Early years saw fair in Elyria

Readers of the Sept. 14, 1847, edition of the Elyria Courier could get the latest details on the Mexican War, which was drawing to a close, and the Wilmot Proviso, an attachment to a bill ending the war that would prohibit slavery in any territory gained by the United States in the war. (This was part of the "free soil" movement, ultimately leading to the Civil War 14 years later.) There were notices for Dr. Bainbridge, who promised to cure diseases other doctors couldn't. (He had references.) "Fancy chairs" were available for sale at Cowles & Co. and classes at Elyria High School would resume that week. And the Lorain County Agricultural Society, newly re-formed the year before, after the Ohio Legislature established an agriculture board, would be hosting its county fair, Oct. 6-7. At the time, there was a vibrant agricultural society in Oberlin, which sponsored its own fair, more centrally located than the initial fair, in Elyria. "The Agriculturists of Lorain, both practical and amateur, owe it to themselves and the whole community to see that this Fair is what it may be," the announcement for the county fair read. It was the era of subsistence farms, where farmers grew their own food and sold any surplus. A variety of animals were on display at the first fair, as part of 39 different categories, reflecting the diversity of production in the county. At the time, Lorain County was known for its dairy, and was called the "cheesedom" of the Western Reserve. "There are few if any counties in Ohio better fitted for all the various branches of agricultural pursuits than Lorain," the Courier wrote in its Oct. 26 edition, recapping the fair. "We have lands well adapted to the growth of every production of the latitude, with a hardy and industrious yeomanry to cultivate them, and, with proper attention to agricultural pursuits, aided by the stimulus of rivalry, excited through our agricultural society, Lorain county cannot fail to become first in wealth and prosperity in the state. "We trust that our farmers will persevere and endeavor to make the next annual Fair surpass even this." Oberlin and Wellington each hosted early county fairs, and some municipalities held their own fairs. Although Wellington, in the heart of the county's dairy production, was considered as a potential permanent fair site, Elyria was settled on as the location in 1852. At first it was on the eastern bank of the Black River, until the agricultural society bought land for $500 from the Ely family downtown, not far from where the Chronicle-Telegram building now stands. The buildings were disassembled and reassembled on the new permanent site, and a bridge was even built to span the river. Sometimes, current events intervened. The 1862 fair was canceled due to the Civil War. As the fair grew in popularity, and times changed, other activities were added. Interest in horse racing increased, leading to a trotting race. And the invention of the bicycle prompted the start of bicycle races, which led one enthusiast, Arthur L. Garford, to patent a design for seats and start an eponymous manufacturing company to make them, later branching out into auto manufacturing. Other games at the fair included tug of war and a boxing exhibition. While the county fair continued in Elyria, Wellington hosted its own fair. In 1909, a windstorm blew down most of the buildings, but they were rebuilt. Finally, in 1941, the two fairs merged, moving to the Wellington fairgrounds, where the fair remains to this day, eventually expanding to a week. Vince Guerrieri can be reached at vguerrieri@chroniclet.com or 440-329-7124. Follow him on Twitter @vinceguerrieri.