The Kinmount Fair

By Guy Scott

Originally published in 1987

In the last quarter of the nineteenth century, every little community in Ontario held an agricultural fair. The vast majority of Ontarians lived on farms or were closely tied to the agrarian sector. The fall agricultural fair was an old English tradition brought to Canada by the English settlers. Needless to say, it flourished in the colonies. The fairs had several objectives. It was a chance for the farmers to show their livestock and buy or sell farm animals. Accomplishments and advancements in agriculture could also be exhibited for other farmers to see. New technology was displayed. Skills such as sewing, weaving, baking, etc. were displayed in the form of competitions. Likewise, superior strains of livestock could be seen and judged competitively. And finally, the fair was a social outing and community festival where the locals could get together for a good time. Like today, fairs one hundred years ago were sponsored by an agricultural society. The objective of these societies, in true English tradition, was the improvement of agriculture. By rewarding better quality livestock and crop strains through competitions, it was hoped local farmers would improve their breeds and strains. After all, seeing superior quality animals should inspire others to copy. After Church groups and the Orange Lodge, agricultural societies were the most important local organizations.

Agricultural societies sprouted all over the area soon after settlement. They were often organized along township lines. At one time, there were many more fall fairs in this area than there are today. Minden, Haliburton, Norland, Coboconk, Bolsover, Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon, Omemee, Woodville, Oakwood, Lindsay, Gooderham and Wilberforce all had fall agricultural fairs. The Somerville Agricultural Society was founded in 1872. Originally, this society was to cover all the communities in Somerville Township, including Kinmount. The fall fair sponsored by this society was to be held in alternate years in Coboconk and Kinmount. This agreement never worked. Coboconk decided to make itself the fair’s permanent home. In a day when transportation was difficult, few Kinmount residents could travel to Coboconk to attend the fair. Angry at the termination of the alternating agreement, Kinmount residents met in 1879 to form their own agricultural society. The first fall fair was held in Kinmount on October 14, 1879. Henry Graham was the first President, Fred Train the Secretary and William Macdonald, John Dudman, Arthur Martin, Thomas McGahey, John Argue, and Charles Coben the directors.

The first fall fairs were held on the site of the present ‘new’ cemetery. The inside exhibits were displayed in the hall over Henry Graham’s store. There were 200 entries in all and some of the prize winners were:

Carriage Horses: W. Brunker, J. Ritchie

General Purpose Horses: John Gibson, John Argue

Colts: James Gavigan, James Ritchie

Pair Oxen: Arthur Martin, Thomas Oswald

Berkshire Boar: William Macdonald

Sheep: Thomas Howie

Geese: Paul Crego

Ducks: William Macdonald, William Brunker

Turkeys: W. Gilmour

Chickens: Carl Eveline, Paul Crego

Potatoes (early rose) William Macdonald, Arthur Martin, Dan Reid, Henry Ogglestone, John Long, Fred Dettman

Carrots: Henry Graham, Ed Allen, Thomas Howie

Beets: Henry Ogglestone, Henry Wells, Thomas Howie

Cabbages: C. Eveline, Fred Dettman, John Long

Pumpkins: Thomas Oswald

Citrons: Andrew Martin

Tomatoes: Arthur Martin

Onions: Henry Ogglestone

Corn: Gerard Crego

Fall Wheat: Thomas Howie

Spring Wheat: Thomas Howie

Oats: Charlie Coben

White Beans: Robert Oswald

Peas: Thomas Cooper

Timothy Seed: Arthur Martin

Maple Syrup: John Argue

Butter: Mrs. Beckett, Mrs. Sullivan

Bread: Mrs. A. Martin

Patched Quilt: Mrs. Fred Dettman

Five Yards Cloth: Thomas Morgan

Five Yards Flannel: C. Eveline

One Pound Stocking Yarn: Mrs. Fred Dettman

Woollen Socks Mrs. Robert Oswald

Woollen Mitts: Mrs. Dan Reid

Braiding: Miss Graham

Rag Mat: Miss Gilmour

Berlin Wool Work: Miss Graham

Fancy Knitting: Mrs. C. Coben

Beadwork: Mrs. John Argue

Sampler Work: Mrs. Paul Crego

Embroidery: Mrs. Paul Crego

Crochet: Miss Graham

From its first effort the Kinmount Fair expanded and grew. Residents from all four townships patronized the fair. Soon all the local farmers were bringing in their best produce to proudly display at the fair. A list of new exhibitors five years later included the following: W. Davis, Richard Mansfield, John Dovey, Henry Coben, Levi Carl, William Dunbar, E. Eveline, James Connors, John Barr, John Hughes, George Train, Gilbert Scott, Thomas English, William Morrison, David Galloway, Charles Wellstood, Robert Cottingham, Albert Hopkins and James Watson. The fair attracted all the prominent citizens as exhibitors. About the turn of the century, the Somerville Fair at Coboconk began to die out.

