147 



The directors offer annually $200 in premiums for the pro- 

 duction and best display of Fruit, Vegetables and Articles of 

 Ipswich Manufactures. 



Our Fair is generally held two evenings, on the first of 

 which the aiinual address is delivered by some friend of the 

 Association ; the second evening the awards are announced, 

 which occupies a good portion of the evening. 



It is intended to make the Fair of next year the best of all. 

 Quite an interest is manifested by farmers and citizens gener- 

 ally in producing Fruits, &c., that will bear off the first 

 premium. 



I have very briefl}^ given you some of the leading features of 

 our Association, hoping you will excuse its incompleteness. 



Mr. Albert Berry, President, has sent me the following 

 history of the North Andover Farmers' and Mechanics' As- 

 sociation : — 



The North Andover Farmers' and Mechanics' Club origin- 

 ated in an invitation, issued by James T. Johnson, in 

 February, 1878, to all those who were in favor of forming a 

 Farmers' Club in North Andover to meet at the house of Col. 

 Theron Johnson, on the evening of March 6th. In response 

 to that invitation twenty-two persons met and formed the Club, 

 by tiie choice of Eben Sutton, Chairman, and James T. John- 

 son, Secretary. Committees were chosen to nominate perma- 

 nent officers and to draft a constitution and by-laws, and report 

 at the next meeting ; also a committee of one in each school 

 district to interest the citizens and obtain signatures. It was 

 voted that the officers should be a President, three Vice-Presi- 

 dents, Secretary and Treasurer ; that the fee of membership 

 should be one dollar ; that fifteen years should be the minimum 

 age at which members should be received. The meeting then 

 adjourned to March 20. 



At the next meeting the Club was permanently organized by 

 the choice of Eben Sutton, President ; J. D. W. French, John 



