Just like clockwork, the
West Virginia State Fair is upon us. For this
year it starts August the 9th and runs through
the 18th. For our generation, and a lot of our
predecessors remember it as the Stare Fair at Fairlea
WV. Although it didn't start as state fair, but
a Greenbrier County Fair, and for a few years of
those years was held in Alderson. Here is a
detailed history of its evolution along with
several name changes.
The Declaration of Independence was only 78 years
old when the first recorded fair was conducted in Greenbrier Valley,
VA. In 1854 the Greenbrier Agricultural Society began organizing and
having an annual fair where agricultural accomplishments could be
displayed. This popular event attracted entries of livestock,
produce, and household items from farms throughout the area.
The first fair was conducted at Mr. Nesmith’s Gove on approximately
2 acres of land. The location of this event was determined by
current historians to be at the corner of Washington and Lee Streets
in Lewisburg about 150’ northeast of the present location of
Lewisburg United Methodist Church. A transcript of the minutes from
the first event include…(Transcript of Greenbrier Agricultural
Society Minutes) The first recorded fair was conducted in Greenbrier
Valley, Virginia beginning August 29, 1854 at Mr. Nesmith’s Grove.
The Greenbrier Agricultural Society was called to order by President
of the Society, Louis A. Alderson, at 11 o’clock A.M. – which being
done, the President of the Society introduced to the assembled
crowd, William H. McFarland Esq. of Richmond City, who had been
invited and accepted the invitation to deliver an address to the
Society at the First annual exhibition, after which the Company
partook of the sumptuous repast prepared by the Ladies of Lewisburg
and vicinity – the judges of the various Classes of Stock and
articles entered to contend for premiums and entered upon the duties
for which they were selected – at half past 5 o’clock P.M. it was
moved that the exhibition be closed until 10 o’clock tomorrow
morning which was carried – At 10 o’clock A.M. August 30th the
Society was again called to order by President Alderson – at 11
o’clock A.M. Dr. E. P. White of Caroline County delivered a very
interesting address and was elected an Honorary member of the
Society.
At 2 o’clock P.M. the judges rendered awards for the various Classes
of Animals, cattle: cows, bulls, heifers, steers and oxen; horses:
stallions, brood mares, saddle mares, colts, jacks, jennets and
mules; sheep; & chickens. Also included in the judged entries were
agricultural implements: plows, ox yoke & wheat fans; fruits & dairy
products; household manufactures: quilts, woolen items, embroidery,
bread, corned beef, & bacon ham; and finally, domestic manufactures:
bureaus, bed stands, saddles, harnesses, flour, cooking stoves, oil
painting and penmanship.
In 1858 the Lewisburg event gained the distinction of being called
“a fair of proportions” and featured many entries including an
iron-gray yearling colt that took home the blue ribbon. (The colt
would later gain fame as Robert E. Lee’s warhorse, Traveler.) Also
on display at this show was the first sewing machine ever brought to
the county.
The formation of West Virginia during the Civil War placed
Greenbrier County in the new state and it was in 1869 that a fair
was conducted for the first time in Lewisburg, WV. Once again a
famous animal was entered in the fair as the Ludington Steer took
home top honors. This Shorthorn steer, owned by Mr. Samuel C.
Ludington, was the largest steer in the world, weighing 4,450 pounds
and was noted for being “so broad across the back that a half-bushel
of shelled corn could be poured on its back and not a grain would
roll off.”
The next county fair was named the Greenbrier Valley Industrial
Exposition when it was conducted in Alderson from 1883 to 1889. This
fair was the first noted exhibition where demonstrations and
displays of technology were shown along with the agricultural
displays. Recent advances in farming equipment and house wares were
popular attractions for fairgoers of all ages.
The fairgrounds
were located just north of Alderson on property
later owned by Camp Greenbrier. When the fair
returned to Lewisburg in 1891, it was conducted
on property that accommodated many of the
activities. An announcement in the Rules and
Premiums book for that year describes the
fairgrounds as…The Grand Stand is so situated as
to completely overlook the Race Course, and from
any position in it the gazer can see each stroke
of the hoof of the speeding courser from the
start to the finish, and is capable of seating
1,200 persons. A splendid speed track one-half
mile in length. Everything is fresh, new and
inviting.
Ample provisions have been made
for the safety and sheltering of stock. Capacious cisterns will
furnish an abundant supply of water, and all that tends to the
comfort of man and beast will be supplied…The grounds, situated
one-fourth mile south of Lewisburg and three and one-half miles
north of Ronceverte, Ches. & Ohio Railroad, afford facilities to
persons living at a distance to visit the Exposition, and are easily
accessible to all.
