When Milton Had A Fair

For Nearly 100 years, between 1830 - 1925, Milton Had A Fair

Located  for most of its years on the road between Milton and Watsontown, the Milton Fairgrounds was a big event each year, on the scale of the Bloomsburg Fair today.   Imagine a time when, for a few days at least, Milton had not just one, but two Ferris wheels within a mile of each other.  The fair was located on the same road as Riverside Amusement Park, just a short distance away.  

And the fair had its own colorful history.  Pick Pockets, A Suicide, a Bloody Fight & A Trolley Death (all in one week) A Rent Dispute that lead to the fair being closed and the buildings torn down,  An Alcohol Scandal, a reboot that brought back a bigger, and better than ever fair with air shows each year,  only to be shut down a few years later for the Spanish Flu outbreak.  If all of  that wasn't enough -  The Millionaire For A Day came & presented the town with his statue.

And then came the fires. 

Here's what I could find about how it looked, and what happened there, over the years:

===============

1830 Milton's First Fair Was Held

===============

The Miltonian, 1920
I've found 1830 listed as the first fair in Milton several times, many citing that James Pollock was involved at the time.

===============

1853 James Cameron Was President Of The Society

===============

In 1853 the Northumberland County Agricultural Society held a meeting to fix premiums and judges for the exhibition at Milton.  Jame Cameron was president of the society.

===============

1856

===============

In 1856 the Sunbury Gazette dedicated nearly an entire page to the  Sixth Annual Northumberland County Agricultural Fair, held at Milton  October 22, 23rd, 1856.

In the fall of 1859 The Northumberland County Agricultural Fair was held on the farm of IB Davis, President of the Society, on the outskirts of Milton.

"Ample preparations had been made", including buildings, stalls, and a fine smooth trotting course, half a mile in circuit. Two fire companies from Williamsport, along with the Williamsport Band, participated in a fireman's display along with Milton. The Milton and Sunbury Cornet Bands also participated. On Friday evening the fireman held a torch light procession. Tent, booths, and sheds had been erected for private shows, concerts, flying horses, and ladies fairs. Also on display were: Grains, vegetables, fruits, household articles, domestic manufactures, patents, models, mechanical productions, fancy articles, etc.

===============

1858 

===============

A Fair was held at Milton.

It was just a line in the side column of a  Northumberland Newspaper.  

===============

1859 Debate Over Horse Racing

===============

In the fall of 1859, the editor of the Sunbury Gazette wrote an article regarding fairs.  A reply was sent from a farmer who state he appreciated the article, that "we the farmers are not interested in what are called fast horses".  Instead, he stated that they wished to see more strong drought horses that could pull well, and other feats related to agriculture.

===============

In 1874 There Was A Runaway Horse

===============

1874 was the first exhibition of the Milton & Pleasant Valley Fair on the grounds of Michael Farley

In October of 1874 the Northumberland Democrat reported:

The accident at the Milton fair was not as serious as reported.  Mrs. Wetzel was not killed by the runaway horse, but she was badly hurt.

A longer account of the 1874 fair reported on the livestock shown, and said "it will be said by some that the fair amounted to nothing because there was no special premiums given to the horse.  But this is fact that proves our fair a success.  Our farmers originated the affair resolved that it should not be made a mere horse race, and while they made no effort to draw a crow by clap trap advertising of trotting matches..."

"The success attending this fair goes to prove that Milton is by far the best place in the county for such an exhibition, and we will not be surprised if next year finds us with a regularly incorporated association, permanent grounds and buildings, and a premium list equal to that of our best county fairs."

A month earlier, in  September of 1874 a group met at Swenks schoolhouse, and organized themselves into the Milton & Pleasant Valley Agricultural and Horticultural Association".  William Heinen was named president. A committee was formed to search for grounds to hold the fair on.  Michael Farley, "near south end of Milton", agreed to put his grounds in complete order for for said purposes, on certain terms.

