Buchanan County, Missouri - Chapter 25: Fairs of Foumer Days, 1904

The First Effort, When the Grounds Were Located on North iith Street - The Fairs at the End of Frederick Avenue - The Elaborate Effort on Lower Sixth Street - The Interstate Exposition at Fowler's Grove - The Lights AND Shadows of the New Era Exposition - Various Efforts at the Fair Grounds in the ''Nineties" - Horse Race Meetings - The Annual Events at Lake Contrary.

Among the pioneers of Buchanan County were many men of intelHgence, who early realized the importance of competitive exhibitions of native products in advancing the spirit of enterprise and consequent improvement of all that pertains to excellence in agricultural, mechanical and domestic pursuits. In 1854 a fair association was formed with Gen. Robert Wilson (afterward United States Senator) as president, William M. Irvine as vice-president, Albe M. Saxton as treasurer and Wellington A. Cunningham as secretary. Grounds were secured in what is now the northern part of the city, being on nth street, south of Grand avenue, but what was then in the country. This fair was the first, and therefore a great event for the entire Platte country. Seven hundred dollars worth of gold and silver plate premiums were offered and the world was invited to compete. September 19, 20 and 21, 1854, were the days and the Gazette of September 20, says :

"Yesterday was a proud day for our county. It was the first day of the first agricultural fair ever held in the county. There was a large concourse of ladies and gentlemen present. Great interest was manifested. The St. Joseph band was there and added much to the interest of the occasion. Mr. Silas Woodson delivered a very able and eloquent address on the subject of agriculture, and, though he had but little time for preparation, he did himself and the subject great credit."

There were no races, but there was lively competition for premiums on live stock and the products of the housewife and the artisan, as will be seen by the following excerpt from the list of awards : at home, best sets of harness, best saddles, best tinware, best flour, best buggy, best chickens, best butter, best fruits and vegetables, best jellies and preserves. In fact it was a genuine old-fashioned fair, which was well attended and which pleased the people so well that it was repeated for six years in succession, the last time in the autumn of i860.

The Civil War put an end' to fairs and no effort was made to revive them until July of 1867, when the St. Joseph Agricultural and Mechanical Association was organized with Gen. Robert Wilson as president. Thomas B. Weakley as vice-president. Albe M. Saxton as treasurer and Charles B. France as secretary. The capital stock was $15,000, divided into shares of $100 each, and the money was promptly subscribed. As an incidental evidence of the political condition of those times, it may be mentioned that the records of this association state that at the meeting held August 6, 1868, the oath of loyalty was signed by all the directors, which oath was filed in the office of the county clerk. A 20-acre tract, at the head of Frederick avenue, on which had formerly been located a rope-walk, was purchased from Bassett & Ensworth for $400 an acre. The fair was held four days, beginning October 29. 1867. and was pronounced a success. The association continued with various fortunes until the end of 1871. its last fair being held in December of that year. The grounds had been mortgaged to the Life Association of America and were sold under the deed of trust at the request of the stockholders. "Goldsmith Maid" trotted a mile in 2:18^ on the last day of the fair.

but in 1873 a grand effort was made. It was no longer a plain fair, but an exposition. An association was formed with Capt. George Lyon as president, I. G. Kappner as treasurer and Edward Fleischer as secretary and general superintendent. Grounds were leased southwest of the city limits, and elaborate buildings erected. Every indication pointed to success when an unexpected calamity befel. On the night of September 3. 1873. a tornado struck the exposition grounds, demolishing the main buildings and seriously damaging the art and power halls. The contractor. George Herbst. was financially ruined by the catastrophe. The demolished buildings were promptly reconstructed and the exposition opened on the appointed day, September 29.

The receipts of the week were over $28.- 000, and but for the tornado, there would ha\-e been a handsome net financial result. In 1874 a new corporation was formed, assuming the debts on the buildings. The officers of this association were: James N. Burnes. president; George H. Hall, vice-president: George Lvon. superintendent and manager; H. R. W. Hartwig, treasurer, and J. M. Varnum, secretary. The exposition opened September 7. 1874. clos. ing September 12, and the receipts were $22.- 500. There was a half-mile track at these grounds and there was good racing at each fair. In 1875, with Colonel Burnes as president and J. T. Imbrie as secretary, the receipts were $20,000. The fourth exposition opened September 25, 1876, with Captain Lyon as president and J. T. Imbrie as secretary. A great j feature of the exposition during its last three ' years was the old settlers' meeting. The association was dissolved at the close of the effort of 1877.

that this should continue long'. In .Vugust of 1879 the St. Joseph Exposition Association was organized with a capital stock of $12,000, divided into 1,200 shares of $10 each. The incorporators were Samuel M. Na\-e, John Abell, Edward Kuechle. L. G. Munger and Dr. J. INI. D. France. The first officers were : Samuel M. Nave, president; H. R. \V. Hartwig, vice-president ; Edward J. Kuechle, treasurer, and J. T. Imbrie, secretary. A tract at the foot of nth street and extending west toward Sixth, known as Fowler's Grove, was leased for a term of 10 years and suitable buildings and a race track were at once constructed. The grounds were accessible by two street car lines and also by railroad trains.

