Fair invites new residents to join in an old tradition

September 9, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Marni Walsh

The Shelburne District Fair welcomes area families to enjoy the Fair once again this year, with an invitation to the many new residents of Shelburne to join in the fun of this historic, rural tradition.

In the past, the Shelburne & District Fair has shared its colourful history with Free Press readers, and our staff hopes newcomers, learning about the event for the first time, will plan to attend this year’s 149th Fall Fair from September 16 through the 18th.

“On behalf of the Shelburne Fall Fair, the board of Directors, Committee members and the many volunteers who make this fair possible, we want to encourage you to come out and experience this great community event,” says Fair Board President Bruce Peterson, extending the invitation.

The Shelburne and District Fair was proudly established in 1867, making it older than Shelburne itself. The first fair for Shelburne, Amaranth, Melancthon, Mono and Mulmur took place as a one day event at Masonville, north of Shelburne in October 1868.

In the 1880s, it was moved to George Charters’ farm on the horse racing grounds of the Shelburne Turf Association, across from the railway station. An early snowfall soon after inspired organizers to move it to a spring fair.

By the mid-1880s, the Turf Association became the Shelburne Driving Club, which granted the fair use of the grounds in 1886-1887. That year, John Jelly, brother of Shelburne’s founding father William Jelly, built a grandstand for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The following year, 16 acres holding a ½ mile regulation race track were given to the Driving Club by Simon Jelly. Those grounds were situated on the present day fairgrounds found beside the Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex (CDDRC).

In the late 1880s, Shelburne Fair events included horse races and a highland dance competition; John Jelly’s mastodon skeleton was displayed in a tent; the Shelburne Citizens’ Band played, and fireworks displays filled the night sky.

In January of 1892, the Agricultural Society purchased the property from the Driving Club for $1,500 and in 1916 the horse stable, which is still in use today, was added to the property.

In the following year, 1917, the 50th Anniversary was lost amid the dark days of WWI with no celebrations. Large celebrations were held for the 60th anniversary of the Fair in 1927.

The Agricultural Hall was demolished in 1947, to make way for the building of a brand new arena.

At its 100th Anniversary in 1967, there was a big celebration, and currently, big plans are underway for 2017, when the Shelburne and District Fair will commemorate 150 years of proudly acknowledging and celebrating the fruits and labours of our fine rural and agricultural community.

In 2013, a portion of the Agricultural Society lands were sold to allow for the construction of Glenbrook Elementary School. The following year, upgrades made the Show Barn into a lovely Exhibit Hall and, in 2015, a new Cattle Pavilion was constructed and the Horse Barn was upgraded to become the Assembly Hall.

Fair Vice President Jason Yarwood said the renovations to the grounds were the organization’s “commitment to preserving the culture of agriculture in our community of Mulmur, Mono, Amaranth, Melancthon and the quickly changing town of Shelburne.”

Back in 1972, there was a six member Executive Board, 30 members on the Board of Associate Directors, and a 35 member Ladies’ Board of Associate Directors seeing over 200 entrants and a 90 page prize list.

In 2016, the Board includes a total of 17 members, all to be commended for continuing this important tradition, including: Bruce Peterson (President), Larry Braiden (VP), Jason Yarwood (2nd VP), Pauline Lennox (Treasurer), Sue Peterson (Secretary), Lindsay Wegener (Home Craft President), Patti Hossie, Murray Crawford, Dawn Van Kampen, Chris Wallace, Kimberly Evans, Nicole Smith, Amanda Peterson , Donna Allen, Althea Casamento, Cheryl Devlin-Blasioli, and Meghan Mills.

Volunteer Karren Wallace has been busy helping the fair with promotion.

The Shelburne and District Fair invites residents new and old to join in the experience and learn more about their rural community.

New members, volunteers and vendors are always needed and welcomed. Anyone interested may contact the Fair via email at shelburnefair@gmail.com. Volunteer hours at the fair provide a valuable experience for high school students looking to fill their required community hours before graduation.

Come to the Fair from September 16 to 18 at the Shelburne Agricultural Fair Grounds, located beside the arena.