PtEPOKTS FROil COUNTY SOCIETIES. 003 



FAIRS. 



The first agricultural organization attempted was in May. 1875, when a 

 stock company, known as the Muskegon County Agricultural and Driving 

 Park Association, was formed with a capital stock of 810,000. Tiie object of 

 the association, as set forth in the articles of incorporation, was to promote 

 agricultural, horticultural, pomological and mechanical arts and to improve 

 tlie breeding and development of the American horse and other useful domestic 

 animals. 



A considerable stock was taken, enough to secure suitable grounds, upon 

 which an excellent half-mile track was constructed with grand stand and 

 sheds, and the whole suitably inclosed. 



Two other horse fairs have been held with varying success, but no general 

 fair was attempted until tlie fall of 1878. In the spring of this year the 

 management of the association was placed in the liands of Charles Culver, a 

 large farmer, as the president, who had associated with him C. L. Whitnev as 

 general superintendent, S. H. Stevens, secretary, and F. Albets, treasurer, with 

 such division superintendents as seemed to be needed. 



Under the direction of the president and general superintendent a large 

 and well executed premium list was issued, offering ^2,355 in premiums, to com- 

 pete for which the counties of Oceana, Newaygo, Kent and Ottawa were 

 invited to join with Muskegon at a fair on the 10th to 13th of September, 

 at Muskegon. 



The "Western Union Fair" was first announced to the public by a small 

 circular on the first day of August, with only six weeks for preparation. 



A large force of men was at once put at work upon the grounds erecting 

 the necessary buildings and preparing for the fair. Lumber and other mate- 

 rial was soon collected and four exhibition halls, each 00x22 feet, were put up 

 with good frames and well shingled roofs, well sided with rough lumber, upon 

 which will be put dressed siding another year and painted. The halls are so 

 built that they can be easily lighted and extended to any length to meet the 

 needs of the future exhibitions, and an art hall 100x40 feet is contemplated, 

 to be placed at the head of the avenue passing all the others. 



A suitable building for secretary's, president's and superintendent's offices 

 was erected; also a ladies' cottage and a large number of cattle stalls and 

 pens for hogs and sheei?. The permanent buildiuiis cost the society about 

 $1,000, the material being mostly donated. 



The grounds comprise over thirty acres. One the west side is the track, 

 every foot of which can be seen by every one of the four hundred or more per- 

 sons seated on the grand stand. On the eastern portion of the grounds is a 

 beautiful second-growth oak grove of ten acres containing many large trees, 

 amongst which are located the exhibition buildings, while along the east and 

 north side are the sheds and stalls for stock. Good wells and a spring of purest 

 water give an abundance of this needed article. 



These grounds are situated about one and a-half miles southwest of tlie city 

 proper, but are easily reached by good wagon roads with cheaj) busses — also by 

 the Lake Shore railroad, which runs trains every two liours two and from the 

 grounds to tlie several prominent streets of the city ; and also by small steamers 

 from all parts of Muskegon Lake. 



THE EXHIBITION. 



Although the time of the fair was early, right in seeding, and but little 



