A Fair was held in Dewart from 1875 - ? (1926?)
1875
"A short distance south of the village, are the enclosed grounds, which the Northumberland Agricultural Society have leased for their annual fairs. This was established in 1875, having been removed from the lands of D.H. Dreisbach in Lewis Twp"
Milton's first fair was held in 1830. It was the first fair in Northumberland county. Milton hosted a variety of fairs in several locations, until in 1885 that the Milton Driving Park (horse track) and Fair Association was formed, and Milton had a set fair location, where the driving range and Beckys sits today, between Milton and Watsontown.
The Northumberland County Agricultural Society appears to have held their annual fair in a variety of locations, including Milton, and later the Dreisbach property in Lewis Twp, before moving to Dewart in 1875. (I'm unsure how long they stayed at the Dewart location) In 1878 it is advertised as the "25th Annual" North'd County Agricultural Fair (held at Dewart that year) which would mean the fair began in 1853, which since we know isn't quite correct, if their first fair was in Milton in 1830, most likely means that they formed an official association for their fair in 1853. All of our local fairs changed names, and formed new associations, frequently enough to make it all very confusing.
But in 1875 - there was a fair in Dewart.
1875
In 1875 there were agricultural fairs held in Union County, Milton, Sunbury, and Dewart. An article in the October 1875 Northumberland Democrat mentions them all, as there was some conflict between the Democrat and the Miltonian over the news coverage of the fairs.
Horse races were very popular at this time, with most of our local small towns having a track. The Miltonian reported something along the lines of the Democrat disparaging their fair, because it had horse races included.
"lest the agricultural fairs this year should prove failures and degenerate into horse races and gambling dens."
The Democrat replied that they did not say anything of the sort, but had rather "given the Milton fair a half dozen favorable notices; we have done still better for the Dewart fair."
1878
In September of 1878 there was to be a trotting and shooting match at the Dewart fairgrounds. A 6am pigeon shoot had a $100 purse. At 2pm there was a match race between John McKees "Watsontown Pet" and Chas. Maladys "Montour Maid" for $50, followed by a trotting match for another $50.
There was to be no charge for admission in the forenoon, nor for ladies and carriages during the day. In the afternoon an entrance of 25 cents was to be charged.
Mr Kremer, the proprietor of the grounds, promised a good time to all visitors.
The Niagara Express train going west would stop in Dewart on that day.
1926
In September of 1926, there were horse races at the Dewart Fair. The Miltonian reported:
"The Dewart Fair commenced yesterday. Today, Friday at 2 o'clock there is to be a fine trot in which P.L. Hackenburgs 'Bonnie Doon" and 'Lady Powers' are entered. On Saturday the sweepstake race occurs"
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In 1878, it was the Columbia fair that the Democrat criticized . They reported that it was a "success as far as attendance was concerned, but that but that the exhbitions in several departments were pitifully meagre".
They went on to say that "these miscalled fairs are for the benefit of jockeys" and that farmers should take over the management of fairs for their own interest, or not attend them at all, as the money they pay in admission is paying swindlers and lining the pockets of "gamblers of horse flesh"
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