The fair was the be held September 28 to Oct 3rd. 

===============

In 1878 There Were Knights & Jousting

===============

In 1878 the fair was called The Pleasant Valley Fair, the fair of the Pleasant Valley Farmers Club in Milton. "It was not much success" until Friday when the crowds came to see the tournament by a party of Knights from Danville.

15 knights in elegant and showy appearance, put on the show.  The Northumberland county Democrat reported that  "the tilting was tolerably fair, although a lack of practice was observed in several" The winning knight was Mr Donehower, who lanced six rings out of nine. The crowning of the "queen of love and beauty" followed the usual ceremonies.

The exhibition of fruits, vegetables, etc, were reported to be "very meager, but of fine quality"

===============

1885

===============

This was, however, not Milton's first fair.  The Miltonian reported in 1920 that Milton's first fair was held in 1830, and that it had been the  the first in the county.  

===============

1886 Race Course Built

===============

"The race course of the Milton Driving Park Association is now finished and any fine evening affords fine driving for any number of good horses" - The Miltonian, April 1886

===============

In 1892 There were pickpockets

===============

There appear to have been pickpockets every year, unfortunately.  But this is the year the Milton and Lewisburg papers had a bit of a friendly spar over it.  The two towns were naturally competitive over their fairs, which were typically held back to back, one week after the other.  For many years, Lewisburg seemed to get the week with the worse weather, or at least that was always why Lewisburg claimed to have smaller numbers in attendance than Milton.  (I suspect i thad more to do with how easy it was to get to Miltons fair, Lewisburgs was not held right along the trolley line)

In 1892, The Chronicle criticized the Milton fair for having pickpockets in attendance.  The Miltonian replied that pickpockets only show up where there are crowds, so it's something Lewisburg would not have to worry about.  

The Lewisburg Journal 1892

I

It's interesting to note that Fakirs are criticized here, and also advertised to attend  in the 1899 Fair Poster below 

===============

1893 - The Bicycle Races

===============

In 1893 a letter to the editor wrote of the bicycle races at the Milton Fair.

A Watsontown rider felt that there had been a good arrangement to keep the Watsontown riders out of the race and assure a Milton win. The bicycle races that year were "held back" until the trotting and running races had the track torn up. The letter states that "a great many people" were there specifically to see the bicycle races, and were disgusted when they were not held (because of the condition of the track) On Friday the bicyclists were notified that they could race after the trotting race - giving them barely an hours notice.  The Watsontown riders could not all get there on time, and the race was not held to give them more time.

===============

1895

===============

This newspaper clipping from the Miltonian in 1895 refers to the "Milton Driving Park & Fair Association".  A Driving park in the 1890s referred to horse racing, which was a featured event at the Milton fairgrounds each year after 1886.  At the very, very bottom of this post, I have included the newspaper article that lists all of the fair winners that year, and the premiums they were paid.  It's a very long list, for everything from Best Stallion to Best Longhorn Chicken.

===============

1899

===============

A Poster For The Milton Fair

An 1889 poster advertising the Milton Fair.

The Only Guideless Runner In The World

The guideless running horse "Bela" will run each day in a race against mounted jockeys.  runs one-half mile without rider or prompting, in 51 seconds.

Also advertised were  bicycle races, "A Great Danish Village", and 

"Streets of Fakirs, Freaks, Museums and World Wide Attractions"

Greatest Collection Of Snakes And Animals Ever Exhibited

 ===============

1902 - Photos Of the Grounds

===============

A Panoramic View Of The Great Milton Fair, 1902
This panoramic view of the Milton Fair ran in the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1902.  I've split the photo into smaller sections so it is easier to see here.

 The tent on the left was selling hot sausage

 With the ferris wheel visible in the background.  
Riverside Park was located on this same road, so for a few days each year, Milton would have two Ferris Wheels!

