History of the county fair

Start with a corn dog and an ice-cold cherry snow cone. Add in marching bands, a blue-ribbon chocolate cake and a whirling, twirling carnival ride, and you've got the makings for opening day at the Hancock County Fair. In addition to all of the present day festivities, there's a lot of history attached to the annual event, according to Ginny Geaman. A retired minister who volunteers with the Hancock Historical Museum's Speakers Bureau, Geaman recently presented "A Look Back at Hancock County Fairs" at 50 North. "We always say, 'It's been around a long time, providing fun and entertainment for all generations since the mid-1880s,'" Geaman said. Throughout the years, the fair has been held at six different locations around Findlay, she said. The first fair was organized and held Oct. 15-16, 1852, on rented ground at the west end of Fair Street. "The only remains of the fair is the name of the street," she said. The fair was held there until 1858, when an 8-acre parcel of land was purchased for $800 from J.H. Wilson at the northeast corner of South Blanchard Street and Blanchard Avenue. Geaman noted the area had also been used for training volunteers during the Civil War and was called Camp Neibling in honor of Col. James M. Neibling. She said larger attendance and more interest in the event necessitated another move in 1868 to 29 acres purchased from Timothy Russell and John Powell for $3,000. This site, Geaman said, was located a mile south of the Hancock County Courthouse on the west side of South Main Street, in what is now the West McPherson Avenue area. "This was one of the most beautiful fair sites in the state at the time, and it was a financial success," Geaman said. But when an offer of $26,600 was received for the land, fair organizers couldn't refuse and sold the grounds in 1890. The fair was moved a fourth time the following year. Geaman said 70 acres lying from South Main Street to Western Avenue was purchased for $10,500 from J.G. Hull. A fair was held at this location until financial problems caused its closing in 1916. "Many years later, as new homes were being built in this area, owners could tell where the race track had been because things didn't grow as well there," she said. In the late 1910s, the Findlay Driving Park was established by private individuals on 67 acres between the Riverside Park reservoir, U.S. 224, McManness Avenue and Woodworth Drive. The park included a grandstand and race track. The Hancock County Fair Co. took over the location and added more buildings with red clay tile roofs. Fairs were held there from 1919 until 1923. Because of a $40,000 debt, the fair did not open in 1924, Geaman said. Following a 15-year lapse, the county fair returned at its current location — 1107 E. Sandusky St. — on Oct. 13-15, 1938. The historic ground had previously been owned by early Findlay physician Dr. Charles Oesterlen in 1884 when the first gas well in Hancock County was drilled. The well site was located behind what is now the Merchants' Building. Geaman said Tell Taylor, a native of the Vanlue area and notable singer and song composer, bought 117 acres of land in the area for $7,360 from John C. and Lydia Tritch. The ground was to be a home to his parents. In 1929, Taylor laid out a golf course on the farm called the "Old Millstream Links," the name taken from his famous song, "Down By the Old Millstream." Taylor deeded part of the ground to Findlay College for $7,592 in 1934. The following year, a colt and livestock show was held at the R.C. Firestine farm on Sixth Street. The show was moved to the fairgrounds in 1936 and 1937, she said. "On March 26, 1938, the Hancock County Agricultural Society reorganized," Geaman said. "In 1942, during World War II, there was no fair held." She noted that Forest G. Hall, who was an agricultural agent for Hancock County from 1938-55, helped reestablish the fair. "No fair had been held since 1923, and Hall was part of a team that brought the fair back into existence," Geaman said. "He was on the official board until his retirement in 1955. However, he still continued to help the fair until his retirement." A Junior Fair was held in 1943. During her presentation, Geaman read a note written by Hall that year: "War has caused changes in many plans. The Hancock County Agricultural Society used its best judgment in discontinuing the Fair of 1942 and again exercised that judgment by granting a Junior Fair in 1943. Realizing that conservation of labor, time, tires, and gasoline was necessary and that winning the war was our first duty, the Board took this necessary action. They ask for your continued cooperation; then work for a speedy victory and then hope that when the war is over, the public will rally to the revival of the Fair program. We invite you to attend our Junior Fair on Sept. 10-11 and hope that we have something very worthwhile to show you." The Forest G. Hall Fairgrounds Memorial Park located near the senior fair office was dedicated in 1977.