Stearns County, Minnesota - Chapter 42: Fairs and Driving Park, 1915

At a meeting of the business men of St. Cloud held at Schwartz & Theis's hall July 19, 1871, steps were taken to organize and incorporate the St. Cloud Agricultural and Driving Park Association, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining at or near St. Cloud a driving park and county fair grounds. The capital stock was fixed at $9,000, divided into 450 shares of $20 each. The full amount of stock was promptly subscribed and a board of directors elected, who organized as follows : T. C. McClure, president ; Charles D. Kerr, vice-president; William MuUiken, secretary; J. G. Smith, treasurer. A call was issued for a meeting of delegates from the different towns in the county to be held in St. Cloud August 15, to adopt the necessary measures for the organization of a county fair association. At the designated time there was a good attendance of delegates from the various parts of the county, who adopted a constitution and elected the following-named officers: President, W. T. Rigby, Clearwater; vice-president, John Zapp, St. Cloud; secretary, R, W. DeLano, St. Cloud; treasurer, T. C. McClure, St. Cloud; executive com- mittee, N. P. Clarke and W. B. Mitchell, St. Cloud; A. B. Greeley, Maine Prairie; Henry Krebs, St. Augusta; J. D. Carr, Sauk Centre; J. L. Gray, Brockway ; R. W. Vandervoort, Fair Haven ; H. Terharr, New Munich ; W. P. Bennett, Paynesville ; H. B. Meyers, Zion ; John Lear, St. Joseph. The name adopted was "The Stearns County Agricultural and Mechanical Association."

After considering the advantages and disadvantages of a number of tracts offered as a location, the directors of the Driving Park Association decided to purchase eighty acres offered by F. Sisson, on the prairie to the westward, about a mile and a half from the court house, the price being $37.50 per acre. Contracts were at once let for fencing and grading these grounds, making a one-mile track, and erecting the necessary buildings for a county fair to be held October 11, 12 and 13.

The first Stearns county fair opened October 10 at the Driving Park grounds. Rain and snow gave a discouraging send-off the first day, but there were good displays and a satisfactory attendance, with the usual horse races. An address was delivered the twelfth by the Hon. E. 0. Hamlin.

At the annual meeting of the Driving Park association held May 14, T. C. McClure was elected president; B. Rosenberger, vice-president; W. Milliken, secretary ; J. G. Smith, treasurer. A contract was made with D. Woodmansee to take charge of the grounds, and in July it was leased to him until January 1, 1874. Races were held July 4 and 5, with a number of entries.

The second annual county fair, held September 24, 25 and 26, 1872, sufered disastrously from rainy, windy and generally disagreeable weather. The exhibits were good, as was the attendance, all things considered. All the races except one were postponed until the twenty-seventh. W. T. Rigby was president and P. Lamb secretary of the association. The receipts were considerably less than the amount required to pay premiums and expenses, but some of the business men of St. Cloud contributed sufficient funds to pay in full the premiums due exhibitors living outside the city.

The annual meeting of the Agricultural Society, held January 14, 1873, elected "W. T. Rigby, of Lynden, president; S. M. Bruce, Sauk Centre, vicepresident; P. Lamb, St. Cloud, secretary; J. W. Tenvoorde, St. Cloud, treasurer, with an executive committee of eleven. The secretary was instructed to invite proposals from the different towns of Stearns county for holding the third annual fair. Sauk Centre made the best offer and the fair was held at that place, September 16, 17 and 18 with good weather, good displays and good attendance. The address was delivered by Dillon O'Brien, of St. Paul. The races attracted much attention.

good attendance, a poor display, especially in the agricultural department. An address in English was delivered the last day by the Hon, Ignatius Donnelly, and one in German by Prof. P. E. Kaiser. The net receipts allowed the payment of only thirty-five per cent of the premiums awarded.

The fair held September 28, 29 and 30, 1875, suffered from poor weather, which made the attendance light. The display of farm products was especially good. The annual address was delivered by Prof. D. L. Kiehle. Only 45 per cent of the amounts awarded for premiums could be paid.

In 1876 the county fair officers were N. P. Clarke, president ; John Schaefer, vice-president; F. E. Searle, secretary; T. C. McClure, treasurer. The fair held in St. Cloud September 19, 20 and 21 had its usual ill fortune in rainy, cold, disagreeable weather. The exhibits were good, all things considered, but the best efforts of all concerned were unable to make the fair what might be considered a success. The annual address was delivered by Lieutenant Governor A. Barto.

The weather for the 1877 fair, held October 9, 10 and 11, started out unfavorably, improving during the latter days, the outcome in displays, attendance and receipts being better than had been anticipated, enabling the officers to pay 83 per cent on the premiums.

Conditions being unfavorable for a continuance of the county fairs, they were discontinued for several years. In 1883 a meeting of the Driving Park association was held May 3, at which J. E. West was elected president; "William Powell, vice-president; J. M. Rosenberger, secretary; "W. F. Raymond, treasurer. It was decided to put the grounds into suitable condition for resuming the holding of county fairs.

