Historical Society of Cecil County

The Cecil County Agricultural Society

by Jerre Garrett

In the fall of 1880 all roads led to Elkton for everyone who could walk or ride as they headed for the new fair grounds. Plans drawn up over the summer had come to fruition. On June 14, the Cecil county Agricultural Society had been incorporated by W. J. Jones, Charles M. Ellis, Arthur W. Mitchell, William Falls, William McCreary, and Thomas Drennen. In addition to the aforementioned, other directors included O. P. Clemson, George Ricketts, Townsend Pool, A. R. Magraw, Henry D. Miller, Thomas Drennen, and H. H. Brady.

In the fall of 1880 all roads led to Elkton for everyone who could walk or ride headed for the new fair grounds.

The capital stock was $10,000, divided into 100 shares with a par value of $10. Dr. Ellis reported in July that he had obtained subscriptions in the amount of $2,000, with more expected. By the end of July, the Committee had sold an additional $1,000, and had settled on a site—a parcel of land owned by A. G. Tuite next to the railroad depot.

Committees handled the building of stables, fencing, grandstand, ticket office, judges' stands, and the digging of two wells. That first year, exhibits would be housed in tents. Then, despite the heat of August, the Agricultural Society kicked into over drive. They appointed a Committee to procure fence posts for enclosing the grounds, and they mandated that a director purchase 40,000 feet of barn boards for fencing and other uses.

The secretary was to have a seal made for the company's use, and both he and the treasurer were to procure books of certificates of stock and collect the subscriptions. Other members visited the fair grounds at Dover to get ideas about the buildings and the layout of the track. The president was assigned to prepare a catalogue and compile a premium list. He was urged to report at the next meeting because the catalogue had to be printed and distributed as soon as possible.

On August 21, 1880, the Whig reported that the fair grounds would include 28 acres and that the fair would be held on October 13, 14, and 15. The secretary and the treasurer had completed their assignments. The Dover Committee had already drawn up diagrams based on their research; those responsible for buying lumber had visited a Port Deposit Company, but had not yet finalized the purchase. They were instructed to do so. After a lively discussion, the Society determined that the fence should "be made of white oak or chestnut posts, nine feet in length, set two and a half feet in the ground and seven foot boards nailed to substantial rails".

That session concluded with the decision to fix the amount of premiums offered for races at $1,675. The meeting reconvened at 8:00 pm to discuss the premium list. Members decided to offer prizes for "blooded and graded stock, fat cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, articles of domestic manufacture, horticultural and floricultural productions." There would also be exhibits of farm machinery, husking and plowing matches, and nine trials of speed.

By the end of August, the Whig ran the following: ...The grandstand to be erected will be similar to that at Pimlico, and one hundred and fifty by forty feet in size. The basement floor, with an elevation of nine to eighteen feet, will be used as a hall for general exhibits of household products, etc. The track for trials of speed, which is to be seventy feet wide, has already been laid out by E. Larkins, Esq., Engineer of the P.W. & B. Railroad Company, and graded to stakes, the completion of which now awaits favorable weather. The necessary posts, with the lumber required for the enclosure of the grounds, are being hauled upon the ground, and active work will begin, it is expected, on Monday next. The location of the grounds being so not the County Commissioners.

By early September, the Society had decided to sink four wells, with one already completed. Posters printed by Allen, Lane & Scott were in place to advertise the event. By the end of September, George King was appointed Chief of Police at the fair. He chose Amos Pierson, William A. Wright, John Gallagher, William J. Smith, J. W. Freeman, Levi Durham and William Durham as assistants. Terra cotta pipe was in place to assure dry footing in all kinds of weather, and a crossing from the depot to the gate was under construction. H. Disston, "a great saw manufacturer of Philadelphia", entered an unknown horse that threatened to "take the trot out of some of our nags". Upon hearing of the fair, bicycle clubs in Philadelphia and Washington proposed a race and their bid was accepted.

"The tracks looks splendid", stated the Whig, "and reflects credit upon its builder, Mr. Keaveny." In the final issue before the fair, the same paper noted that the Elkton, Oxford, and Newark bands would be on hand. There would be a dog show, a carriage exhibit under the grandstand, and six or eight steam engines. The Railroad Company reduced rates about one-half for visitors and exhibits.

The catalogues, available at The Historical Society, contain many more advertisements for out-of-town businesses than for local establishments. Most came from Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore. They cover items from Leef's Horse and Cattle Powders to windmills, head stones, and Seeley's hard rubber trusses.

The Whig gave extensive coverage to prize winners and to the results of trotting races. Local participants vied against entries from Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia. The attendance on the last day exceeded everyone's dreams, reaching an estimated 7,000 people.

