| From
our 2004 Premium Book:
OSSIPEE VALLEY FAIR - 25TH
YEAR!
"Ossipee Valley Fair" opened its gates for the first time
on July 10, 1980. That year, it was popularly referred to as the
"miracle fair." Our land was purchased in the spring of
1980, touching off a remarkable mad dash to clear brush, lay out
roadways and erect enough buildings to form the nucleus of a fairground.
Most years we still have that "mad dash" feeling as fair
time approaches - so little time - so much to do! Nevertheless,
it's important to pause once in a while to reflect on how we got
"hee-ah from they-ah."
On May 7, 1977, a group of 24 local citizens signed a charter organizing
the Ossipee Valley Agricultural Society (OVAS). They had been inspired
by the revival of the Cornish Fair for the town's bicentennial in
1976. The purpose of the Society is "to instruct the people
of the Ossipee River Valley in the State of Maine on agricultural
matters and other concerns of rural living by holding public fairs,
demonstrations, and exhibitions of livestock, poultry, farm produce,
rural arts and crafts, and rural industry." OVAS continued
to operate the Cornish Fair on its historic fairgrounds through
1979. As the need for space increased, an alternative site was acquired
on nearby South Hiram Road. That first fair on the new land was
a very dusty affair - and we still grow rocks as well as we grow
anything else - but we've observed marked and steady improvement
on these grounds in the subsequent 25 years!
More to the point, Ossipee Valley Fair continues to be a place where
the rich traditions of farming and rural life are celebrated and
honored. For four days each July, the fair is a non-stop beehive
of activity - 4-H events, horse and cattle pulling, musical entertainment,
an exciting and colorful midway, a myriad of tasty foods, games,
goats, sheep, rabbits, cows, chickens, pigs, steers and oxen - even
4X4 racing for the gear-heads among us! Most of all, an agricultural
fair is "good folks." We are an all-volunteer endeavor
- and we've been blessed with great volunteers! As we salute the
spirit and foresight of the Society's Charter Members, we also acknowledge
the creativity and energy of today's members - carrying us forward
to bigger and better things at "The Friendliest of Fairs"
- Ossipee Valley Fair.
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The following passage appeared in the 1979 Premium Book of the Cornish
Agricultural Fair presented by the Ossipee Valley Agricultural Society:
HISTORY OF THE FAIRGROUNDS
In 1876, the first fair association was formed in Cornish to promote
and display the produce and trade goods of the area. One of the
most influential founders of the association was B. Franklin Pease,
great grandfather of Royden and Rebecca Pease and Helen Bradeen.
He also founded the Grange in Cornish the year before.
Little is recorded of the early years of the Ossipee Valley Union
Agricultural Assoc., but its success by the turn of the century
saw the complete rebuilding of the fairgrounds and racetrack to
allow for growing expansion. It was during the rebuilding that the
grandstand was erected and an innovative concrete subway was constructed
underneath the racetrack for the safety and convenience of the fair
patrons. It was not until 65-70 years later that major tracks adopted
a similar safety feature.
The racetrack was known as one of the finest driving parks in New
England harness racing due to its excellent surface and professionally
engineered banked turns, which were almost unheard of in Maine.
Over the years, many nationally famous horses and drivers raced
at the Cornish race track.
By 1914, renamed the Cornish Agricultural Assoc., the fair became
one of the state's most important annual events. On the second day
of the fair in 1914, over 8,000 people were admitted to the grounds
with almost 500 cars parked in the infield of the racetrack. For
the next 35 years, the fair prospered and grew. The Maine Central
Railroad made special arrangements for the transportation of livestock
and exhibits as well as people coming to attend the fair. After
the Second World War, most of the active members of the association
had died, and due to lack of supportive interest, the death of the
Cornish Annual Fair was nearing. Since 1952, fairground activity
was limited to only the training of horses. The old judges' stand
was repaired and is now one of the last surviving examples of its
type of construction still standing.
Under the direction of the town bicentennial committee during 1976,
the Cornish Fair was revived and held at the fairgrounds by permission
of the owners, the DiBiaso family. Local enthusiasm grew so strong
that a non-profit organization, the Ossipee Valley Agricultural
Society (OVAS) was formed to continue the Cornish Fair as a community
annual event. It is of interest to note that the Cornish Fair is
run totally by non-paid volunteer workers!
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An excerpt from the first premium book bearing the name "Ossipee
Valley Fair" - 1980:
1980 AND THE MIRACLE FAIR
This year's edition of the "Ossipee Valley Fair" lately
"The Cornish Fair," has occasionally been referred to
in jest as "The Miracle Fair," during those half serious
moments when we knew it was impossible to have a fair this year.
The acquisition of the new grounds, the development of these grounds,
and the other "normal" preparations that go into getting
our act together to open on time are not small accomplishments.
They do add up to a miracle. It all happened because of the hard
work and money of the people listed below. Without their help there
would have been no fairgrounds, no fair, and this book would never
have gone to press. While recognizing their contributions in this
small way, we look forward to doing more, better, next year, with
the involvement of more of the fine people from our extensive community.
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