Pictured is an early view of the show ring as taken from the grandstand. Photographed about 1910, this picture shows the old band stand that originally graced the fair grounds. Used courtesy of Mrs. Eva K. O’Brien of West Union.
Stephen Kelley
“Lores, Legends, and Landmarks”
This year marks the 94th Annual Adams County Fair. Since we have been writing about West Union for the past few weeks, perhaps some historical data on the fairs would be of interest.
The first county fair was held in September of 1852. It was conducted on a piece of ground owned by Judge George Collings of West Union. His old brick home erected in 1841 on Walnut Street is still standing and is the residence of Mrs. Virginia Purdy. The old fairgrounds were located south of South Street and between West Street and what is now Ohio 41. This property is presently owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lester Porter.
In October, 1853 Judge Collings deeded seven acres of this land to the Adams County Agricultural Society “to promote the interest the interests of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts…as a sight whereon to hold their fairs.” Records of these early fairs are almost non-existent but it is known that a few buildings were erected on the grounds during the ensuing years.
The fair scheduled for September, 1861 was cancelled when the fairgrounds were converted into Camp Hamer, a Civil War training ground. It was here, from September through December of that year that the 70th Ohio Volunteer Infantry trained before marching south to the battlefields. It was stated that the Floral Hall was large enough to accommodate eight hundred of the soldiers. The old stone courthouse was used during this time for a military hospital.
Interest in holding those early fairs apparently lagged after the Civil War and the last one was held around 1870. The ground eventually abandoned and sold ca. 1875 to Jacob Woods, a local farmer.
In the Spring of 1888 Dr. William Kirker Coleman and T. W. Ellison took it upon themselves to reorganize another county agricultural society which was accomplished in July of that year. The present fairgrounds were acquired and the first annual Adams County Fair was conducted that September. New stables and a show ring were the only improvements made that first year with a floral hall being erected in 1889. The fair was held continuously since 1888 with the exception of four years during World War II when it was suspended.
These early fairs were not too much different from what we have today. Being rural community, emphasis was placed on displaying farm produce and livestock. The latest farm machinery was on exhibit to dazzle and amaze onlookers and of course merchants were on hand to display and sell their wares. Programs consisted of local village bands, horse shoes children’s choruses, horse pulling contests and traveling medicine shows.
