The Montgomery County Fairgrounds

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The Montgomery County Fairgrounds

“When people arrived in the morning on the 17th there was a display of horses, cattle and farm products” (Drury 807). “The first Montgomery County Agricultural Fair was held in Dayton at Swaynie’s Hotel on East First Street October 17th and 18th, 1839” (Drury 807). 1853, the state fair was held on Washington Street, the same year the county fair was held there (Drury 807) then in 1874, “the Southern Ohio Fair Association began having fairs on the Montgomery County Fairgrounds for fifteen years” (Drury 808). This set the stepping stone for many fairs in the years in counting. When individuals see the Montgomery County Fairgrounds today, it is seen as just being a place where random fairs or talent shows are held at. Not knowing its history, one could be right. Much has changed on the Montgomery County Fairgrounds; from its architecture to the people that now visit it.

With the Southern Ohio Fair Association taking over the fairgrounds in 1874, the grounds were divided up into nine departments: Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Agricultural, Mechanics, Textile, Farm, Speed, and Grounds. When hearing this information, one would look at the fairgrounds present day and be a little confused. Back in the 1800’s the way to have fun was to race, sell, and buy horses. “The Southern Ohio Fair Association built the Exhibition Hall and a Machinery Hall. The track was enlarged and other improvements were made” (Drury 808). The Exhibition Hall became the focal point of the fairgrounds, and still is today.

The Exhibition Hall built by Stephen Kemp, is the oldest and most unique hall on the fairgrounds; it was the first hall to be built (Wynn). Only used “from (1850-1860), the innovation octagon style was used for hou...

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...y County Fairgrounds; from its architecture to the people that now visit it.

Works Cited

A Positive Approach to Guidelines. 2nd ed. City of Dayton Department of Planning, May 1990. Print.

Drury, Augustus. History of the City of Dayton. V.1, Montgomery County Agricultural Society.

“History” Montgomery County Fair. n.p., n.d. web. 13 Mar 2012. http://montcofair.com/History.html.

Southern Ohio Fair Association. Annual Southern Ohio Fair at Dayton, Ohio. Dayton: United Brethen Publishing House, 1878. Print.

Whalen, James. “Historical Perspective on the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.” Dayton Area Sports History. n.p., n.d. web. 13 Mar 2012. http://www.daytonareasportshistory.org/venues/DaytonAreaSportsHistoryVenuesMontgomeryCountyFairgrounds.html.

Wynn, Kelli. “National Register Listing Urged for Fairgrounds Building.” Dayton Daily News 15 Sep 2003. Print.

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