since that time.
In 1871, the fair was called the “Williamson County Agricultural and Mechanical Fair.” Doctor Augustus N. Lodge, Willis Allen’s son-in-law, was the Secretary of the Society then. A new fairgrounds had been purchased out east of town, in its present location. The original purchase was for 28 acres, located in a beautiful natural grove of oak trees, bought from George C. Campbell in about 1866. By careful management, the Society was able to enlarge the fair grounds to include 52 acres, and build a fine race course and a grandstand seating 1000 people. The whole area was enclosed by a high board fence.
By 1886, the Fair was reported to have attendance from 5000 to 8000 every day, and gate receipts of $3100.00. C.H. Denison was the President of the Fair. In 1888, W. H. Bundy was elected Secretary and began a long history of continuous service which lasted well into the 20th Century. By 1904, the Society showed assets of real estate and improvements worth $25,000, a princely sum in those days.
Each August, rain or shine, for longer than any of us now living can recall, the sights, sounds and smells of the midway and the shows of the County Fair filled the air. Over those many years, the carousels and Ferris wheels have attracted thousands of people to the week-long celebration on the hallowed old grounds. By horse and mule-drawn carriages and wagons, rural families made their way to the Fair. Camp sites sprang up around the grounds as people were temporarily at home there with their show animals or projects.
The Coal Belt Electric Railway delivered visitors by trolley from all parts of the county to the wooded site east of Marion. No matter how people got there, they came together as neighbors and shared the fun of being “At the Fair.”
Entrants to the many judging contests won the standard award – – – one dollar. Records indicate that the dollar premium was the same no matter the number of entries exhibited and regardless of the category. You won a dollar tor the best sponge cake or for the finest team of mules. Who says a dollar won’t stretch far. In the early days of the fair it certainly did.
Mrs. P. H. Lang received one dollar for her quilt, John W. Todd received his dollar for honey, a quilt and molasses. And Joel H. Swindel was awarded his dollar for two hogs, a bushel of potatoes, turnips, apples, peaches, lard, wheat, and a chicken.
When the Williamson County Fair began, it was not unlikely to see people come from as far away as 100 miles, with attendances in the tens of thousands of people. Before the first world war, around 1909 and 1911, the fair hosted the famous Hagenback Wallace Circus and the Four Paw & Sells Brothers Circus.
Throughout the Fair’s history, many featured acts drew crowds in record numbers.
Even Annie Oakley took aim and performed what is said to be her last professional exhibition at the fairgrounds (1913).
These days, the county fair, regardless of location or size, offers much larger purses to the winners of specific events. Although you’ll still see plenty of livestock competing for any number of prizes, the days of the dollar as the grand prize have given way to more attractive awards. The midway still employs hawkers to attract your attention, and then there is the food found traditionally at the fair. It’s unmistakable, and still remarkable!
What’s nice to know, is that here in Williamson County we’ve grown up with the ages, not necessarily gone away with the ages. You can still have just as much fun coming to the week-long event and perhaps pass along some of the feel of the way it was to your son or daughter. There is not too many places left that can boast of such traditions, and certainly not many fairs can say they have earned the right to be known as a sesquicentennial event.
If for no other reason than to come and share memories of something that has survived for so long with someone you love, make it a point to visit the Williamson County Fair this year in August.
The traditional Parade that kicks off the fair will wind its way down Main Street, through downtown, and all the way out to the historic grounds on Saturday, August 5th.
Once the fair is underway you can strike up the band, open the midway, ride the rides and line the racetrack. There is plenty planned throughout the week-long event.
As the grandstand comes alive again this summer, you’ll want to be a part of this historic event by attending the 150th Annual Williamson County Fair. You can take in beauty pageants, demolition derbies, gospel singing and be a part of the old-fashioned days. Or, you can watch the thrilling and death-defying high flying motorcycle acts, all sorts of livestock, tractor pulls, and don’t forget an endless list of friendships made and friendships renewed at the fair.
While there is still time, Marion Living Magazine is going to promote our share of the festivities by bringing our readers stories of all sorts of interesting people and accomplishments that have taken place over the Fair’s first 149 years. You’ll get the opportunity to revisit several events, people and changes that have occurred at the historic fairgrounds.
It is our pleasure and obligation to rekindle the spirit that once made the fair what it was, and to offer a glimpse of what it is becoming today.
We may not be able to offer rides on the Electric Line as it motors its way along Main Street. But, we promise to do our best to find people and stories between now and when the fair officially opens… pulling out all of the stops to help make you aware of the importance, the history and glory that once kept farmers, merchants, travelers and citizens looking forward to the fair.
Whether reliving a bit of history, or securing for future generations the atmosphere that makes the fair such a grand event, look for upcoming features in Marion Living as August draws near.
Make plenty of room for cotton candy and the other delectable fair foods filled with powdered sugar. The fair comes but once a year, and in Williamson County, it has been doing so for longer than many can truly remember.
Sam’s Notes: For further information on the original location of the county fair grounds, see the post, Original Williamson County Fairground location in Marion, Illinois.
For further information on the Williamson County Fair Ground, see the post, Williamson County Fairground History.
(Marion Living Magazine, February 2006)