The first fair commenced Monday, September 29, 1879, and continued for a w-eek. Though it rained every day, the venture w-as considered a success by its projectors and from that time until the end of the season in r888 a fair was held each year, generally during the first part of September. Major Hartwig succeeded Mr. Nave as president; the late Charles F. Ernst succeeded Mr. Imbrie as secretary in 1881 and continued as such until the association dissolved.

Early in 1889, when St. Joseph was proud Avith prosperity, when the spirit of enterprise was upon the people, and when nothing was too big to undertake, it was decided to have an exposition, the magnitude and novelty of which would overshadow not only all previous efiforts at home, but elsewhere in the West. Sioux City had astonished the world with a Corn Palace, Denver with a Mineral Palace, Fort Worth, Texas, with a Grass Palace, and Ottumwa, Iowa, with a Coal Palace, but St. Joseph Avas to eclipse all of these with a New Era exposition.

The genius of this undertaking was H. D. Perkey, Avho had come here during the previous summer and who had but recently established steel car works at Brookdale. Mr. Perkey had been prominently connected with the Mineral Palace at Denver and was therefore in a position to take the leadership of this movement. On April 4, 1889, the National Railway, Electric and Industrial Exposition Association was formed, with a capital stock of $1,000,000. The association was to continue for one year and was incorporated under the laws of Colorados because these laws did not require so large a proportion of the capital stock to be paid up as the laws of Missouri. It was to have a national scope and offices were to be established in every State capital. The incorporators were George J. Englehart, John S. Lemon, R. E. Turner, C. B. France, Albe M. Saxton, John Donovan, Jr., R. L. McDonald, D. M. Steele, George W. Samuels, Louis Hax, William E. Hosea. D. D. Burnes, H. R. W. Hartwig, S. C. Woodson, Francis M. Posegate, Thomas F. Van Natta, S. A. Walker, A. M. Dougherty, W. B. Smith, Harry Keene, J. Francis Smith, R. T. Davis and Winslow Judson. The directors were John S. Emery, Charles A. Shoup, W. J. Hobson, Herschel Bartlett. Robert Winning, J. C. Bonnell and H. D. Perkey.

A large tract of land east of the city, beyond Wyatt Park, and surrounding the steel car company's plant, was secured and prepared during the summer. The car company had a building 80 by 960 feet, which was used as a shop. The western portion of this building, which was two stories in height, w^as made the main hall of the exposition. The grounds were dotted with beautiful pavilions, two score in number, of quaint architecture. 'T<orn is King" Avas the motto of the enterprise and this idea was carried into every decoration. The pavilions and buildings were decked with cereals in various colorings and design. The effect was entrancing-, especially at night, when the grounds were fully illuminated with electric lights. The most admired of the pavilions were the ''Ladies' Palace of Delights,'" the "Reporters' Lodge," "Pomona's Pavilion," "Cupid's Bower," "Pocahontas," "IMondamin," and "Horticultural Hall." Aside from the buildings there were artificial lakes, waterfalls, an old grist mill and other picturescjue novelties. The architectural triumph, however, was the amphitheatre, which had a seating capacity of 1 1 ,000 and an arena of two acres.

The exposition opened on September 3. 1889, and continued to October 3rd. Bach's band, a famous musical organization of Milwaukee, was engaged for two concerts daily in the amphitheatre. Capt. Jack Crawford, the "Poet Scout," was director of entertainments in the arena, and he had, beside a band of cowlx)ys, several hundred Apache Indians. Gen. Russell A. Alger of ^Michigan, formally opened the exposition. Hon. Jeremiah Rusk, Secretary of Agriculture, spoke in the amphitheatre on September i8th and on September 23rd Governor Larrabee of Iowa and Governor Francis of Missouri spoke there also.

