The Person County Fair


"A BIG FAIR THIS FALL" (1)
"Remember the date and make your plan to spend those days in seeing what old Person County really can do when she tries." (2)



That is the how the Person County Fair Association described the first Person County fair in a Roxboro Courier article advertising the big event.  The Person County Fair, which took place for nine years, drew thousands of people, featured a variety of shows and exhibits, and was featured in newspapers from across the state, including Asheville, Greensboro, and Raleigh.


In today's episode, Ms. Bessie reads a letter from a friend Mr. Clifton Jones about the first Person County Fair.  Jones talks about riding into town for the first day of the fair on his family's horse Alma.  The fair was held in and around Winstead Tobacco Warehouse at 105 Academy Street from Thursday, October 8th to Saturday, October 12, 1914.  The building acted as the exhibition building and outside of the building were "exhibits of farm crops and things."  Other exhibits were placed on the Courthouse green.  The fair was reported to have 10,000 people just on Friday and more than 1,100 school children (1).  An article in The Roxboro Courier on Wednesday, October 14th, 1914, spoke of the success of the first ever county fair:

"With only a short notice the people of this County got together an exhibit which would have done credit to the State fair....The fair in every respect, financially, morally, educationally, and in whatever light you look at it was a grand success....While the warehouse was large and spacious there will have to be more room next year, and our managers had just as well begin to make preparations." (1)

Indeed, the second annual fair moved locations due to it's huge success the previous year.    15,000 fair-goers (from Person and the surrounding counties) entered through an archway and flooded the Reams Town fairgrounds (see Figure 1 below) during the four days of the event (Tuesday, October 12th-Friday, October 15th), enjoying exhibits of livestock, corn, wheat, and tobacco (2).  A school display allowed visitors to view the work done by students in the county's public schools.  The exciting automobile, motorcycle, and horse races were a big hit.  Thursday and Friday's fair days ended with a bang with fireworks displays.
Figure 1
The Roxboro Courier-Wednesday, October 6, 1915

The rest of the Person County Fairs were held at these fairgrounds.  The last fair took place in 1924, after just nine nonconsecutive years.  Jones mentions that he went to each of those nine fairs and the North Carolina State Fair in 1934.

After Ms. Bessie finishes reading Clifton Jones' letter, she goes on to read from the 1924 Premium List from the 1924 Person County Fair.  This book included a list of officers of the Person County Fair Association, some of which are:

C.H. Hunter, president
David Long, vice president
R.P. Burns, secretary and treasurer
Mrs. Thomas Clay, assistant secretary

The book also listed the prizes for the many competitions of the 1924 fair, for example:

"$5 for the best lemon wrapper" 
"$7.50 for the best apple or orange"

---


Here are some other interesting facts about the Person County Fair that we have discovered during our research:

  • Some fairs had a "Children's Day," when kids were given the day off of school to visit the fair (5).  Many students entered their artwork or other handmade items to be displayed to the community.
  • At the 1919 Person County Fair, three candidates for governor gave speeches to the fairgoers, "to stimulate the people to higher living and greater love and respect for their county, their State, and America." (5)


 The Person County Fair, while short lived, gave locals the chance to gather together, have a good time, and celebrate their community.




Have you heard stories of the Person County Fair?  Share them in the comments below!
Notes:
1. The Roxboro Courier: Wednesday, July 8, 1914.
2. The Roxboro Courier: Wednesday, August 12, 1914.
3. The Roxboro Courier: Wednesday, October 14, 1914.
4. The Roxboro Courier: Wednesday, October 20, 1915.
5. News and Observer (Raleigh, NC): Friday, October 10, 1919.


This podcast made possible by Clark Oakley, Person County Museum of History, and Bill Lester at Radio Roxboro.

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