Entertainment during The Industrial Expositions consisted of flat
racing, harness racing and novelty contests for visitors such as
wheelbarrow races, potato races, and greased-pole climbing. Entries
consisted of Agricultural Implements (Department XI) in which
farming machinery including a turnip drill, root slicer, fanning
mill, hillside plough, road scraper, and a gangplow were displayed.
Throughout the early fairs, individuals and businesses offered
special prizes for specific contests or classes. Money was offered
as premiums for displays such as: the best saddle Colt, halter
broke, under one year old ($2.50) by Jas. T. Rucker; $2.50 by Silas
B. Mason for the best Loaf of Bread; $5 for the best drilled Soldier
in the West Va. National Guards, by J.W. A. Ford; and $2.50 was
offered by John D. Johnston for the best Bed-Spread knit by a girl
14 years or under.
Early successes and failures of fairs in Greenbrier County set the
stage for the formation of an annual event that would be more
popular and successful than any of its predecessors. Although there
are no records to show the existence of an annual event during the
early years of the 1900s, small community fairs, which consisted of
neighbors meeting to display their goods, continued throughout the
period.
One of the highlights of attending the fair was the family picnic.
The first notation of picnics on the fairgrounds was in the 1896
Exhibitors’ Guide that had everything closing from 12:30 p.m. until
1:00 p.m. for dinner. This tradition, which had existed from the
earliest fairs, was a stopping point for everyone to relax and
regroup before continuing their exciting day. Preparing for the
picnic was usually done the day before attending the fair and the
meal almost always consisted of the same basic foods including fried
chicken, potato salad, fresh tomatoes, and other fresh garden
vegetables.
Greenbrier Valley Fair: Predecessor of Today’s
State Fair
From 1917 through 1920 a
successful Shorthorn Association Show began the movement to have an
annual fair in the county. A group of local men incorporated the
Greenbrier Valley Fair on March 19, 1921, and an annual tradition
was born. Land was purchased about a mile east of the Watts Farm
where the Shorthorn Show had been held in 1917 and 1919. (In 1918
the show was at the Ross Tuckwiller Farm west of Lewisburg.) The new
location placed the fair between the outskirts of the growing town
of Lewisburg and the railroad boomtown of Ronceverte.
On March 19, 1921, the founders of the Greenbrier Valley Fair
chartered their annual event with the signing of a document and
began a tradition that would become the State’s largest fair. The
first two Fair catalogues listed the place of the exhibition as
Ronceverte, as designated in the charter of the event, and in 1923
the location of the grounds was listed as Lewisburg-Ronceverte. As
the community between Lewisburg and Ronceverte grew, a post office
was established and the area became known as Fairlea, which is the
physical location of today’s fairgrounds.
During the first stockholders meeting it was approved that the Board
of Directors be “authorized, empowered and directed” to carry out
the contract with A.M. Caldwell for the purchase of property
(approximately 40 acres of land) lying on the road leading from
Lewisburg to Ronceverte, adjoining Howard Smith and the Ott heirs,
and known as the Driscol Land, at the price of $11,500 to use for
the fairgrounds.
During the early years, the Fair consisted of five event-filled days
and the fairgrounds immediately began to take shape as buildings and
other contest areas were created. In April, 1921, an old railroad
track was taken up and a racetrack graded by teams of horses
furnished by Wilson Bros., Tuckwiller Bros., John Sydenstricker,
Julian Arbuckle, Bright Farrier, Ed Sydenstricker, Howard Arbuckle,
and Alex Arbuckle. Together they built the one-half mile track that
is still used today.
Within a few years of the charter signing there were stables, cattle
barns, and exhibit building, a grandstand, and a sage on the
fairgrounds. Cattle and horses dominated the animal shows with the
largest number of cattle representing the Shorthorn breed. Sheep,
swine, rabbits, chickens, ducks, and other farm animals filled the
barns and show rings.
In addition to the open shows, there were boys and girls
representing Agricultural Clubs (4-H) from throughout the state
competing in Junior Livestock Judging Contests and showing their
livestock. For many fairgoers and exhibitors, coming to the fair
involved traveling for several miles in slow moving vehicles or on
horseback, over rough roads, and sometimes not in the best weather
conditions. Exhibitors carefully prepared their items for showing.
Home sewn items were folded and protected during the trip by older
items or newspaper. Canned goods usually arrived packed securely in
crates. Farm equipment which was to be displayed arrived on wagons,
was pulled to the fairgrounds, or was driven and then carefully
cleaned and polished for the show. Many exhibitors entered several
categories and some had entries in different departments. The prizes
were ribbons, money, certificates, or other special rewards that
denoted the exhibit’s winnings at the Fair.