The tent on the far right says "restaurant"
The old style tents remind me of the Bloomsburg fair today


A Newspaper Advertisement for the 1902
Milton Fair

===========================

PSU Shoot At Milton Fairgrounds, 1906

============================


In 1906, A Penn State Shoot was held at the Milton Fairgrounds on May 16

Milton Fair, 1906

===============

1907 - Not The Fairs Best Year

===============

1907 was not a great year for the Milton Fair.

There was a suicide, a trolley accident, and a "bloody fight".

Samuel Greenwalt, 24 years old, from Milton, shot himself in the temple.

Lyman Elder, 38 from Williamsport, was intoxicated and fell a sleep on the trolley tracks opposite the fair entrance.  He died at Williamsport Hospital.

John Troxell, of New Columbia, was in a fight with his brother and another man. He was hit over the head with a mallet and seriously injured. 

===============

1908

===============

The back of a 1908 Souvenir Post Card
There must be more post cards out there, but I have not found them yet!

===========================================
ANNUAL FAIR AT MILTON TO BE ABOLISHED!
===========================================
1909 - The Milton Fair Ends (Temporarily)

In the Spring of 1909, various headlines ran in at least 12 different newspapers, including the Miltonian & Lewisburg Journal,  announcing that the Milton Fair was over.  

In February of 1909, the Milton Fair Association made the decision to go into liquidation and forever close the Milton Fair. The grounds were in poor condition.  The buildings needed many repairs.  And most critically, the association only owned half of the fairgrounds and the owners of the other half were demanding an exorbitant rental fee, and a percentage of the fairs proceeds. In April, the buildings, fences, sheds, etc were sold at Public Auction.

The sale netted $1,250. 

=================

What's not mentioned in newspapers is that there is some problem between those involved. I'm unsure of the details, but when the fair is reorganized, it was done "without Shimer money".  Shimer owned Milton Manufacturing, and although the new fair would not be using his money, he did retain a family box in the grandstand, which would prove to be the real end for the Milton fair 15 years later.  

===============

The Wilkes Barre Times reported, in large print, that:

"Big Luzerne County Display Proves To Be Detriment To Lower End People"

and went on to say that small fairs do not pay since the Luzerne fair inaugurated it's mammoth events. They claimed the Milton fair failed due to the "immense popularity of the Luzerne County Fair".  Obviously this was not true, but this type of competition over fairs was common in the papers over the years.   The fairs brought huge crowds to the area, and those crowds usually shopped while they were in town. 

But all was not lost.  The grounds had not yet been sold, and by November of that year the townspeople, particularly the businessmen, had rallied together and formed a new Fair Association.  They raised over $8,000 to resurrect the Milton Fair.

=================

1909 - No Fair?  But A Tent With Illegal Alcohol

And Maybe a Fair.

=================

Although newspapers  throughout the state reported there would be no fair in 1909, something was going on at the fairgrounds during fair week.

 And there was a bit of a scandal.

Former Assemblyman George Shultz, in 1913,  sued the Mt Caramel newspaper for slander, after they reported that he sold "intoxicants" without a license at the Milton Fair in 1909. Shultz maintained that he was only acting as an agent for the Fuhrmann & Schmidt Brewing Company of Shamokin, in an endeavor to sell Malta Manna, a non-intoxicating drink. The newspaper was found not guilty, when it was shown that the Malta Manna labels had simply been applied on top of regular beer bottles, which contained the "usual percentage of alcohol" Sure enough, a 1909 article in the Lewisburg Journal mentions a raid, at the tent, at the Milton fairgrounds, with "thousands" watching.

That kind of sounds like there was some sort of fair. 

The buildings and grandstand were all gone, but maybe it was more of a carnival, with just the tents that year?  I simply do not know.  I find that the Milton paper especially, and even their friendly rivals in Lewisburg, had nothing to say about the serious problems that occurred at the fairs.  They would jest about attendance numbers and who got the better weather, and about the pickpockets - but when there was truly an issue, such as a bloody fight, suicide, accidental death, or when there horse race halted because a prominent family was inebriated and tossing glass bottles onto the track, not a word of it graced their papers.

