State

Page Eight THE STATE October 6, 1934 The State Fair of "The Good Old Days” NEXT week i* Fair Week. But what it dif- fcrence in llin Fair Weok of today and the Fair Week of forty years ago. In those days the State Fair was regarded as the setting for social activi¬ ties of an outstanding na¬ ture; when people went to Raleigh and spent an entire week participating in a round of theatre-parties, dances, and other func¬ tions which really made a side issue of the Fair itself. Those were the days of parades, of competitive military drill by state com¬ panies and by cadets from Bingham's and from Horner's; of balloon ascen¬ sions. of the tin-type tent, and of t In¬ come-back ball. Keen Anticipation People in Ilaleigh and throughout the whole of North Carolina looked forward to the State Fair for month* ahead, planning and saving for the event, and they talked about it for many weeks afterwards. It wasn’t the casual taken- for-granted affair of today, when visi¬ tors roach Raleigh after luncheon, stroll through the fair grounds in a couple of hours, and are back at home — a hun¬ dred mile* or more away— in time for the evening meal. In the old days, many out-of-town people, some of whom we knew only casually, would send a note saying that they were planning to spend Fair Week in Raleigh and for us to expect them the first of the week. Sometimes, they didn't even take the trouble to write; they’d just drop in and announce. “Well, hero wc are !” I ’ve seen every l>ed in my father’s house and several extra cots filled, not to mention pallets for the small children. Truly an example of Southern open house. The Big Parade A hie parade was the opening feature of the Fair. This parade was headed by a brass hand, followed by the Chief Marshal with his assistant marshals. Raleigh Fire Department, military companies from different towns of tlm state, and a long line of carriages con¬ taining the Governor, the guest-speaker, THOSE wore Iho days of balloon ascensions, and exciting social ac¬ tivities. and many other interest¬ ing anil entertaining features. Mrs. Grimes' description of tlie State Fair as it was two or three decades ago. will be appreciated by the Old-timers of today. Bf / ALICE DIGGER GRIMES ► »« the president and other member* of the North Carolina Agricultural Society, the mayor and many prominent men from all part* of the state. Old Con¬ federate soldier* were in the parade too. in goodly number*, and were cheered a* no other part of the parade wn* cheered. The most spectacular portion of the parade wn* the platoon of marshal*, often numbering forty or more, astride their prancing steeds, regalias blowing in the breeze. tin*el glistening in the sunlight. Every girl’s heart bent faster ns the marshal* rode hv. mnnv wonder¬ ing if one <»f those beautiful an she* would he placed upon her shoulder* at tlm Marshal*’ Ball, which was always the grand finale of a week of dance*. An Uncqualed Record At one of these Marshals' Balls of the nineties, pretty, fetching Jennie Peseud of Raleigh, now Mrs. W. Л. Withers, received three regalias, a yet unbroken record for stnto-wide, fair-time popu¬ larity. These dance* were held in the ball mom of the former Capital Club build¬ ing, in the dining room of the old Yar¬ brough Hotel, or in the broad expense of Stronach’s warehouse, lavishly deco¬ rated. Many of these dances were led by Henry Miller, a graceful, gay social¬ ite who afterward became a very digni¬ fied vice president of the Southern Railroad. Among the chief marshals of those days, ns their names come back to ine, were Col. Bonnehan Cameron, of Stag- ville; Mr. John L. Patterson, of Roa¬ noke Rapids; Mr, B. Frank Mehano. of Spray; Mr. William B. Grimes, of Raleigh: Mr. T,. Л. Carr, of Durham; Mr. James H. Holt, of Burlington; Mr. John C. Drewry, of Raleigh; Col. J. Bryan Grimes, of Pitt County; Mr. MeKissiek. of Asheville, and of more recent time, Col. Albert Cox of Raleigh. A Veritable Splurge The attending young blood* from different part* of the state a* well ns those of Raleigh, their pockets bulging with money gleaned throughout tin- year by most assidious saving for the one grand splurge of Fair Week, reveled in the nonchalant ordering of carriages, candies, flower*, and theatre tickets; ami the young girls giggled and excited¬ ly accepted this Fair Week lavishincnt. I'm afraid there is no such enthusiasm these days. There is so much social life throughout the year that Fair Week festivities will never register with the youth of today, ns they did with the eager youth of the early 'nineties. The parade was usually formed at the old Yarborough Hotel, going via Hillsboro Street to the fair grounds. The fair ground* wore situated opposite the grounds of the Agricultural and Me- chnnical College, now designated State College, a short distance beyond the city limits. As for transportation to the grounds, we had of course, no automobiles, but we had "street” cars, and a special spur of the Seaboard Railroad which ran from Hargett Street to the fairground* with excellent schedule. Also numerou* livery “hacks” and carriages: and tin- bicycle must not be forgotten nor the hiker, for many visitors walked to the grounds, the girls of Saint Mary’s among that number. Though not a* rapid as today, this transportation was satisfactory to us who knew none speedier. Remember Floral Hall? The main building at the old fair grounds was “Floral Hall,” a wooden building, three storied, with long one¬ storied wings on either side, in which the principal exhibits were displayed. Outside shod* took care of machinery and stock. Today the fair buildings, most of them of conerote, represent the expendi¬ ture of many thousands of dollar*. A commodious grandstand, excellent race track and extensive accommodations fur stock of nil kinds are also in evidence. The grounds, too, are much larger, br¬ ier graded and better tended, and the amusements have increased tremendous¬ ly bth in number and interest. No account of the State Fair, how¬ ever sketchy, would b complete with¬ out mention of some of the men who made it possible. The old North Carolina Fair wn* chartered before the Civil War. Opera¬ tions were suspended during the war but ( Continued on page nineteen)