Contracting national entertainers to perform began when the gates
opened to the fair in 1921. Showcased during that first exhibition
was Harry Wheadon in his Sensational Novelty Slack Wire Act; the
Roza Rentz Trio featuring one lady and two gentlemen in mid-air
attractions; Robin, King of the Comedy Jugglers; and a nightly
finale by Pain’s Fireworks which proclaimed “nothing like it has
ever been seen in West Virginia.” Fair officials took great pride in
offering the finest entertainment each year.
It was considered a goal to always provide amusements that were
wholesome, educational, and good, clean fun. No unlawful concessions
or suggestive shows were allowed. Many types of entertainment were
represented at the Fair and leading performers or well-known groups
appeared in concerts or shows throughout the duration of the event.
From the minute the gates opened on the first day until the last
visitor left the grounds each night, the
Greenbrier Valley Fair offered fun, excitement, entertainment,
education, exhibits, and so much more to the thousands who came to
see the sights. Each year the fair changed, adapted, and reflected
the society around it.
For two decades the fair provided visitors the opportunity to escape
from their normal lives and discover something new. The annual fair
in Greenbrier County was looked forward to with great anticipation
and one of the best topics of discussion throughout the year
consisted of planning a trip to “th” FAIR!”
Becoming The State Fair
The Greenbrier Valley Fair was one
of the state’s most popular events and every year it attracted
thousands of people, animal shows, carnival excitement, grandstand
entertainment, races, exhibits, special contests, and much more.
This made the annual event an end-of-summer celebration for families
from West Virginia and surrounding states.
On March 19, 1941, the State Legislature, realizing the Fair’s
tremendous popularity and potential, passed an act that designated
the Greenbrier Valley Fair as the State Fair of West Virginia.
The act is recorded in Chapter 19, Article 7, and Section 9 of the
Code of West Virginia. The opening letter for the 1941 Exhibitors
Guide described the change to Greenbrier Valley Fair exhibitors…The
Fair Management takes pleasure in announcing that by an act of the
1941 Legislature our Fair has been made “The State Fair of West
Virginia,” and after this year will operate under, and be known by
that name. It is through the hearty cooperation of our exhibitors,
and the loyal support of our friends and patrons throughout our
state as well as neighboring states, that this recognition has been
made possible.
This milestone in the Fair’s history was to be a highlight of the
1942 event, but the celebrations had to be postponed due to the
onset of World War II. While the country was at war, rationing of
necessities, shortages of goods, and the huge number of men who were
gone from the area led the Board of Directors to pass a resolution
stating…In taking assessment of the war situation, which has
necessitated government restricting of the sale of auto tires, the
rationing of gasoline, the regulation and the possible restrictions
in the near future of all forms of travel and transportation except
that which is absolutely necessary, we recognize an insurmountable
obstacle in the way of conducting our fair and whereas, it is also
our desire to conform to the cheerfully acquiesce in any action
deemed necessary by the government in its war effort, now therefore,
in it resolved that we abandon our efforts to operate this year and
definitely call off our fair for 1942.
Not only was the Fair cancelled in
1942, it was also absent in 1943, 1944, and 1945, the Board records
show it was favored by members to have a Fair in 1945 but, when it
was not done, there are no records revealing why it was cancelled.
The gates did open again in 1946 and the annual event resumed with
all of its excitement and shows. There was something missing however
as the crowds filled the fairgrounds, and that was children. An
outbreak of measles had reached epidemic proportions and many
parents, fearful of their children being exposed to the disease,
came to the Fair without their youngsters. The children who did come
discovered many of the same attractions which kids had enjoyed for
every year of the Greenbrier Valley Fair including carnival games
and rides, animal shows, racing, entertainers, and exhibits.
In 1956 the fairgrounds began to grow with the purchase of the
“Simons Property”, and land at the south end of the racetrack was
purchased from Barton Ott. The Board also passed a motion to build a
sheep pavilion, convert the rabbit show area to a swine facility,
and to build a new rabbit house. In 1958, changes and additions were
made to the industrial building.
Capital improvements continued to be made in the 1960s with the
construction of a new grandstand. This addition would provide more
than 6,000 seats, including additional seats placed on the
racetrack. This improvement would “set the stage” for larger
shows, bigger audiences, and top entertainers to perform at the
Fair.
Through the following decades, the
fairgrounds continued to change and grow and each year the goal is
to provide a bigger and better show. The one thing that remains the
same from the early fairs thru today is the commitment to
agriculture and family values.
A mission statement adopted by the Fair’s Board of Directors states:
The mission of the State Fair of West Virginia is to produce a
quality fair committed to the traditions of agriculture, family
entertainment, and education and to develop non-fair events that
utilize the existing facilities, that create opportunities for
growth, and that benefit the community served by the facility.
Each year the Fair opens with new excitement, new shows, and the
same feeling of being at an old time event. Since 1921 the State
Fair of West Virginia has been a family event and it will continue
to be for years to come.
