1914-09-16kak

“With the largest entry in its history, Hamilton fair will open at the Jockey club grounds today”

Hamilton Spectator.  September 16, 914

In fall of 1860, the Prince of Wales, as part of his official duties during his visit to Hamilton visited the fall fair taking place on the large property in west end to be known as the Crystal palace grounds.

The open area would be the site of fall fairs for over thirty years until it was put up for sale. After a by-law approved by Hamilton electors, it was decided that the city would buy the property rather than see it subdivided into residential lots. The area would be renamed Victoria park, and the Crystal palace itself would be torn down.

As there was still a desire to have a fall fair in Hamilton, the location where it was subsequently held were the grounds of the Hamilton Jockey club.

In mid-September, 1914, the fall fair took place even though, barely a month before, Canada had entered the war in Europe.

As described in the Spectator of September 16, 1914, it took a lot of work to put on the Hamilton fair, making its cancellation not an option:

“A large force of men has been engaged during the last few days getting things in shape, and the exhibits will all be in position for the judges to begin their duties.”¹

¹ “Hamilton Fair : Ring Attraction Promise to Be Exceptionally Interesting.”

Hamilton Spectator.   September 16, 1914.

The fair was scheduled to be run over the course of three days, September 18, 19 and 20, 1914.

The first day of the Hamilton fair in 1914 was called ‘Farmers’ day’ the highlights of which were described as follows :

“In addition to the judging of stallions, ladies’ saddle and harness horses, and best single turnouts owned by farmers’ sons, the following track events will be pulled off :

“Trotters, hitched to roundabouts, open only to members of the Hamilton Driving club; farmers’ trot or pace, 1 ½ miles, open to farmers or farmers’ sons actually engaged upon farm; best performance over six jumps; mounted sunbonnet race; running race, 1 ½ miles, and heavyweight hunters, four years old and under, over six jumps.”¹

The next day, Friday September 19, 1914, had the following events scheduled:

“The judging of heavy draught agricultural and general purpose horses will take place, also judging of single pony outfits, pony 11 ½ hands and over; single delivery outfits, two classes; pony outfits under 11 ½ hands; Boy Scouts’ exhibition of drilling, signaling etc., the best all-around troop to receive a challenge cup donated by Mrs. W. E. Sanford, also cash prizes for best Scout band, best exhibition of ambulance and first aid work, and best signaling patrol.

“The track events Friday afternoon will 9include 3.22 class trot or pace, 1 ½ miles; ladies’ saddle horses to be ridden by ladies; pacers hitched to runabout, open only to members of the Hamilton Driving club; trot or pace, 2.20 class; lightweight hunters, over six jumps; running race, 1 ½ miles and mounted potato race.”¹

The final day of the Hamilton fair, Saturday September 20, 1914 was titled “Citizens’ day” and the following horse events were scheduled:

“The judging of carriage roadsters and saddle horses and saddle horses will take place embracing the following events : Champion saddle horse; best single turnout; best lady driver; open running race, 1 ½ miles; night dress race; high stepping horses, 15 hands or over; best three-year old , suitable to make saddle horse or hunter; free-for-all, 1 ½ miles, in three heats; mounted obstacle race; hunters, carrying 175 pounds over six jumps; running race, halfbreds; gentlemen’s best saddle and harness horse; best pair saddle horses, ridden by lady and gentleman.

“The program on Saturday will close with a parade of all the running horses, ponies and cattle.”¹

Each of the three days of the Hamilton Fair in 1914 featured the following during the morning hours:

“The judging of cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, geese, ducks, turkeys, field roots, garden vegetables, fruit, plants and flowers, dairy produce, domestic manufactures and women’s work, fine arts and china decorating will take place.”¹

The Spectator sent a reporter to the fair and the report filed for the September 18, 1914 edition of the newspaper read as follows, in part:

“The annual fall fair of the Hamilton and Wentworth Fair association got underway at the Hamilton Jockey club yesterday, when the judges completed the task of placing the awards on the various exhibits, while good program of horse racing, including trotting, running and jumping was run off in front of the grandstand.

“A large crowd took in the fair and showed keen interest in the program of sports, some keen racing and good jumping completing a most interesting program.

“The betting ring and the large quarters under the grandstand are the buildings utilized for the various exhibits and these have been nicely arranged.

“The poultry, possibly the best of all the exhibits from the standpoint of numbers and of general interest, is to be found under the grandstand, along with the vegetable exhibition, which has been well-looked after with a good number of entries.

“In the large building, to the east of the grandstand which is used as a betting ring when the H. J. C. meetings are held, is to be found the exhibits of dairy products, plants and flowers, fruits, domestic manufacturers’ and ladies’ work, fine arts, etc. The display of ladies’ work is large and of exceedingly fine nature, while the various lines of fruits are well-represented.

“In this building are also to be found a number of exhibits by local business concerns, the most interesting booth being that containing the Dominion government exhibit. The officials representing the agricultural department in the local district are in charge, and they were quite busy during the day.”²

²  “Crowds Flock to Fair Grounds : Keen Racing and Good Jumping Featured Program : Big Poultry Display Is Attracting Much Interest : Dominion Government and Local Firms Have Exhibits”

Hamilton Spectator.     September 18, 1914

After the third and final day of the Hamilton fair, Saturday September 20, 1914, the directors totaled up attendance and receipts and were quite satisfied with both results.

However, the 1914 Hamilton Fair would be put in abeyance because of the war conditions which dominated during the following three years. After the war, fall fairs would again become popular autumn affairs but not inside the city boundaries. Each township of Wentworth county would have their own fall fairs, but the times of city and farm interests gathering inside Hamilton would be a thing of the past.