An article from the Hartford Courant – May 26, 1999 written by Peter Marteka

 Fair Entertained Residents From 1919 to 1989 

Picture a cool autumn evening with a light fog bank rolling off the Connecticut River.  Sounds of children laughing echo across the tall grass of Wangunk Meadows.  The bright lights from the Ferris wheel and the merry-go-round cast an eerie glow under the light of a full moon. 

That was the Portland Agricultural Fair over much of the 1970’s and 1980’s.  Each September, from 1950 to 1989, various fairgrounds across town have hosted everything from first-place cows to mom’s best apple pies to Jimmy’s class project to the knock-over-three-bottles and win-a-stuffed-bear games.  But the roots of the town’s fair go back even further the 1950. 

Beginning in 1919, the Portland Hemlock Grange Fair Association ran what was known as the “largest livestock exhibit in Middlesex County.”  The one-day fair expanded to two days in 1925. 

“Six one-day fairs we have held, each bigger and better in premiums offered and services rendered” reads the 7^th annual Portland Hemlock Grange Fair Association’s 1925 booklet. 

“We have reached a point where we feel that we cannot crowd more into one short day. So with added effort and new enthusiasm, we will, in this our seventh annual fair carry on two days and a night.  Thereby offering to all a greater incentive to exhibit and a wider opportunity for entertainment and instruction.” 

The fairgrounds have been located behind the Portland Middle School, the Jarvis field near the intersection of Route 66 and Route 17, behind Kelsey’s garage and most recently at the Wangunk Meadows. 

“We would go all through high school,” said resident Jack Dillon.  “It’s where you met your buddies and it was always the first weekend after school started.  It was an enjoyable time.” 

The fair had changed little over the years. The fair always carried on an agricultural theme even though the town was moving away from its farming roots. 

The 1925 fair included events like horseshow pitching, barnyard golf, the “famous Hemlock dinner” and of course, the midway attractions.  There were drawing contests (with bulls, not pens and pencils), baby shows and magic shows. 

There were also agricultural fair standbys of the oxen and steers tent, the cookery and domestic science tent where the best cake, cookies and doughnuts and “best one-half pound box of homemade candy” were judged. 

Parking was free and admission to the fair was 50 cents during the day and 25 cents at night.  Children under 12 were admitted for free.

 

Horse Pulls - 1950                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                            

 The Portland Fair – circa 1970

 

History of the Portland Fair (2000-Present)

The Fair was not held from 1990 to 1999.  Then in 1999 a group of local citizens headed by Don Bascom organized the Portland Agricultural Fair Association.  In the long history of the Fair this was in itself a first for the Portland Fair since at no time was there every a specific non-profit Association formed solely for the purpose of organizing and putting on the Fair.

 

Because of grounds had not been used for nearly a decade major electrical and water upgrading were required in order to bring the grounds up to functional standards.  The pull ring, used for tractors, horses and oxen need to be re-constructed since it had been disassembled during the Fair’s 9-year layoff.  In doing so the Fair was able to secure used telephone polls that were being replaced around Portland.  After several improvements to the Fair grounds “the tradition continued” as the Portland Agricultural Fair restarted on October 13^th, 2000.  Helping the Fair back to Portland was musical act “The Marshall Tucker Band” whom played to nearly 6,000 people on the last day of the Fair.

 

Of the many growing pains suffered, the Fair had a large debt due mostly to the improvement of the grounds. The Fair would also annually suffer from something no one had control over…Rain.  In fact in 2002 it rained the entire weekend of the Fair.  So much that the Fair actually opened on the following Monday, Columbus Day. 

 

Although the rain at times flooded the Fair grounds it did not dampen the spirit of its organizers, vendors and patrons.  Many of premium winners, performers and vendors at the Fair that year returned money to help the Fair deal with its financial loss from the rain.  Because of their generosity the Fair in subsequent years was able to gradually eliminate the debt.   It was that dedication that allowed the Fair to continue on and in 2004 the Fair had it largest crowds and was recognized as a Major Fair by the Association of Connecticut Fair.