The fair celebrated its fifth anniversary in 1884, a year that saw several changes. Telephone connection was made with the fair grounds in the farm produce exhibition building. The Whig noted: "The telephone office during the fair will probably be in charge of Mr. Richard Maxwell, a young gentleman thoroughly posted in telephony and telegraphy. The object of the company is to familiarize the public with its operations, and to this end every facility will be afforded visitors to examine the instruments and test their operations."

The Society enlarged the grounds, whitewashed the buildings, and contracted Levi O. Cameron, architect and builder, to add a new exhibition hall. The latter, Mitchell Memorial Hall, was the site of the Farmers' Sociable, the "grandest affair either before, during, or after the fair. Cecil, and adjoining counties can turn out some of the handsomest ladies in creation, and they will all be there." Tickets were available at Mitchell's and Frazer's Drug Stores, from John Partridge, Treasurer, and at the gate. Lights on loan from the PW & B Railroad provided the illumination as couples danced to Professor John B. Ritchie's Orchestra from Wilmington.

The Whig noted:

It was a very pretty sight indeed to look down the long, brightly-polished floors, where hundreds or more couples were whirling around and around the waltz. The handsomely dressed ladies and the gay chevaliers in the regulation suits of close-fitting black, making many of them look for all the world like sticks of black sealing wax, (only sealing wax can't dance), the gaily-painted and decorated building, the sweet strains of music, and all just illuminated sufficiently to render it pleasant to the eye, made up a scene well worth the price of a ticket to look upon.

This was the year that "gambling devices and humbug side shows" would be outlawed on the fair grounds. The Rising Sun Band played the first two days and the Elkton Cornet Band entertained on the last two. Two new features in 1884 were the chariot race and the lecture by Mr. Lake, the famous bee cultures, who exhibited his apiary in two tents.

Admission was 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children under 12. Season tickets for adults were $1.25 and 50 cents for children. Admission to the grandstand was 25 cents extra. A 25-cent "parking" fee was charged for a saddle horse, a one-horse carriage, or a two-horse carriage. There were prizes for horse, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, pigeons, pets, caged birds and sundries. The latter included incubators, models of hen houses, and water fountains. Trials of speed on the first day, October 7, 1884, comprised a wagon race ($40 first prize), colts foaled in 1882 ($25 first prize); two and three, half-mile heats, and horses with no better record than 2:45 ($125 first prize).

Diploma premiums were awarded for displays of such varied items as farm machinery, tinware, building stone, carriages, dentistry work, tailor work, saddles, bridles, iron fencing, school furniture, and preserved Cecil County fish. Dairy fixtures included refrigerator, ice cream freezer, and system of cheese-making in operation.

To engage the interest of school children and teachers, the Society offered prizes for the best map of the Delmarva Peninsula, the best collection of Cecil County Plants correctly labeled (not less than 200), the best freehand drawing by a pupil, and the best specimen of a pupil's pen manship.

The Household Department offered prizes for butter, cheese, bread, cakes, pies, and various preserves. Premiums were offered in needlework categories: zephyr work, silk and cotton embroidery, crochet, crewel, lace and such miscellaneous categories as painting on china, tile painting, and ready-made clothing.

In 1885 the Whig credited the fair with inspiring farmers to fertilize the soil, thus revitalizing the ground that up-to-that-point had been slowly losing its former richness from years of tillage.

By 1886, the County Ball was catered by a Wilmington company and a train from that city brought revelers in the evening and another left Elkton at 2:00 am to take them home.

Merchants recognized a good thing when they saw it: they offered their wares as premiums and got some free advertising for their trouble. Wannamaker & Brown, Philadelphia Clothiers, offered a $20 suit of clothes for the best oats; John T. Bennett & Co., Elkton, provided a hanging lamp for the best pumpkin custard pie.

Elkton caterer Giles served breakfast or supper for 30 cents and dinner for 40 cents. He hoped when people wanted oysters or fish they would visit his shop on North Street next to the Post Office.

By 1894 the fair featured balloon ascensions and parachute drops, brass and string bands, trotting dogs, and running and trotting horses; 16,000 attended, with 2,500 arriving by rail. Governor Frank Brown arrived in the company of other dignitaries.

But by the turn of the century, the heyday of the Agricultural Fair faded into twilight. The papers do not indicate the reason, but the Cecil County News ran the following announcement that is significant for what it does not say. The Executive Committee of the Cecil County Agricultural Society met on Wednesday last for the purpose of closing-up the affairs of the Society. A notice had been published directing all persons having claims against the Society to file them by October 30th, and the Stockholders to present their certificates for participation in the distribution. After paying all claims and discharging all obligations, there remained in the hands of the treasurer the sum of $929.39, which the Committee ordered to be distributed among the 602 shares of stock shown by the books of the Society to be extant, making a dividend of $1.45 per share.

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