In 1885 a District Fair association, including the counties of Stearns, Benton and Sherburne, was organized with John Cooper, president; F. Tolman, secretary; George E. Campbell, treasurer. Sufficient money was furnished by the business men of St. Cloud for the erection of new buildings. The fair was held in September, opening on the 15th, and was a financial success, the gate and amphitheatre receipts being $1,251.

The officers elected January 14, 1886, were John Cooper, president ; R. M. Vandervoort, vice-president; F. Tolman, secretary; F. E. Baldwin, treasurer, with directors for Stearns, Sherburne, Benton and Mille Lacs counties. The opening day of the fair, September 7, had been preceded by rain, but the displays were creditable. Sauk Centre day brought the largest attendance of any, and in the band contest the $100 premium was taken by the band from that place, Princeton taking the second. The receipts were sufficient to pay all premiums, leaving a balance. The address was delivered by United States Ex-Senator William Windom, and a farmers' institute was held.

The third district fair was held September 28, 29 and 30, preceded by the usual bad weather. The displays in most departments were small. A new feature introduced was a baby show, under the charge of E. H. Atwood, there being forty-two entries. The annual address was delivered by United States Senator D. M. Sabin. There were the usual horse races and baseball games. The receipts were $3,046.10 and disbursements $2,989.15, and all in all it was considered the most successful fair ever held in St. Cloud, the credit for this being regarded as largely due to the efforts of N. K. Hunt, president, and E. H. Atwood, secretary of the association, and to L. R. Swift, R. L. Gale, George W. Stewart and C. P. McClure.

The fourth annual fair opened September 18, but on account of rain was extended to Saturday, making the fourth day. The boundaries of the association had been extended so as to include Morrison with the other four counties. There was a fine showing of blooded stock, but the farmers took little interest in making displays of agricultural products. The annual address was delivered by the Hon. Ignatius Donnelly. In the band contest, there were entries from Monticello, Elk River, Royalton and St. Cloud; the first prize, $175, being awarded to St. Cloud; the second, $75, to Monticello; the third, $50, to Royalton. The total receipts were about $2,500.

The following year the fair was held September 18, 19 and 20, the attendance on the last day, 5,000 on the grounds, being the largest ever known, excursion parties coming from Sauk Centre and Alexandria.

The 1890 fair opened Tuesday, September 16, for four days' exhibit. The display of farm products was the largest ever made. On the second day nearly 1,000 men formed in procession to receive S. M. Owen, the Alliance candidate for governor, who delivered an address. Governor W. R. Merriam came Thursday to speak at the grounds, but a heavy down-pour of rain prohibited his appearing. The receipts were more than sufficient to pay all bills and premiums.

The next and last district fair was held September 15, 16 and 17, 1891, with very slim displays. The Driving Park and Fair Association was in bad financial condition, owing N. P. Clarke $1,540, secured on the buildings, and a floating debt of $1,000. Attempts were made to clear off this indebtedness, but without success. The holding of fairs was abandoned, the buildings passed into the possession of Mr. Clarke, who also became the owner of the grounds through the purchase of the stock. The land is now used for agricultural purposes.

Agricultural Society of Stearns County. This society was organized and duly incorporated August 25, 1902, with the following-named officers: A. E. Erwin, president; R. L. Palmer, vice-president; Henry Keller, secretary; George C. Ingram, treasurer. The same officers were re-elected for the years 1903 and 1904. Henry Faulle was elected president in 1905, R. L. Palmer in 1906, C. D. Marshall in 1907 and 1908, W. F. Keller in 1909, J. A. DuBois in 1910 and 1911, John McGibbon in 1912, 1913 and 1914, and G. Hillerud for 1915. R. L, Palmer succeeded himself for three years as vice-president, L, S. Bishop being elected in 1906, 0. S. Cass in 1907, A. J. Kirghis in 1912, and J. B. Schoenhoff for the three succeeding years. Henry Keller was treasurer until 1906 inclusive, when he was succeeded for two years by W. F. Keller, and he by W. S. Dean for four years ; A. F. Strobel was elected for 1913 and 1914, and D. B. Caughren for 1915. George C. Ingram was re-elected secretary for four years, Otto Schleusener succeeding in 1907, A. W. Austin in 1908, F. E. Minette for the following three years, A. W. Austin in 1912, B. F. DuBois in 1913, M. D. Aygarn in 1914 and A. F. Strobel for 1915.

was purchased at a cost of $1,000, enclosed and fitted for the holding of fairs. These fairs have been in the main quite successful in the matter of exhibits, attractions and attendance, especially when in recent years an appropriation of $500 has been given by the county commissioners in aid in meeting the expenses and paying premiums. The policy has been adopted of making certain days for other cities and towns in the county, as St. Cloud, Melrose and Albany, when the attendance from these places has been especially large. The list of speakers has included the names of James J. Hill, Governor Eberhard. Senators Clapp and Poindexter and the attendance the entire official staff of the state.

Data as to the earlier fairs are not attainable, but they have grown from a small beginning until at the fair of 1914 there were 6,500 paid admissions and the expenditures were $7,576.57, including premiums. It is recognized as in every sense a Stearns County fair, entitled to the generous support of the people of the entire county. The enterprising citizens of Sauk Centre have shown great public spirit and much liberality in making it the success it has come to be.

