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DID
YOU KNOW
No interest in
fairs before the 1850's, no way to get produce to market, few railroads
and good roads.
In
1858, the Illinois State Fair was held in Centralia and Central City.
The first annual
fair in Marion County was held in 1855 in Salem in Tully Park.
After 1855, the fair was held in different places around the
county....Centralia, Central City, Kinmundy, Alma, Patoka and
Salem.
The fair was
cancelled in 1862 do to the 111th Illinois Volunteers training in the
park before leaving for the Civil War.
In 1887, the fair
was cancelled because of drought and clinch bugs eating the crops.
1896, William
Jennings Bryan was running for President, no fair was held.
In 1909, the Fair
Board gave the fairgrounds to the City of Salem to be used as a
park. After 1909, the fair was held in different places around the
county and was known by different names: County Fair, Farmers
Institute and Farmers and Teacher Institute.
In 1939, the fair
was held in Salem just west of the court house. The Garden Produce
and Handmade Articles exhibited in the Armory which is the Moose Club
Building now.
In 1940, the fair
was held in Bryan Park with the Garden Produce and Handmade articles
exhibited in the new Armory on College Street.
On December 5,
1940, Businessman Bob Hancock and a interested group of people
petitioned the County Board of Supervisors for the establishment of a
fairgrounds. 250 letters were sent out to farmers, businessmen,
4-H leaders and FFA leaders to back the effort. On March 13, 1940,
the Board of Supervisors voted to purchase the Salem Airport (Located at
current fairgrounds) and 20 adjoining acres for a permanent home for the
Marion County Fair for a total of 65 acres.
On April 14, 1941,
a group of businessmen and farmers met at the Marion County Court House
and organized the Marion County Agricultural Fair Association. The
first officers of the fair were: President - E.E.
Ervin Vice President - J.V.
Davis Secretary - C. Glen
Jones Treasurer - O.A. James
The first fair was held on August 19 - 23, 1941.
In 1949, the Fair
Board bought the fairgrounds from the county.
In 1987, Marion
County Fair Queen Lori Vaughn won the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen.
On April 19, 1996
the fairgrounds was hit by a Tornado destroying much of the fairgrounds,
horse barns, exhibit building, grandstand roof, fair office and
electrical systems. The board was able to put it back together and
opened the 1996 Fair on time.
Well,
you now know about the fairs history, thanks for attending the past
fairs, we look forward to seeing you at the 2008 Marion County Fair.
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