The first Bloomsburg fair was held in either 1854, or 1855.
According to he 1947 publicity director for the Bloomsburg Fair, Joseph C. Connor: "It was back in 1854 that Dr. John Ramsey, Caleb Barton, Col. Joseph Paxton, William Neal, B.F. Heartman, Dr John Taggert, Elias Mendenhall, I.W. Hartman and a few other were the prime movers in starting what has grown to be the great Bloomsburg Fair."
According to Connor, Mr Hartman and his brother loaned lumber "sufficient to erect a small building in which oat, wheat, corn, apples, potatoes, pumpkins etc, with perhaps a half dozen quilts, counterpanes, blankets and other articles went to make the exhibit."
No prizes nor premiums were offered that first year. It's estimated that 1,000 people attended on the "best day" of the exhibition.
"Speed horses were tested out on the public road leading from Barton Street to the old double track bridge". (Post cards touted Bloomsburgs Double track bridge as the only one in Pennylvania. https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-only-dual-track-covered-bridge-in.html )
This article from the 1947 Fair Souvenir Program (a reprint from a 1925 newspaper article) states that the first fair was held in 1854. Today, the Bloomsburg Fair Logo uses 1855 as the date of their first fair. An announcement of the first Annual Fair Of The Columbia County Agricultural Society ran in 1856.
The Star Of The North [Bloomsburg Newspaper] , advertises the First Annual Agricultural Fair as being held October 22nd & 23rd, 1856. The first two years the fair was held, if Conner's account is accurate, were before the Columbia County Agricultural Society was formed, thus 1856 would be the first year of the fair held by the society.
The 1905 Columbia County Fair was touted as the Semi-Centennial, or 50th anniversary, of the fair. In 1925, a Harrisburg newspaper ran an article on the 70th anniversary of the fair.
Note - we see similar date discrepancies in other local fairs, such as Milton where it was frequently believed the first Milton Fair was in 1910, when in fact the first fair in Milton was held in 1830. In 1910 the Milton fair association had reorganized yet again, and built new buildings. That was the first year of the Great Milton Fair - the fairs new name under new organization.
According to one account, Dr John Taggart had visited a fair in the northern part of the state earlier that summer, and "impressed by the values to the community of an agricultural exhibition", he decided Bloomsburg should have a fair too. He convinced Dr John Ramsey, B.F. Hartman, Caleb Barton, William Neil, and I.W. Hartman to help with the venture.
According to Millard's book on the Bloomsburg Fair, at the 1855 event, "There were a few exhibits of fruits and grains. Caleb Barton showed his grain drill which he had been using for a few years. B.F. Hartman entered his driving horse which was tested for speed from the foot of Scottown Hill to the double-track bridge.
1875 Fair OfficialsFrom the fair’s official 1954 program
From left are Wesley Bowman, executive committee, Orangeville; unidentified; Isaac Pursel, Hemlock; M.C. Vance, vice president, Orangeville; Sylvester Parsel, vice president, Hemlock; Johnson Ikeler, librarian, Greenwood; John G. Quick, president, Rupert; unidentified; William Masteller, executive committee, Hemlock; John Garrison, secretary, Bloomsburg; Joseph P. Conner, vice president, Briar Creek; unidentified; and John Deily, Bloomsburg.
A section of the old wooden grandstand can be seen at right
Off and on between 1860 and the 1890s, half mile foot races were held around the track.
In 1893, at the height of the bicycle craze, the fair held it's first bicycle race.
By 1857, there were 21 categories of exhibits, including, along with livestock, grains, fruits, vegetables, and agricultural instruments, a category for "Ladies Work and Flowers."
In May of 1859, the Columbia County Agricultural Society had selected 11 acres for the holding of Fairs at Blooomsburg that were "now being staked off and fenced in."
May 1859
The history in a 1925 newspaper states:
Removed to Present Location
Then came the removal of the exhibit to the present location, with eleven acres rented for fair purposes from the Barton estate, with the rental per year $10 an acre. With the incorporation of the association on December 8, 1868, and with the granting of a charter the grounds were purchased.
Additions were made from time to time, the track that first encircled the midway was moved and Converted into one of the best half - mile tracks in the State, and only a few years ago came another acquisition of land to which the fast growing machinery department was moved, and. into which the automobile display has now come.
And then came the acquisition five years ago [1920] of 15 41 - 100 acres with other smaller additions since. , With their ninety - seven and one - half acres, the grounds are among the largest and best equipped in the State. [In 1947, when this article is reprinted with James Conners byline, this section is changed to read: "At that time the grounds consisted of eighty-one acres and were among the largest and best equipped in the state. "]
A grandstand that will seat nearly 5,000 persons was erected two years ago, with exhibition space provided under the grandstand that will relieve the congestion in the exhibition building. The exhibition hall, with thousands of feet of floor space and electrically lighted, is exceptionally well adapted to its purposes. - During 1924 the new grandstand, started in 1923, was completed at a cost of approximately $100,000, filling a long felt , need. Minor improvements were also made around the grounds during the year.
When permanent lands for the Fair were purchased in 1859, a horse racing track was installed.
The Bloomsburg Fair is one of the last quarter-mile dirt tracks to remain open during the winter season for harness racing.
View of the fairgrounds, 1886
In 1892 a 2,000 seat grandstand was built. It was replaced in the 1920's with a new steel and concrete structure that could seat 6,000.