The property now belonging to the society includes twenty-eight acres of ground fenced in, a half-mile racing track, racing barns, cattle sheds, stock barn, poultry building, art building, agricultural building, school building, grand stand and band stand. In the year 1914 the business men of St. Cloud, through the Commercial Club, erected on the grounds a fine, commodious building for the housing of exhibits from that city.

Benton County Agriculture Society. Centrally located in a rich and well-developed agricultural portion of the state, from which exhibits of grain and stock of fine quality could be secured, to the resulting benefit of both the farmers and the general business interests, Sauk Rapids appealed to the good judgment of a number of enterprising citizens of Benton county as a desirable place at which to hold county fairs. Accordingly, the Benton County Agricultural Society was organized May 19, 1913, and incorporated June 12 of the same year. The first board of directors was composed of J. C. Schlough, Charles Heinzel, Jr., A. H. Turrittin, George A. Selke, James Lonsdale and E. W. Mayman, of Sauk Rapids, with S. M. Orton, of Watab. The officers chosen were : J. C. Schlough, president ; Charles Heinzel, Jr., vice-president ; A. H. Turrittin, secretary; J. E. Browne, treasurer.

The grounds are admirably located on the street car line between St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids, and on the triangular junction of the three counties 01 Stearns, Benton and Sherburne, The first fair was held September 18, 19 and 20, 1913. The weather conditions were exceedingly unfavorable, very seriously affecting the attendance. The management was not all discouraged, but the following spring took energetic hold, making a number of important additions and improvements, including substantial buildings, a first-class racetrack, etc. The main building erected in the form of a Greek cross, the four wings being 28 by 36 feet each, for housing various exhibits. In the center is an octagonal bandstand twenty feet in diameter and five feet above the ground floor. The barns are for horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. The horse barn is 280 feet long, for cattle 120 feet, for sheep 60 feet, for hogs 60 feet.

The second annual fair held September 21, 22 and 23 was a most gratifying success, notwithstanding the rainy weather of the first day. A large attendance each day showed the deep interest felt by the people of the cities and the surrounding country in the enterprise, while the displays in all departments were most attractive, especially in the way of high-grade stock. The opinion was expressed that it was second only to the state fair. The speakers were the Hon. H. C. Daniels, of the United States Department of Justice at Washington, and a brother of Secretary Daniels; the Hon. William Lee, Republican candidate for governor; S. R. Crane, of the agricultural department of the Great Northern railway, speaking in place of James J, Hill, who was unable to come ; John J. Furlong president of the state fair association, and A. H. Turrittin, who gave a brief history of the Benton County Society,

During the summer of 1914 the articles of incorporation were amended to increase the board of directors from seven to eleven, four of whom were to be from the west side of the river, and limit the indebtedness to ten thousand dollars. The present board is composed of Charles Barden, G. E. Hanscom, A. C. Cooper and C. D. Schwab, of St. Cloud; A. Parent, A. H. Turrittin, Charles Heinzel, Jr., James Lonsdale, Dr. William Friesleben and W. F. Dewey, of Sauk Rapids; S. M. Orton, of Watab. The officers for 1915 are A. H. Turrittin, president ; Charles Heinzel, Jr., vice-president ; W. F. Dewey, secretary; G. E. Hanscom, treasurer.

The society now owns property valued conservatively at $15,000, with an indebtedness of approximately $8,000. With favorable weather conditions for the third annual fair, this amount will doubtless be reduced by several thousand dollars. The limit of indebtedness is ten thousand dollars, and the society has already sold stock to the amount of about five thousand dollars, at one dollar per share, and this will without doubt be considerably increased within the next four months.

The favorable location of the grounds, the substantial character of the buildings and the enterprising spirit of the management will doubtless arouse increasing interest among the people of the counties of Stearns, Benton and Sherburne, and in a very few years it may be confidently predicted that this Tri-County fair will challenge comparison with any county or district fair in the state.

Poultry Exhibits. The first annual chicken show by the Central Minnesota Poultry Association was held at St. Cloud for three days in 1912, February 15, 16 and 17. There were 60 exhibitors, entering 350 fowls, and the cash receipts were sufficient to make the show a financial success, as it was otherwise. The judging was done by Mr. Lane of the agricultural college, State University.

The success of the first show encouraged the officers of the association to repeat it each succeeding year, which was done. The time was lengthened to four days, and the fourth annual exhibition was held at St. Cloud, January 13, 14, 15 and 16, 1915, with L. R. Swift, secretary, in charge, and Ralph Whit- ney, of Rochester, judge. The number of birds entered was 383, and in everyway this exhibition was one of the most successful in the history of the association.

The following officers were elected for the year 1915 : President, E. W. Mayman; vice-president, Joseph P. Hunstiger; secretary, H. C. Nierengarten ; treasurer, John L. Dominik; superintendent, Robert H. Kuehn; directors, E. W. Mayman, H. C. Nierengarten, Robert Kuehn, John Gruber and Emil Lillquist.