New Property Details  - Fall of 1909

Secured the lands of Mr Everett on which the track is located.

To the North, William Fisher

Long leases set with both.

Lower portion of the grounds had already been sold to Board Of Trade

The Fisher Pot was secured in place of the lower portion

===============

1910 - The Fair Returns 

===============

But in 1910, the Milton Fair returned as The Great Milton Fair

Only a portion of the grounds were used, but 5 additional acres were leased from the Fisher farm, formerly owned by E.H. Heaton. All of the buildings had been torn down, but new ones were quickly built, beginning in 1910.  (They appear to have been completed in 1912)

The grandstand was in place in 1910, and the fair took place in September of that year.

The buildings were "larger, better, and more conveniently located."

Fakirs & Exhibits were now located at the North End Of the Track

The grandstand was larger capacity, and had a better view of the entire track.

 In 1910 the Miltonian credited Mr Oscar Foust, of the Atlantic Refining Company, with the lions share of the credit for the reestablishment of the Milton Fair.

It was this year  that the fair was first  referred to as the "Great" Milton Fair, and that title was used from then on.  The next year, the fair spent thousands of dollars improving the grounds, and building new buildings, and 1912 appears to be one of the biggest and best fairs yet.

The New Fairground Buildings 1911-1912

The grandstand was located along the road, facing east

===============

1911

===============

This photo from 1911 shows cars lined up in front of the  new grandstand.  
Be sure to see  the costume on the far right .


Another photo of the 1911 fair, showing a large crowd, one of the new buildings, and the Ferris Wheel

In 1911 "Thousands of Dollars" were spent to improve the fair
Barney Demarest's race horses were to be featured.

===============

1912 - The One Not To Miss

===============

This was the year it really all came together for the new Great Milton Fair.

New buildings were all done, an aeroplane came for the first time, A Moving Picture Company came and videos the fair (it was shown in local theaters later)..  This was Milton's year to really shine.

1912 was a really big year for the Milton Fair

The new buildings were featured in advertisements every week leading up to the fair.  

There were wild west shows, minstrels circus, vaudeville, the smallest man in the world, and

"no games of chance or anything of questionable character is tolerated on the grounds."

In 1912, managers of country fairs were required to ban gambling devices, and "wheels of fortune" or "paddle wheels", by decree of the Auditor General.

On Friday closing day was "marred by an accident", when Motorcycle Racer Edward Bower was almost killed. "Fortunately his injuries were not as serious as first suffered"

He was carried off the track unconscious, and had bled all over the track, from a head wound.

Three aviators attended the fair, along with Captain Baldwin's Red Devil Plane

Cecil Peoli flew Captain Baldwin's Red Devil 4500 feet into the air. He had planned to go up a mile, but found the conditions unfavorable. Peole was thought to be the youngest aviator of his profession, at 18 years old.  He had made his first flight in June of that year.

The paper reported that Peoli was a clever young man, a good conversationalist, and he made lots of friends while in Milton. They reported the same of Horace Kemmerie, who was also along with Captain Baldwin.

Today you can find Captain Baldwin's Plane, quite possibly the very one he flew to Milton, in the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

"Saw a flying machine whirling aloft in the air for at least 10 minutes. I think twas quite a sight to see."  
18 year old Helena Muffly of Watsontown wrote in her diary.  You can see what else she had to say about the area in the blog 100 years ago today.

A "Moving Picture Man" attended the fair, and took scenes of the midway, circle, autos lined up, horse races both trotting and running, the aeroplane, officers of the association, President James C. Packer, the grandstand, and bleachers. In town the "movie" man secured excellent snaps of the Morning Bulletin office, Reid Tobacco House, Gas Works, Electric Light Plant, Nail Works, High School Fire Drill, LM& W Offices and car barn, Standard Office, AC& f shops, Shilmers upper works, Knitting Mill, Silk Mill, Hedenbergs coal office, Novelty works, Clinger and Fetter Planing Mills, & "several other places of interest". 

