OUR SPECIAL FLAG FLYING OVER COCHNEWAGAN HALL
One of our fair members served in Iraq and the flag on top of Cochnewagan Hall was flown at his camp, Camp Liberty. We thank Lewis Brown for his service and are honored to have this flag.
“LARGER THAN THE COUNTY FAIR.”
“MONMOUTH, Me., Sept. 23 (Special). -‘I didn’t expect to see a handsome building like that for an exhibition hall,’ said a former resident of Monmouth as he entered the fair grounds here, Wednesday. ‘I had read that a new exhibition hall had been built, but I imagined it would be a plain shed.’ Such was the remark of more that 500 visitors to the town. And they were more surprised at the exhibit within the hall than with the hall itself. Everything usually found was seen. The apple display was especially remarkable. ‘It is larger than we had at the county fair at Readfield,’ said a man who saw both exhibits. The attendance was in keeping with the exhibits. It was estimated at 2 P. M. that 25,000 people were on the grounds. The crowd was divided between the exhibition hall, cattle pulling contest, midway and the tent in which the speaking was taking place, the number gathered about any one place being as large as is seen at most county fairs.”
Lewiston Evening | Sept. 23, 1901 | page 3 column 4
“TOWN FAIR DAY.”
As there is no hall on the Monmouth fair grounds the produce and fancy work were exhibited in tents. The large circular tent containing the farm produce was crowded all day with those who came to criticise and stayed to admire. Among the exhibitors were several from Wales, Winthrop and Wales farmers.”
Daily Kennebec Journal | Sept. 24, 1908 | page 12 column 4
“MONMOUTH NEWS”
“The Cochnewagan Agricultural Association are making preparation for a big fair at Cumston Park, September 22. An exhibition hall 30 by 70 is being built under the management of the following building committee: J. H. Gilman, Alny Gordon, and Eben Mann”
Lewiston Daily Sun | Sept. 1, 1909 | page 3 column 5
“NEW BUILDING FOR THE FAIR.”
“This statement will be better understood when it is known that three weeks ago there was no exhibition building in the town while today there is a new, fine, up-to-date structure costing fully one thousand dollars. This building is located on a beautiful rise of ground close to the old academy and on what is know as the Cumston grant. The building is 30 x 70 feet in ground dimensions and has exhibition tables around its entire sides. To build this the town appropriated $500 and the rest of the expense has been made up by private subscriptions and free labor. J. H. Gilman was the chairman of the building and every one knows what that means. It means hustle and success from the word go, and he has made it go. The last finishing touches were put on Monday evening and all day Tuesday the exhibits have been pouring in until at this writing the building is well filled. Others will come in Wednesday morning.”
Lewiston Evening Journal | Sept. 21, 1909 | page 3 column 2
“MONMOUTH FAIR A BIG SUCCESS”
“MONMOUTH, Me. Sept, 21 (Special). – Monmouth fair day was in truth a great day. Weather of the finest was furnished by special requests, and the attendance was quite surprising-from every direction they came. One might almost say, everybody was here. The village was early filled with guests and all roads it seemed led to the beautifully situated park on Cumston hill. Monmouth Brass Band was out for its best. Dr. Randlette was alert to the sports of the day and held the program well in hand. Lunches were bountiful – served from tents. Ice cream and aprens were on sale. The fruit and lemonade venders were numerous. Stock and poultry were exhibited in good order. Basket ball called out big enthusiasm. The old academy was visited by many alumnus, and parties without number spent hours chatting with old friends on the sunny slope of the ideally located park. Sure it is Monmouth is a jolly go place for reunions and this fair day brought together hundreds of old aquaintances, Of many fairs in Maine none have more and few as charming grounds to hold their meetings on as late Dr. Cumston provided for the Monmouth people. the reputation of the town for fruit would alone call out a big crowd. In its natural and preserved states an extra quality of fruit was exhibited.”
“C.F. Getchell and wife of Auburn, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, Dr. and Mrs. Norcross, Mr. Main, Mr. and Mrs. Fogg and Miss Mildred, Dr. Williams and wife were Lewiston parties at the fair. From Winthrop were noticed a hundred or more of well-known people. Gardiner and Augusta sent good numbers. Never was there a larger or more representative crowd of Kennebec and Androscoggin people assembled at the Monmouth town fair. Auto parties were numerous, and all day long loaded carriages were hurrying thru the streets to Cumston park. Very orderly indeed was everything on the grounds. Many regrets were heard that the display of fine needle work was so limited, the hall display was not up to its usual standard. Outside sports were attended by splendid crowds and the whole park was an animated scene from morning until night fall.”
