Doddridge County Held Its First Fall Festival on Nov. 5, 6, 7 in 1931
With the successful Celtic Gathering, Ephraim Bee Festival, the coming Doddridge County Fair, and Fall Festival, I thought I’d relay the coverage of Doddridge County’s first Fall Festival. The article stated that it was the first, but we have evidence of an earlier fair. At any rate, I found this article interesting wanted to pass the story on to all of you.
As you can see from the advertisement, the festival was held on Thursday, Nov. 5th, Friday, the 6th, and Saturday, the 7th.
The farm products were to be exhibited on the 2nd floor of the Farm Bureau Services Store and the fancy work, canned fruits, arts, antiques, etc. were held in the Gribble Building in the vacant room next to the Star Furniture Store.
The secretary who registered all the entries was stationed in a booth on Main Street near the rooms of the exhibits. At that time, all exhibitors had to be residents of Doddridge County. Amazing enough, no fee was charged for the entries and there was no charge to go into the fair. Everything was free except certain amusements, food, and lodging, and all of these were required to be offered at their regular price. (No price gouging.)
Those exhibitors were required to leave their exhibits for the entire time of the festival, after which time they were removed or auctioned off, at the will and disposal of the owners. The auction took place on Saturday afternoon. S. J. Squires was the auctioneer and offered his services free of charge.
I found it interesting that individuals could offer extra prizes on any of the special exhibits. They simply had to make it known to the Special Prizes Committee. That list of prizes was then listed in the following week’s newspaper.
The program read:
First Day – Thursday Nov. 5th, 1931 – Farmers and Visitors Day
Morning: Start entry of exhibits, 10 A.M. Afternoon: Address on Agriculture, Contests and Athletic Events, Horseshoe Pitching. Evening: Contest in String Orchestra.
Second Day – Friday, Nov. 6th, 1931 – School and 4-H Club Day
Morning: Contests and Athletic Events, Marble contest, age limit 15 years, Horseshoe Pitching
Noon: Closing of entries, and judges take charge.
Afternoon: Stunts, Athletic Events – Cow Calling Contest; Husband Calling Contest; Corn Husking Contest; Wood Chopping Contest; Old Fiddlers Contest; Healthiest Baby in Doddridge County Contest; Healthiest School Boy in Doddridge County Contest; Healthiest School Girl in Doddridge County Contest.
Address by some state official
Awarding of premiums
Music Afternoon and Evening
Third Day – Saturday, Nov. 7th, 1931
Morning: Stunts, athletic events. Finals in Horseshoe Pitching, etc.
Afternoon: Exhibits released. Auction of livestock – rams or any other livestock for sale in county. S. J. Squires, Auctioneer.
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You might recognize the names of some of the committee members:
H. C. Stuck, D. J. Cunningham, Wetzel Goff, Walter Doak, and Ray Smith oversaw concessions.
Grounds and Construction were overseen by Charles Smith, W. G. Calhoun, and Boyd Gatrell.
In charge of Amusements were H. H. Jones, F. E. Groah, Everett Maxwell, and Frank Michels.
Music was taken care of by Homer E. Drane, Charles Williams, Charles Brannon, and Miss Alice Kessel.
Special Prizes was overseen by W. S. Miller, J. L. McCormick, Ernest Smith, and D. E. McNutt.
Educational Exhibits were handled by C. I. Elder, W. B. Swentzel, F. E. Strickling.
Livestock and Poultry was taken care of by Bert Broadwater.
Fruit and Vegetables was overseen by J. A. Freeman, Ora Doak, B. H. Maulsby, and John Foley.
4-H Club was charged to Miss Alice Kessel.
Premium List and Central Committee was overseen by W.S. Miller, L. B. Wolverton, Fred E. Thompson.
Advertising was done by R. N. Stuck, Walter Stuart, and Fred E. Thompson.
You might have noticed that many of these committee members were prominent members of the community and local businessmen. This was a period in our history when such participation was as normal then as it is today for them not to participate. Sadly, it is a simple truth, but let me carry on with this article.
By all reports, the fair was very successful. Everyone had an excellent time. It was said that the largest crowd was on Friday night, comparing with the day that the Walter L. Main Circus came to town in 1902.
On the first night (Thursday), nearly every music organization in the county had attended at the courthouse and took part in the program. Homer E. Drane presided over the events. The following orchestras were present: Center Point, Good Will, Currydale, McQuaid Family, Peaytt Family, Nutters Fork, Critchfield Brothers, and the West Union Junior High School Band.
The judging was decided by applause from the audience at the conclusion of the program. Currydale was awarded 1st place, and the Peaytt Family took 2nd place.
On Friday, the school children gave those in attendance of the fair a parade of over 1,500 students in the march. Nearly every school in the county was represented. Salem Brass Band furnished the music on that Friday and headed the parade of school students. H. H. Fox was bandmaster and director of the band.
Some interesting notes of the Fair were the winners of some of the unique events: L. B. Maxwell won the Cattle Calling Contest. S. O. Hoskinson took second place.
In the husband calling contest, Mrs. R. H. Hoskinson won first place and Mrs. L. E. Bennett took second place.
In the Corn Husking Contest, Charles Pigott won first place and H. H. Kimball won second.
That brings us to the Horseshoe Pitching Contest in which Earl Gain took first place and Samuel F. Griffin took second place.
In the Nail Driving Contest, Mrs. Ball of Arnolds Creek won first place and Mrs. R. C. Gray won second place.
I wanted to include some of the other categories included at the fair and the winners:
Corn: In the Yellow Dent, Johnson Williams took first place and Frank Ables took second; In the White Dent, J. Benton Swiger took first place and Paul Maxwell, second; White Flint, V. D. Wolfe, first and Alley Williams, second; In Pop Corn, Cora Davisson, took first place and J. J. Droppleman took second place.
C. C. Dilley had the largest pumpkin, and Lewis Hall had the largest turnip. L. T. Davis took first with his Kohlrabi.
T. B. Nutter took first place with a gallon of turnips and J. H. Spurgeon took second place.
Alma Hinter won first place with an apron she sewed. Lura Ables’ pillowcases won first place for her. A tapestry picture won Miss Delphia Twyford first place, and Pauline Lowther took first place with her pastel painting.
Best woodwork by boy under 16 was won by Joe Summers and Leo Knight took second place.
Hand painted China created by Mrs. H. C. Stuck won first place and Mrs. Walter Stuart won second.
There is not space to list the full details and results of this first fair in Doddridge County. For a full list of categories and winners, please send me an email at [email protected] and I would be happy to send you a copy of the newspaper clippings.
God Bless
Patricia Richards Harris
Doddridge County Historical Society