Operator Robinson of the Gaumont Moving Pictures company was sent here on the request of Manager Davis of the Bijou Dream Theater. The "moving pictures" were shown in Milton, and also  at the Peoples Theater in Sunbury.  in late October.  It was reported that the pictures were clear and showed familiar scenes.

1912

===============

1913-1917 

===============

For the next few years, the fair news was a bit quieter, at least from what I can tell from the local papers.  We know they didn't always report the problems, so it's possible I am wrong.

World War I began in July of 1914, but America did not join the fight until 1917.

In 1914, the governor of Pennsylvania attended the fair, along with a crowd of "10,000"

It rained that year, and Aviator Walter Edwards crashed his plane in a cornfield at take off.  He was not injured, but the plane was too damaged to fly again at the fair.

There was a tuberculosis exhibit, put on by the state, and the Suffrage booth raised $80 from the sale of literature and novelties.

Butch McDevitt, "Millionaire For A Day" from Wilkes Barre was a headliner.  If you aren't familiar with McDevitts story, it's an interesting read.  He brought his statue, of himself, to give to the town of Milton, but Milton chose not to accept it.

Samuel D. Robbins was pick-pocketed on the trolley on the way to the fair - he claimed he had been carrying $350, in 1915. (which would be nearly $9,000 today.)  

=====================================
The 1918 Fair Was Cancelled By The Spanish Flu
=====================================

 From all early accounts, there were very few cases of the flu in Milton, and this was merely a precautionary measure.  Earlier this year, America had joined the first world war, so the fair would likely have been a smaller event this year had it occurred.  

===============

1919 - It Rained, A Lot.

===============

The Fair Returned in 1919

The rides that year included The Tango Swing, Ferris Wheel, Three-Abreast Jumping Horse Carousel.  "All kinds of shows.  Shows for the ladies, shows for the babies, and shows for the bachelor men.  Boys, don't forget the Hoochee Koochee Shows, they will be here!"

Unfortunately, for the fourth consecutive year, the fair suffered "severe financial loss due to conditions over which they had no control." The fair was all but rained out.  The aeroplane was able to make several trips without accident throughout the week.

The  Agricultural Association reported the following numbers for the 2019 Milton Fair:

14,000 in attendance, 13,466 paid admissions

$6,733. received in paid admissions

$1,935 received from commissions

$2,035 paid for premiums

$9,984 total amound of expenses paid

(showing a loss of 3,351)

===============

1920 - More Improvements To The Grounds

===============

Fortunately, in the fall 1920 the weather was much improved, and the Fair had record breaking crowds. 1920 was also the first year for a brand new type of insurance, and now the Milton Fair had an insurance policy to cover them in case of rain.

In 1921, the fairgrounds were once again improved.

• The front of the fairgrounds was given an entirely different appearance.
• The main office building was moved from its old location to the corner of river road and the lane to maple bank, where a concrete wall had been added.
• The building set back about 100 feet from the road, helping to relieve the traffic congestion at the new main entrance.
• The old main entrance, and the Maple Lane Bank entrance, were eliminated.
• Previously the big low area along river road at the upper end of the grounds was filled with rows of rails for horses to be tied, but most years the field was too wet to use at fair time anyway.
• This year the field was filled in with ground cinder to make it level with the adjoining road, and the rest of the road.

At the fair that year, the pilot was Randall Ellis, from Reading, but originally from Turbotville.

===============

Still 1921

===============

Since this mentions that they were trying for the Milton track record, this was probably not the first time the races occurred here.

===============

1922 - Auto Races Came To The Fair

===============

1922 brought more horse races than any year prior.  And it also brought auto races.

