It was the time of year when livery drivers in downtown Glens Falls would shout, “This way to the fairgrounds; going right up!”
It was just a few blocks ride to the entrance of the Warren County Fairgrounds at the intersection of Glen Street and Lincoln Avenue.
Photo courtesy of The Chapman Historical Museum
“The twenty-seventh annual fair of the Warren County Agricultural Society will commence today, apparently under very favorable circumstances,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on Sept. 11, 1883. “The society has spared neither pains nor expense to make this one of the most successful exhibitions ever held here, and have offered extra inducements in the way of premiums and amusements.”
A new 2,000-seat grandstand, overlooking the half-mile harness racing track, had been built earlier in the year.
An August drought had left farmers pessimistic about the harvest.
“The pastures are baked and dried up so that stock can get neither sufficient food nor water,” The Morning Star had reported on Aug. 29. “In some localities water has to be carted to them in barrels and hay from the late harvest fed out to keep the animals from starving.”
Weather suddenly shifted to the opposite extreme a few days later, and an early frost damaged corn and buckwheat crops in some parts of Warren County.
Still, it was time for the annual celebration of agricultural lifestyle, and Glens Falls businesses were ready to host the influx of visitors.
“Glen Street, from Monument Square to the fairgrounds, will be sprinkled daily (to keep dust down), as will the track at the grounds.”
A dozen 10-foot x 6-foot banners, advertising local businesses, had been hung around the outside of the fairgrounds fence.
In Domestic Hall, giant crayon portraits of Russell Mack Little, co-founder and president of Glens Falls Insurance Co., and of Dr. A.W. Holden, a local physician, historian and newspaper writer, were displayed.
Agricultural Hall had 303 entries, and the Home Industry building about 550 entries.
Local wagon and carriage makers, Nelson LaSalle, Griffen & Wood, Miller & Snyder, Joubert & White, and J.P. Bullard exhibited at Manufacturer’s Hall.
At Floral Hall, the W.F. Bissel piano and organ dealership was set up on one side, and the Wilson and Singer sewing machine companies on the other.
“The usual number of refreshment booths, vendors, and catch-penny gamesters are in attendance, all eager to reap a golden harvest during the fair.”
Fair week weather was mixed, and managers wound up extending the fair an extra day to make up some events that were postponed due to rain.
Attendance was generally strong.
On Day #1, the weather “was all that anyone could wish, and the countenances of the managers …, as well as all others interested in the welfare of the exhibits, wore a smile.”
As of 6 p.m., receipts were $497 – the equivalent of $12,685 in 2020 dollars – about $50 more than the 1882 first day receipts.
Receipts the second day were $300, about the same as the previous year.
Moulton & Johnson’s minstrel band and harness racing were the major attractions.
“An exciting race took place in the morning between G.W. Conklin’s Topsy and W.S. Tuttle’s Jerry, which was won by the former. The race was trotted on a wager of a new hat. The horses were well matched and made a close race, which was watched with interest by a number of spectators.”
About 5,000 people, an “unusually large” crowd, attended on Day #3, despite a drizzling rain that began about 1 p.m. and turned into heavy showers, lasting the rest of the day.
Volunteer firefighter hose racing was the featured event, featuring four departments from Glens Falls.
Hose racing was a sport that involved a team of firefighters pulling a hose cart on a track for a measured distance, usually 100 yards but sometimes as much as 400 yards.
At the finish line the team connected a nozzle, and released a spray of water.
A combination of speed and skill, and maybe a bit of luck, was required to win.
“The Cunninghams showed the finest burst of speed of the day,” but finished second to the Littles.
“They (Cunninghams) passed under the wire in quicker time than any of their competitors, and would probably have won first prize had their pipe man been more agile.”
The Colvins and The Cashions also competed.
Tempers flared at the victory celebration, and Roger Sullivan, a member of The Colvins, “assaulted” Daniel O’Leary, foreman of The Littles.
“Officer Reed, who was present, took the assailant before Justice Stearns.”
The judge, at O’Leary’s request, released Sullivan upon payment of court costs.
Day # 4 receipts were $205.50 ahead of the previous year.
A one-hour storm at about 3 p.m. forced the cancellation of harness racing events, because the track was too wet to race safely.
Management extended the fair an extra day, which provided an opportunity for a firefighter hose race rematch, of sorts.
This time there were three teams: The Colvins, The Cashions and The Cunninghams, who had picked up a few ringers.
“A short time previous to the start, the editor of a Morning Star contemporary, who represents the Colvin Hose Company, entered a protest against Cunningham Hose, claiming that the latter team was composed of picked runners, including two members of the Little Hose.”
Presumably the “editor” filing the protest was Addison B. Colvin, publisher of The Glens Falls Daily Times and patron of The Colvin Hose Company, or perhaps one of Colvin’s staff.
“The judges, however, decided not to interfere, as it was previously understood who were to run in each company.”
The victorious Cunninghams set a new Glens Falls record.
The county fair came to Glens Falls after a group of local residents in 1869 bought 28 acres of land off Lincoln Avenue and Kensington Road, to the south of Crandall Park, and constructed the half-mile track and several buildings.
The fairgrounds became outmoded when the one-mile track at Broad Acres was constructed around 1890.
Arthur W. Sherman and R.A. Little bought the old fairgrounds in 1895 for housing development, and opened up Coolidge and Horicon Avenues.
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Sources: The Morning Star Aug. 29; Sept. 1, 11-17, 1883; “Listening In,” Dennis O’Connell, published 2009 by City of Glens Falls; “Bridging the Years,” published 1978 by Glens Falls Historical Association
MAURY THOMPSON
Maury Thompson was a reporter for The Post-Star for 21 years before he retired in 2017. He now is a freelance writer and documentary film producer specializing in regional history. Thompson is collaborating with Snarky Aardvark Films to produce a documentary about Charles Evans Hughes and the Adirondacks, which is expected to release in September 2020. See the trailer here. Read his full bio here.