Footnotes to Long Island History
County Fairs Social Events
by
Thomas R. Bayles
The
first Suffolk County Agriculture society was formed in 1841 and in 1843 was
reorganized with William C. Stout as president.
According
to a printed report of the society for 1865, in the possession of the writer, an
annual fair was held each year in the last of September of the first part of
October each year from 1841 to 1853, after which there was a lapse of 12 years until
the society again was reorganized in 1865,
The
first annual fairs were held in the western part of the county for the most
part and for only one day. They were held at the following places during those
years: Smithtown Branch, Commack, Islip, Huntington, Greenport, Babylon and
Islip.
On
February 1, 1865 a meeting was held at Thompson Station (near Brentwood) for the purpose of
organizing the Suffolk County Agriculture society and the following men were
elected officers: William Nicoll, president, Huntington; R. W. Pearsell vice
president, North Islip; J. H. Doxsee, secretary, Islip; W. J. Weeks, Treasurer,
Yaphank. the board directors consisted of H. G. Scudder, Huntington; Caleb
Smith, Smithtown; Robert O. Colt, Islip; Thomas S. Mount Brookhaven; D.
Harrison Osborn, Riverhead, and David G. Floyd, Southold.
Annual
membership in the society was $1, life membership was $10 and admission fee was
fixed at 25 cents.
It was
decided to hold a fair in 1865 at Riverhead which was a more central place and
an account of the great success of the fair held in that year is given in an
article in the Republican Watchman for September 30, 1865 which we quote.
"The
annual fair of Suffolk County Agriculture society, revived after a trance of 12
years took place at Riverhead on Wednesday and Thursday last, and we are happy
to say, proved eminently successful in every point of view . We congratulate the
society and its excellent officers, the farmers and the people of the county,
upon thee auspicious fact of rendering certain the permanent establishment of
the society on a solid basis among the institutions of the county."
"The
grounds were located just north of the railroad on a fine level lot which had
been enclosed with a high board fence. Along the south side extends a belt of
trees affording most agreeable shade and here was placed an interesting
collection of farm implements. Near the southwest corner was erected a shed for
the display fruit, vegetables, flowers and other articles. On the west side
were pens for cattle, sheep and swine along the fence, while on the north side,
were stalls for horses and mules and coops for poultry. The center of the lot
was left vacant and was staked off in a circle for display of horses. The fair
was opened at 9 a.m. on Wednesday and large numbers of people attended and on Thursday
the crowds at one time exceeded 5,000."
"Taking
it all in all and considering the fact of an unprecedented drought over a large
part of the county and the many drawbacks sure attend every initial effort of
kind, the exhibition may fairly be pronounced
a highly creditable one."
Among
the local men who paid membership fees in that year appear the names of William
Nicoll. Thomas S. Mount, Gilbert H. Swezey, James H. Weeks, W. O. Bartlett,
John L. Ireland, Mrs. B. H. Hawkins, Augustus Floyd, Philetus Phillips, Moses
C. Sweezey, Charles S. Havens, Charles E. Rose, Nathaniel Miller and others.
The
receipts for that year were $1,607 and expenses were $1,307 leaving a balance
of $300 on hand for that year.
Among
the items of expense are eight constable $81; use of fair grounds $15; Fee for
stock $11.12; 75 sheaves cornstalks $3.75; C. E. Rose, Patchogue band, $96. The
amount paid out for Premiums was $454. These items are taken away from the
report of the treasurer, W. J. Weeks of Yaphank.
An item
in the report states the Patchogue brass band was present both days and
furnished some admirable music showing a high degree of proficiency in so young
a company of young performers.
Among those who
received premiums from the Brookhaven town
were the following: for best Ayrshire bull, Henry Nicoll, Mastic; best Alderny
bull , J. O. Randall, Ridgefield (Middle Island); best single mule, Gilbert L. Davis, Mount
Sinai ; best half bushel white wheat and best sample flour, John Roe,
Patchogue; best red peach, Smith Still, Coram, Best turnip beets, E. F.
Preston, Patchogue; best two bushel baskets, John Downs, Yaphank; Best rockaway
wagon, E. H. Tuthill, Port Jefferson; best and greatest variety of grapes, W.
J. Weeks, Yaphank; for case of sewing silk and silk cocoons, Lester H. Davis,
Coram; Cider vinegar, Lester H. Davis, Coram; four cases native insects W. J.
Weeks, Yaphank.
Most of
the premiums were awarded to farmers and housewives from the east end villages.
Among
the premiums offered for 1866 were: best pair of woolen blankets, best pair of
woolen stocking, best pair of cotton stockings, best sample of woolen cloth,
best sample of woolen carpet, best quilted bedspread, best sample of tow cloth,
best sample woolen yarn, plain shirt made by a lady over 21 years of age and one
made by a lady under 21.
From
this time on the annual fair at Riverhead was an event of great importance and
interest to the people of Suffolk county not only for the exhibits of all kinds
of animals, fruit, and produce, and homemade articles of various kinds but also
for providing a meeting place for friends and neighbors from all parts of the
county. People did not get around as easily in those days as now and the annual
fair which everyone attended gave them a chance to see their friends who
otherwise probably would not be seen in the course of the year. The railroad
ran special trains from all directions.
The
annual fair at Riverhead continued until recent years when it ceased to be
profitable financially and has died out all together.