=====================

1922 Brought Auto Races

=====================

Seven Famous Drivers were listed to race at Milton:

R. Burr Lampkin, french peugot

Ray Claypool, speedway haynes

Floyd William, Monroe Special

E. King, Brisco 90

Cleo Sarles, Mooney Special

F.R. McDonald, Special Essex 

Auto races had been held on the grounds the July before, but if they were held at the 1921 fair, I saw no mention of it.

===============

1923 - Gambling Devices Seized And Destroyed

===============

===========================

In April of 1923, the Wheels Of Fortune

were confiscated and destroyed.  It's interesting to note that almost every year the papers reported that there would be no such games of chance at the fair.  And yet the fair obviously owned these "gambling devices" 

 (Today we'd call this a cake wheel. In 1923 the prize was frequently candy)

================================

In 1923, the Fair was held in August instead of October

===============

1924 - Signed New Lease, Milton Bridge Closed

===============

In February of 1924, The Fair Association signed a new 10 year lease on the part of the grounds they did not own. They planned to build new exhibition buildings, a reconstructed midway, and add a new fence around the track, as soon as weather permitted.
Comfort stations and rest rooms were among the contemplated improvements.

The Circus was held on the fairgrounds that summer.

In September, right before the fair opened, the Milton/West Milton Bridge was closed. Milton has a troubled history with bridges, and the iron bridge built around 1896 was falling apart, and frequently unsafe.

===============

1925 - Name Changed To Northumberland County Fair

And Then There Were Fires

===============

After the big flashy posters in 1924, In 1925, there are just a few small ads and write ups about the fair.   .  Throughout the fall there were several livestock auctions, selling hogs and cattle at the fairgrounds.

=================

But there's no mention of the biggest show at the fair this year - the one that would end the Milton Fair for good.

When the fair was reorganized back in 1910, it was done "Without any Shimer money"

The Shimers owned Milton Manufacturing Company.  I suspect there's a lot more to this story, but I only know that it was worth mentioning that the fair was rebooted without Shimer money.

The family did, however, continue to have a family box in the grandstand at the fair. 

Alfred Krause in his book "The Front Porch" recounts the following incident at the fair in 1925.  The authors father was very involved in the Great Milton Fair, as a principal stockholder, the fair treasurer, and a key figure in what happens next.

According to Krause, the Shimers rarely attended the fair anymore, as it "conflicted with their other social activities" But in September of 1925, when George Shimer Jr, decided to attend the races with some friends, and sit in the family box.  George, two additional men (All were around 30 years of age) and three women made up the party. 

And it was a party.   Before long, George was drunk.  Quite drunk.  And his horses were not winning.  Wealthy George took great offense to this, and he took to  yelling and cursing at the judges in the the tower.

At the end of the fourth race, when George lost yet again, he went into a rage.  He threw his whisky bottle at the winning jockey, missing him by inches, but hitting the carriage.  Glass spread across the track.  Horses, jockeys, and judges were now in chaos.

The race was halted while Fair Officials were located and consulted.  It was quickly decided that young Shimer would need to leave.  And Krause Sr was appointed to inform him.  

George was not impressed by  Krause, nor by the news that he was to leave the fair.   He loudly announced that he could buy the fairground and everything in it, and that no one alive could put a Shimer out of his box.

I'm starting to understand why it was important to mention that the new fair was built without any of that Shimer money.

With the race at a stand still, and more than a thousand people in the stands watching this occur,  George refused to leave, and continued to just sit drinking with his friends.

While others might be embarrassed by this, George was apparently either too drunk, or too rich, to be concerned.  Possibly both.  This went on long enough for Krause to gather up six large policemen.  And still, everyone sat and waited.

Suddenly, without warning, George stood up and threw another empty bottle on to the track, shouting "There, how do you like that?"