The attendance was not what it should have been. If the time had been 10 days instead of one month the effort might have met with better reward. Mr. Perkey doubtless had some good ideas, but they did not fit this case, and there were, consequently, disappointments. However, the difficulties might have been o\'ercome had not an irreparable disaster visited the exr position. On Sunday night. September 15th, at about 9 o'clock, just as the crowds were leaving the grounds, flames burst from the roof of the main building. The fire was beyond control from the start and the entire building, with all its contents, excepting two pianos and a carriage in which General Lafavette had toured Virginia, were destroyed. The loss was $193,000, upon which there was only $50,000 insurance. One life was lost. Capt. John Foster, a guard, who had quarters in the building, near where the fire broke out. was burned to death. The fire is supposed to have originated from defective electric wiring. At a meeting of the Board of Trade on the following day it was decided to at once rebuild Machinery Hall, but this was not done. The exposition continued until October 3rd, and then there was a benefit week for employees.

The buildings stood until the following year and were gradually removed. There is nothing left to mark the location of the brilliant but ill-fated New Era Exposition, and it lives to-day only as a painful memory with those who backed it heavily.

There was no race track connected with the New Era Exposition, but this class of sport was provided by the Lake Shore Company. A half-mile track was built at Lake Contrary and a grandstand with a seating capacity of 3.000 was erected. Major H. R. W. Hartwig was president of the company and Capt. Charles F. Ernst secretary. The first meeting was held September 17, 18, 19 and 20, 1889. Several meetings were subsequently held, but the ventures were not profitable.

During the years 1890 and 1891 there were no fairs in St. Joseph. In the summer of 1892 the St. Joseph Fair Association was formed, with John S. Brittain as president and Homer J. Kline as secretary. The capital stock was $50,000. It was the era of fast harness horses and odd-shaped tracks and people excited over the performances of "Nancy Hanks," "Martha Wilkes" and the other record-breakers. The association catered to the popular enthusiasm by building a mile track and offering purses of $i,ooo and $500 to attract the best horses. Although a main hall was built, the fair was subordinated to the horse-race. "Nancy Hanks" and "Martha Wilkes" were both secured for exhibition work, and the best stables in the country were represented in the general entries. September 13, 14. 15. 16 and 17 were the days. The weather was perfect, the attendance was large and the turf performances were of a high character. On the first day "Jim Wilkes" won the 3-minute trot, $1,000 purse, in three straight heats, his best time being 2:22>2. John R. Gentry won the 2 135 pace, $500 purse, in three straight heats, his best time being 2 :i9>^. On the second day "Lobasco," a magnificent horse, the property of James Ladd of Beatrice, Nebraska, won the free-for-all trot, $1,000. Four heats were trotted and "Lobasco's" best time was 2 :io->4. He was driven by McHenry and broke a great record Ijy trotting the fastest mile heat that had been done up to that time by a stallion in a harness. On the third day, Thursday, 75,000 people witnessed "Nancy Hanks' " effort to break her record of 2 :o7. The wind was a trifle too high, and the brave little mare did not triumph, but she made the mile in 2 :o7>2, which was considered good enough by the crowed and the enthusiasm \vas unbounded, both "Nancy" and her driver. Bud Doble, being covered with floral tributes. The next day "Martha Wilkes" went against her record of 2 :o8, but she, too, failed, making the mile in 2:09^. This effort was none the less appreciated by the immense crowd, however, and the floral decorations were as profuse as those that fell to Nancy Hanks. The last day was given u]) to unfinished harness races and jockey efforts. The association paid every obligation and was a goodly sum ahead.

In 1893 tl"^^ weather was bad and the World's Fair at Chicago had drained the purses, so that there w^as some loss connected with the fair. The association was officered as during its first effort. In 1894, with John S. Brittain as president and Matt. F. Myers as secretary, a third effort was made with indifferent success. The fourth fair, with John S. Brittain as president and John Combe as secretary, was a financial success. In 1896, with James N. Burnes, Jr., as president and John Combe as secretary, the attendance was small owing to the weather and other conditions. The association then dissolved. The grounds and buildings reverted to the owners, from whom they had been leased.

Race meetings were managed since then by W. T. Van Brunt and Palmer Clark. On October 14, 1897, "Joe Patchen" went a mile in 2 :o3 and "Star Pointer" covered the distance in 2 :o2. In 1897 and 1898 Messrs, Van Brunt and Clark successfully managed "old fashioned fairs."

In 1889 the street railway company erected permanent exposition buildings at Lake Contrary and since that time there have been annual events there, generally in September.

In the spring of 1902 the St. Joseph Horse Show Association was formed by W. E. Spratt, Dr. Morris W. Steiner, Jesse Roberts and others. The first show was held in August of 1902 at the baseball park on South Sixth street, and the second one was held in July of 1903 in an especially constructed tent and is counted as the most brilliant and successful event of its kind ever attempted in St. Joseph.