History of the Potter County Fair

 

A little Pre-Fair History as told by Henry A. Staiger in 1984, at the age of 92.

“In 1928, as an agricultural teacher for Potter County Schools, it occurred to me that a display of students’ activities would be an encouragement to them and of interest to the public. I’d discussed this project with Mrs. Flossie Shields, who was teaching in Millport in the Fall of 1928; she thought it was a good idea and offered to talk with the other teachers in the district. They were in favor. One of the teachers, Mrs. Eva Newton, a teacher at the Sunnyside School, was also active in the Grange, and through her influence, the Grange became a strong supporter of the “Fair”. The displays were set up in the Millport School, using both rooms. Elmer Brown, who owned and lived in the old hotel, provided porch space. The following year he suggested the boys be asked to bring livestock since his barn was vacant. Four boys brought calves.”

 

 

 

The first fair under incorporation was held September 16th, 17th and 18th in 1931. It was held in the Millport school building, in the school room and community room, on the porch of the hotel building owned by Elmer and Ruth Brown and in their barn. For the first 24 years of the fair, it was known as the “Oswayo Valley Rural Community Fair.” It wasn’t until the 25th fair, in 1959, that it became known as the “Potter County Fair.”

 

Items on exhibit at the first fair were flowers, sewing and fancy work, antiques, canned and baked goods, fruit, honey and syrup, poultry, rabbits and white mice, livestock and antique guns. Among the activities were horseshoe pitching, foot races, wood sawing, tug-of-war, children’s parade, trap and rifle shooting and checker games. Two ball games were scheduled for the week, but one was rained out. (For those of you that have been to the fair over the years, you see we have had a problem with rain since day one.)  There was also a livestock parade, pumpkin raffle and an auction.

 

The president was Will S. Wandover; Vice-President was W. Cecil Davis and Secretary was Flossie Shields. The original By-Laws were written by Henry Staiger, W. Cecil Davis and Esther Reed.

 

Over the next few years, new buildings and sheds were built to meet the needs of the growing fair. A generator was to be purchased for the fair in 1934 and the going rate for labor in 1935 was decided to be 30 cents per hour.

 

It was decided for the third fair, that “no one bring exhibits competing for prizes except from the Oswayo Valley and its tributaries.”  It wasn't until 1950 what the gates were opened to exhibitors from the entire county.

 

In 1937, arrangements were made to have a Ferris Wheel and Kiddie Rides for the fair, as well as a popcorn machine and a ball game. A CCC building was purchased for $150 in 1938, and this remains on the grounds as the bingo hall.

 

As the war began in 1942, the officers met in May to discuss the probability of having the fair. The dates of September 10th through the 12th were selected, if they decided to have one. In July, it was voted that no fair would be held that year, nor was a fair held in 1943 or in 1944.

 

The Oswayo Valley Rural Community Fair returned in 1945. An Honor Roll was included in the fair book that year. Three hundred and twenty six names were listed as having served in the Armed Forces. Thirteen names were on the Gold Star List.

 

More buildings were added, new pens built and a chicken barbecue was started in the following years. Dances were held in the dance halls, the cost to get in; 50 cents. Bands were paid $20 per concert and tractor driving contests were started. The fair blossomed from 1945 through 1952.

 

About a week before the Fair in 1953, the Association was notified by the state, that the fair would have to be cancelled due to an epidemic of hepatitis in the Valley. So, the twentieth Annual Fair was pushed to the following year.

 

In 1957, a water well was drilled on the Fair Grounds by Howard Gale of Shinglehouse. Entry fees of 50 cents started to be collected in 1958, on each entry in classes N, O, P and R. (cattle, sheep, horses and swine). There were also 24 4-H Clubs listed for the county in 1958, with 42 leaders for the clubs.

 

In May of 1929, the Dairymen’s League purchased land in Millport, along route 44, and built a milk plant for weighing and shipping raw milk onto Eastern processing plants. When it closed in 1966, it was purchased by the association and converted into the dining hall that still remains today.

 

The Millport School that served as the site of the original fair, still stands on the property. By the late 1890’s, the population of the area had increased as did the school enrollment, which called for an addition to the school building. The new room was used as a classroom until the Spring of 1953. When the enrollment increased, a second teacher was added and the second room was used. In 1953, the school was closed as a result of consolidation. The Fair Association leased the building for several years for various Fair purposes until the floor of the West wing settled 18 inches, causing the building to become unsafe and it was closed. On July 1st 1982, the Oswayo Valley Historical Society sub-leased the property from the Fair Association for the remainder of the original 99 year lease. Through the efforts of Ron Maxson and other Society members, the building has been repaired. The building now houses the gifts to the Society, including copies of the Oswayo Valley Mail, given by the late Collins Herrick and his wife, Grayce.

 

Through ups and downs, wars and floods, our fair has continued to thrive in our tight knit community. It has become sort of a family reunion for the entire county. Being a place where you can see your friends, family and neighbors, when our lives get too busy or hectic to do so. Parents bring their children and get them involved in showing their animals, because that’s what their parents did for them. Now we have generations upon generations of families that have showed at the fair for years. Seventy nine years. This year marks the 79th year of our Potter County Fair. Though times are changing and the world becomes ever so more dependent on electronics, we continue to hold true to our roots. We remember why fairs were created in the first place. To encourage, promote and educate about the importance of agriculture in our communities. The Potter County Fair is not just an event, for many of us that have been here year, after year, after year; it feels more like home.

 

Written by John Dailey Resource: “Commemorative Celebration - Fiftieth Anniversary Fair” prepared by the Oswayo Valley Historical Society. 1986