By 1900 the Fair had outgrown its quarters. Led by Fred Dettman, the directors purchased Lot 43, concession A Galway, the present fair grounds. Alex Moore loaned the Society the money to buy the grounds. The lot was in disorderly shape, and the directors were forced to borrow another $700 from Bob Oswald (labelled the richest man in town) to log and stump the lot.

The new fair grounds allowed for more room. The first priority was (you guessed it!) a race track. Now the locals could race in style! Early photographs also reveal a grandstand and merry-go-round. Around the turn of the century, Kinmount Fair was held in the first week of October, after the harvesting was completed. The fair was a one-day affair. Money was raised by government grants, donations and of course gate receipts. Admission to the fair was 15 cents in the early 1900s. The 1918 account book reveals the following expenses: Military band from Toronto $18 + train fares $17.85, sports prizes $15.80, printing $35.41, insurance $13.13 and prize money $149.00. A baseball game between the local nine and a visiting team was a highlight for many Fairs. The 1919 edition was a banner year for it marked the first appearance of an aeroplane in town. Charlie Doherty journeyed to Toronto and negotiated with the Colley Aeroplane Company to have a plane land in the Grounds for the costly sum of $100. He spent five days on this mission and charged the society $20.55 for expenses. Needless to say, the aeroplane attracted a larger than usual crowd for this ‘first.’

For many years, the chief entertainments at the fair were the horse races, a local band and the sports events. Local farmers displayed their livestock and crops, but with the later decline in agriculture, the field crop competitions also declined. Ladies’ crafts and produce were all shown in a hall under the grandstand. Various booths and concessions sold sundry items and of course there was that mechanical marvel, the merry-go-round. The decline of the agricultural population in the 1930s caused all fall fairs to suffer. Many fairs were discontinued during the Great Depression, but thanks to a few stalwart supporters, Kinmount Fair managed to survive. Despite the tough times, the Kinmount Fair continued to make improvements to the grounds. For a couple of years, bad weather meant the fair lost money and failed to meet its bills. Concerned citizens rallied to its support and raised funds to cover its debts. On one occasion, the secretary was given a quilt in lieu of a year’s salary.

In the late 1950s, a new and aggressive group of directors came to the fore in the Galway and Somerville Agricultural Society. Kinmount Fair began to change, expand and build itself. Massive improvements were made to the fair grounds. New buildings were constructed and top entertainment booked. While some fairs folded or languished, Kinmount Fair surged ahead. The directors decided one of the greatest advantages of the Kinmount Fair was the stunning natural beauty of the grounds itself, and spent considerable sums on landscaping and beautifying. The rugged beauty of the grounds with its hills, gullies and ancient pine trees seemed to typify the local landscape and its history.

In later years, the Kinmount Fair has brought in top-notch entertainers. The following is a list of performers who have appeared at Kinmount Fair:

1972: Tommy Hunter Show

1973: Tommy Hunter Show

1974: Little Jimmy Dickens

1975: Hank Snow

1976: Marg Osborne

1977: Carol Baker

1978: Del Reeves

1979: The Good Brothers

1980: Peggy Sue and Sonny Wright

1981: Eddie Eastman

1982: Johnny Burke and Eastwind

1983: Family Brown

1984: Kalita Haverland

1985: Marie Bottrell

1986: Mike O’Reilly and Cody

The 1972 Kinmount Fair received national exposure when the CBC televised the Tommy Hunter Show from the fair. It was the 100^th anniversary of the founding of the Somerville Agricultural Society. Since that breakthrough the Kinmount Fair has grown until today it stands among the top twenty fairs in Ontario (1987).

The following is a partial list of presidents and secretaries. Many of the names from before 1920 have been lost:

Presidents:

Henry Graham

Fred Dettman

Thomas Clark

Neil Wilson

Joseph Byrne

David McNamara

Leon Wright

Ike Reeds

Austin Henderson

Maurice Watson

Bruce Dettman

Monty Robson

Bill Scott

Marshall Dudman

Secretaries:

Fred Train

George Rowlinson

Archie Williamson

Austin Jackson

Ivy Gilmour

Bill Scott

Guy Scott

Over the years, the characters and composition of the Kinmount Fair may have changed, but not its purpose. It is still designed to be an agricultural fair, and the promotion of rural life remains its major goal. In later years, the fair has become a sort of melting pot between urban and rural values. For many, it is a time to go back to their roots; to the simple country life their ancestors once enjoyed. It has become a community festival and a celebration of the heritage both past and present. For one weekend every year, the Kinmount Fair keeps touch with its roots.