Lewiston Evening Journal | Sept. 21, 1911 | page 3 column 4
“ATHLETIC ATTRACTIONS AT MONMOUTH FAIR”
“Monmouth, Me., Sept. 27.-(Special). -The Committee on sports offered for attractions at the fair two basketball games, one at aa A. M., between Seniors and Juniors of Monmouth Academy. This was won by the juniors, 24 to 8; the other between the regular school team and Leavitt Institute in the afternoon, was won by Leavitt, 19 to 17; also a baseball game between Monmouth Academy nine and Winthrop high, was won by Winthrop, 2 to 0”
Daily Kennebec Journal | Sept. 28, 1916 | page 9 column 7
“FRUIT EXHIBIT BIG FEATURE OF MONMOUTH FAIR”
“The Monmouth Fair does not boast of fast track events or a midway crowded with show tents, but it specializes on its exhibits. Located in the heart of one of Maine’s best apple growing districts, this fair gives an annual display of some of the finest fruit to be found in this section of the country, and as the apple crop is about normal this year the exhibits were in every way up to par, attracting favorable comment from all who viewed them.”
Daily Kennebec Journal | Sept. 27, 1923 | page 1 column 3
“No Free Tickets to Monmouth Fair Journal Man Told”
“Evidently the ticket seller at the one and only Monmouth Fiar had been nursing his grudge for a year, or maybe someone had stepped inadvertently on his toes just a few minutes before, anyhow, he wasn’t, or didn’t seem to be, in a honeyed frame of mind as the unlucky Journal reporter, who had been assigned to ‘cover’ the fair, put on the brakes of his car and asked for admission to the grounds in the name of his paper.”
“Said ticket hawker let loose the remark that upon receipt of 25¢ said reporter would be allowed to pass. Upon being asked if it wasn’t a ‘bit irregular’ to make a reporter pay entrance to a fair which would benefit by the publicity given to it in the writeup, he proceeded to let loose the grudge which had been lying dormant in his mind for the past year.”
Daily Kennebec Journal | Sept. 25, 1924 | page 7 column 6
“Monmouth”
“One of the big events looked forward to each year not only by the townspeople but many hundreds throughout the Kennebec valley, is the time honored Monmouth fair. Actuated by a keen but friendly spirit of competition the residents of the region strive to outdo each other in the production of monster vegetables, bumper yields of grain crops, rearing of sleek horses, cattle and swine. No small part of the fair is the home work display and here the efficient housewives come into their own.”
Daily Kennebec Journal | Jan. 8, 1925 | page 33 column 2
“Frowning Skies Fail to Dim Success of Cochnewagan Fair”
“Monmouth, Me., Sept. 29.-Despite lowering clouds and weather that was more than flavored with the chill of fall, Cochnewagan Fair today drew a crowd of unusual size and presented for their entertainment a program that pleased all. With an especially large list of entries and will fine premium lists, the fair is counted as one of the most successful ever held.
Daily Kennebec Journal | Sept. 30, 1926 | page 1 column 2
“Cochnewagan Fair, Monmouth, Makes Better Showing than Ever in Cattle”
“Cochnewagan Fair, commonly known as Monmouth Fair, held at Cumston Park in Monmouth stepped out on Wednesday into the class of the good sized fairs. They opened their premium lists to a larger territory with a result that a great many more cattle were in the grounds than ever before with two fine flocks of sheep from Kennebec county, namely, those of Ralph S. Horne of Waterville and Donald H. Ellis of Fairfield, each man having about 20 sheep, with several different breeds presented. The crowds were kept busy during the forenoon with such games as beano and ten pins, looking over the exhibits in the hall and just visitin’.”
The Lewiston Daily Sun | Sept. 25, 1930 | page 8 column 6
“Large Cattle Exhibit at Monmouth Fair Wednesday”
“Monmouth, Sept. 27-Crowds came early and stayed late at Cochnewagan Agricultural Association fair at Monmouth fairgrounds Wednesday. Rain had threatened in the morning but by noon the sun came out and added its brilliance to the celebration, although the fair ended by a thunder storm and sudden downpour. There were many attractions on the midway, including a number of bowling alleys, a beano stand and a chair-plane. The Ladies Aid of the Union church served a baked bean dinner at noon. There were balloon men, popcorn stands and all the other attractions that make a fair something to remember from one year to another. Raymond’s Variety Co. of Lewiston was present with a large bus full of novelties. The cattle display was one of the largest ever held at the fair, there being 148 head to be judged, and there were some fine teams present for the pulling; The poultry and rabbit display hall was full of pens, containing the finest in varieties of poultry in one room and rabbits in the other. One young man had his sleek fat white mice on display.”
The Lewiston Daily Sun | Sept. 28, 1933 | page 2 column 3
“MONMOUTH FAIR HAS GOOD SHOW AND FAIR CROWD DESPITE RAIN”
“Monmouth Fair which opened Wednesday, ran into bad weather as so many fairs have this Fall, but despite the rain there was a fairly good crowd on the grounds all day and an excellent showing of beef and dairy cattle, draft cattle, swine and sheep. Most of the better known draft horses were on the grounds too although some didn’t make the weights and could not pull the light classes.
The Lewiston Daily Sun | Sept. 29, 1949 | page 6 column 4
“MANY CATTLE AT MONMOUTH FAIR”
“More than 150 head of dairy cattle and draft oxen and steers filling the sheds and tied to the fences give Monmouth Fair a near record number of livestock, when combined with 32 head of sheep, 37 of the swine kind, three goats, and three Sardinian donkeys. The exhibition hall was also well filled and the poultry and rabbit building overflowed with an exhibit of waterfowl in a pen outside.”