Krause nodded to the policemen, who removed George and his party from the fair.  George struggled and hollered the entire way out, and when he was set free , he loudly yelled for all to hear that he would get even with Krause if it was the last thing he ever did.

One Week Later.

The Milton Grandstand Burns

 

Several newspapers note that the fire was "of an incendiary nature".

There was no doubt it was arson.  But I could find no record of anyone ever facing charges for the fire.  There was certainly no mention of the incident at the fairgrounds the week before.  

Krause writes:

"On the night of September 30th, just a little over a week after the fracas, George Jr. brought from New York City a gang of arsonists. They set fire simultaneously to the grandstand, the judges tower, the stables and livestock show buildings, the exhibit buildings, and the administration building. When it was all over, only the dirt race track, the concrete piers that had supported the grandstand and the water tower remained."

That's not exactly what happened, there were two fires months apart, - but I have no doubt that Krause's account is much more accurate than what the newspapers are about to report in 1926.

===============

THE FAIR IS ABANDONED

More Fires, And then

The Milton Fairgrounds Were Sold

1926

===============

 At this point, not surprisingly, the Fair Association was simply done.  After years of losing money, they did not have interest in rebuilding.  And yet, this story isn't over yet.

Days before the rest of the buildings and fair equipment were to be sold at auction, there was another set of fires.  All of the buildings caught on fire at once, and there was no doubt it was arson.   But apparently (and this made me laugh, although its more sad than funny)  no one knew the cause, and  it was possible that "hobos" who were camping out in the buildings coordinated this a set of fires, all to occur at once, burning down every single scrap that could have been sold for the Fair Association to recover a bit of their losses.  

The four men who had rebooted the fair,  in 1910, including Krause,  lost everything they had invested.

Still absolutely no mention of the Shimer incident at the races. As far a the newspapers are concerned, that never happened.  The only hint of any involvement of the Shimer family, is, amusingly, in a report that since the Milton Fair is no more, Milton Manufacturing is planning to hold an Manufacturing Fair, in its place.  

"Owners of the buildings have started an investigation to learn if possible who was responsible for the two fires that wiped away the stand and two exhibition buildings.  Milton authorities are of the opinion the fire last night was started by hobos who took refuge in one of the buildings for the night"

==========================

June 1926 - The Fair Grounds Are Sold

=========================

In May of 1926, Curtis M. Stamm, "who has been conducting the Wayside Inn" above town, purchased from the Milton Fair Association a plot of ground with 200 feet of frontage on the Milton-Williamsport road and extending back over 170 feet along the lane leading to the Maple Band farm.  The plot includes the office used by the Milton Fair Association.

Mr Stamm will move his business to this location on or about June 1.

In August of 1926 there's a blurb in the Miltonian "Is Milton to have a Fair this Fall?"

A meeting was to be held in the lower store on Gottlob Browns block, hoping to plan one.  Nothing appears to have come from this.

=====================================

Read More Stories & History Of Milton Here

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/milton-pa.html

And Find More Local History From The Surrounding Areas Here

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

=============================

Read More

=============================

The Milton fairgrounds were located on the road  between Milton and Watsontown.  Today Beckys, the Car Wash, and the Golf Course Driving Range sit in this area.  If you look at  google maps, satellite view, you can still make out where the old racetrack once was.

The Milton Fair was established in 1830, held fairs intermittently until 1856, when regular exhibitions were given for a number of years by the Northumberland County Agricultural Society.

James Pollack was one of the founders of the NCAS.

In 1885 The Milton Driving Park and Fair Association was formed.

In 1903 that Association Ended, and  new one took over

In 1909, that was abandoned

In 1909 A new association was formed,  the first fair organized by them was held in 1910.

In 1926, after two fires destroyed all of the buildings, the association determined that the fair was no longer a paying proposition.

In 1892, Trespassing was already a problem

============================

The 1895  Milton Fair Premiums

If you right click on this photo and save it to your device, it may be easier to enlarge it and read it.  

==========================