EARLY HISTORY OF STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 385 



The Legislature also passed an act in aid of the society, appropriating four 

 hundred dollars, to be paid upon the receipt of an affidavit of the treasurer 

 that the society had raised a like sum by subscriptions, or fees for membership. 

 This act was approved March 31st, 1849. 



This is the history of the organization of the Michigan State Agricultural 

 Society. 



THE FIRST MEETIlS'G OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 



was held in Detroit on the 22d of May, 1849, at 10 o'clock A. M., in a building 

 that stood where the city hall now stands. After the transaction of some busi- 

 ness, the committee adjourned to meet at 7^ o'clock P. M. 



In the evening there were present the president, Messrs. Dart, Gibbons, 

 Redfield, Thomas, Hubbard, and Holmes. A motion was made that a fair be 

 held in September. Upon this question there was a long discnssion. The 

 trouble was that the society had not the means requisite for preparing suitable 

 grounds for the exhibition, or to pay premiums. The appropriation by the 

 Legislature was contingent upon raising a like sum by the society. 



I told the executive committee that if they would decide to hold a Aiir, make 

 out a premium list, and appropriate one thousand dollars for the payment of 

 premiums, I would see that the money was raised. Thecommittfe then passed 

 the following resolutions : 



Resolved, That tbe society's first annual fair be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs- 

 day, the 25th, 26th, and 27th of September, 1849. 



Resolved, That tbe committee appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars, to be awarded 

 at the fair to be held on the 25th, 26th, and 27th of September. 



Resolved, That the society's fair for 1849 be held in the city of Detroit, provided the com- 

 mittee receive sufficient assurance that the local expenses of said fair will be paid by the 

 citizens of Detroit. If not, then at such place on the line of the Michigan Central Railroad 

 as will raise a sum sufficient to defray said expenses, not to exceed five hundred dollars. 



The premium list was prepared and other arrangements made for a fair. 

 The committee then adjourned. 



THE FIRST FAIR, SEPTEMBER, 1S49. 



This was a bold move, — this asking for $500 to fit up the show grounds, and 

 without having funds in the treasury appropriating 11,000 for premiums. It 

 was the first effort of the society to make a show, and we did not know how it 

 would be sustained. We went to work and raised from the people of Detroit 

 the sum of $523. We were then sure of the $400 appropriated by the 

 State. We thought this was a marvelous good beginning, and so it was, 

 for our new society and our young State. The fair was held on a small 

 piece of ground, measuring 370 feet on Woodward avenue and running back 

 800 feet. This answered our purpose, but it was well filled. It is now covered 

 with stores and dwellings. There was on the ground a small hexagonal build- 

 ing called "Floral Temple." At the close of the fair the lumber was sold at 

 auction, and this "Floral Temple" Avas bought by a gentleman in Detroit who 

 moved it to his garden, where it has stood from that time to the present. 



The exhibition of stock was not large, but it was pretty good. Every exhibi- 

 tor thought he had the best on exhibition, if not the best that could be pro- 

 cured. Mr, Ira Phillips of Armada, Macomb county, exhibited the best Dur- 

 ham bull two years old and over, and was awarded the first premium of $10.00. 

 Mr. Phillips told me that when he bought this animal and paid what was then 

 considered an exorbitant price, his neighbors laughed at him, and some of 

 them thought he ought to have a guardian ; but this fair operated as an eye- 



51 