The fair soon expanded to include entertainment for the crowds. In the early 1900s, a local newspaper reported a "Fairground Flash": "The grandstand never had such a Tuesday crowd. There was a tremendous interest in the cannon act, too, for fully 3,000 were waiting for the act when the gun exploded prematurely and the act had to be call off. "
1909 Photo Of the Fair
1910 Advertisement for the fair. Note that in 1910 it was billed as the Columbia County Fair, Bloomsburg Pa. In 1911, the advertisement reads "Bloomsburg Fair". Newspapers in 1911 however, referred to the event as the 57th Annual Columbia County Fair.
Colorized 1911 Advertisement card for the fair
1911, Danville Morning News
In 1913, Aviator W.E. Johnson made aeroplane flights
1915
In the new childrens livestock judging event in 1917, the prizes included pure bred hogs and a Holstein calf.
1918
"For 64 uninterrupted years"
Record Attendance in 1920
In 1925, the entertainment included professional baseball. The New York Yankees played the Detroit Tigers in two early morning games, played before the afternoon horse races.
Read More:
1925 - the Old Timers Visited The Fair
Henry Deighmiller had attended every single one of the 70 fairs held in Bloomsburg.
1928
Bloomsburg Painted on Grandstand
Lettering added to the roof of the grandstand, as a guide for Aviators
Henry Deigmiller 1843-1930
Last survivor of the group of men who had attended every one of the Bloomsburg Fairs since the first one in 1855.
Bloomsburg Fair Postcard by Magee Carpets
James Magee II opened a 35 loom carpet company in Bloomsburg around 1890. In 1913, the company erected one of the largest mills in the nation, with half million feet of flood space and enough looms to produce 300 rugs a day. One of the largest carpeting manufacturers in the world, it was known as "The Mill Of 2000 Dinner Pails". After the 72 flood, the company was reorganized as Magee Industrial Enterprises, and today is it the Magee Reiter Automotive Systems, manufacturing carpeting, insulation, and mats for automobiles and trucks.
Walter & "Bessie" Weader, photographed at the 1930 Bloomsburg Fair
August 21 1942 - Abbott & Costello Night on the fairgrounds
(in August, not during the fair)
1948
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Horse Racing 1950
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"Girlie Shows" were popular in the 1940s and 50s
Frank Albech
Students from 18 countries visited the fair in 1952
Mahalia Jackson performed at the fair in 1969
1982 Souvenir Edition
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For More Stories & History Of Bloomsburg
For More Stories & History From Surrounding Towns
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Harrisburg Telegraph, 1925
OCR Version Below:
THOUSANDS VISIT BLOOMSBURG FOR COUNTY EXHIBIT Annual Fair Hat Been Conducted in Columbia County Seat For 70 Years Bloomsburg, Aug. 12. For seventy years the span of an ordinary man's life the Columbia county fair has been in existence. This year's exhibition will be the seventy - first. " Accomplishments of recent years have Shown why ' the Columbia county fair is the "daddy of them all" and the fair still is far from reaching the limits that are possible, as demonstrated by the march of improvement that goes on unfalteringly. It was back in 1854 that Dr. John llamsey, Caleb Barton, Colonel Joseph Paxton, William Neal. B. F. Hartman, Dr. John Taggart, Ellas Mendenhall, I. W. Hartman and a few others were the prime movers in starting the fair. Mr. Hartman and his brother loaned the lumber sufficient to erect , a small building in which wheat, corn, oats, apples, potatoes, pumpkins, etc., with perhaps a half dozen quilts, counterpanes, blankets, etc., went to make the exhibit. The speed of the horses was tested out on the, public road leading from Barton street to the "double track bridge," but no prizes or premiums - were offered or paid 'on speed, nor on articles on exhibition. It was estimated 1,000 persons were present on the best day. Ideals Maintained Thus it will be seen the ideals sought by those who organized the fair have been maintained to this day; upon more elaborate scale, of course, and in harmony with the development along all lines. The second fair was held In William Sloan's field, where now stands the residence of Dr. D. J. Waller. The first year's success was reflected in the crowd that attended the second exhibition, for the number attending was estimated as being double that at the first fair. From Market street to the present county jail ' extended the land given over to the third year: each year added new interests and each vear found largrer crowds. The success of the fair and substantial ' character of the move made in the i interests of the farmers was already assured. Removed to Present Location Then came the removal of the exhibit to the present location, with eleven acres rented for fair purposes from the Barton estate, with the rental per year $10 an acre. With the incorporation of the association on December 8, 1868, and' with the granting of a charter the grounds were purchased. Additions were made from' time to time, the track that first encircled the mid - ,i way was moved 'and Converted into one of the best half - mile tracks in the State, and only a few years ago came another acquisition of land to which the fast growing machinery department was moved, and. into which the automobile display has now come. And then came the acquisition five years ago of 15 41 - 100 acres with other smaller additions since. , With their ninety - seven and one - half acres, the grounds are among the largest and best equipped in the State. A grandstand that will seat nearly 5,000 persons was erected two years ago, with exhibition space provided under the grandstand that will relieve the congestion in the exhibition building. The exhibition hall, with thousands of feet of floor space and electrically lighted, is exceptionally well adapted to its purposes. - During 1924 the new grandstand, started in 1923, was completed at a cost of approximately $100,000, filling a long felt , need. Minor improvements were also made around the grounds during the year.
Historical and biographical annals of Columbia and Montour counties, Pennsylvania. by Beers
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