The Lewiston Daily Sun | Sept. 25, 1952 | page 15 column 3
“Record Crowds At Monmouth As Cattle Show Concludes”
“MONMOUTH – The Cochnewagen Agricultural Association wound up its 50th annual cattle show and fair better known as the Monmouth Fair with a blazing display of fireworks Saturday evening. Other highlights of this two day event enjoyed by record crowds included Gordon and Olivia’s knife throwing act, a parade and drill by the scarlet Cadets of Lewiston and a concert by Monmouth Band. Veteran observers, considered the cattle show one of the largest and finest ever witnessed in this section of the state.”
The Lewiston Daily Sun | Sept. 19, 1960 | page 9 column 2
“Events for the Three-Day Monmouth Fair Are Listed”
“MONMOUTH -A team of television observers are due at Monmouth Fair, Friday, Saturday and Sunday to make plans for televising the fair in 1966. Originally NBC planned to televise this year’s fair, but decided more planning was needed to make the documentary-type show. But, TV or no TV, this year’s fair should be bigger than ever, with the program spread over three days again since the Sunday trail last year proved so successful.
The Lewiston Daily Sun | Sept. 16, 1965 | page 14 column 1
“Takes Four Days Now – Then It Only Took One”
“MONMOUTH – If a person happened to be born in Monmouth in the roaring 20’s and remembered going to the one-day Monmouth Fair as a youngster before his family moved away and came back to Monmouth for the first time in years, this week, he would be in for some surprises. The fair that was held on a Wednesday in late September usually lasted from about nine in the morning until five or six (unless you counted the annual drama that took place at Cumston Hall in the evening). It occupied a small area of Cumston Park (or Monmouth Fairgrounds) adjacent to what was then the town baseball diamond, usually with a baseball game held as a feature attraction of the day without interfering with the midway.
“Now the fair has moved to August (to attract some of the many summer visitors that throng the area), and has been expanded to four days and taken its place among the larger agricultural fairs in the state. Those visitors to the fair this Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will see a full-sized midway spread out over the old ballfield in addition to former wild lands. Many of the woods that used to serve as cover for those who didn’t feel they could afford the admission have since been cut down to make room for newer and bigger cattle barns and other livestock enclosures.”
Lewiston Evening Journal | Aug. 10, 1977 | page 15 column 4
“Monmouth Fair will host 4-H Clubbers”
” ‘Monmouth Fair is pleased to invite residents of and visitors to Kennebec and Androscoggin Counties to view the efforts of 4-H exhibitors displayed at this year’s fair. Although the Monmouth Fair is a small, county fair. We have a long tradition of encouraging young citizens in the development of agricultural and home skills.’ said Fair President Arthur M. Griffiths, of Monmouth. ‘Despite moves to bigness in agriculture, we take pride that small farming is alive and well in each of these two counties served by our fair, as demonstrated by the interest of our 4-H participants.’ “
Lewiston Journal | Aug. 5, 1981 | page 16 column 1
“No live poultry exhibited at 74th annual Monmouth Fair
“MONMOUTH – When the 74th annual Monmouth Fair opens on Thursday, a popular exhibit will be missing for the first time in many years. Acting on the request from Agriculture Commissioner Stewart N. Smith, Monmouth Fair officials have chosen to ban the exhibition of live poultry at the 1984 fair.”
The Lewiston Daily Sun | Jul. 30, 1984 | page 14 column 5
“Straining yoke”
“Lewis Gray of North Monmouth urges his team of four-year-old oxen forward as they strain to pull a 3,000 pound load at the Monmouth Fair. ‘I pulled with a team when I was a young fellow,’ said Gray, ‘But I stopped for 25 years.’ After spending his time raising race horses, Gray returned to the pulling ring this year ‘so kids can see the way is used to be done years ago.’ “
Sun Journal | Aug. 5, 1984 | page 17 figure 1
“Monmouth Fair”
“The 75th annual Monmouth Fair was a huge success this year, running form Thursday through Sunday with Thursday night’s crowd the largest in the fair’s history. The fair, sponsored by the Cochnewagen Agricultural Fair Association, featured 4-H exhibits and agricultural demonstrations. This quilt, made by the Parent Creative Arts Committee, was displayed at the fair. The group supports extra cultural activities with the Henry L. Cottrell elementary school. The quilt depicts a variety of scenes in Monmouth, including Cumston Hall and the old watering trough in North Monmouth.”
The Lewiston Daily Sun | Aug. 6, 1985 | page 10 column 5
“Monmouth Fair open through weekend”
“The sheep judging yesterday was only part of the activities at the 76th Monmouth Fair, which opened Thursday and continues through Sunday. As of yesterday, the fair seemed to be heading towards its annual draw of about 10,000 people throughout the weekend, said fair secretary Mary Pollard. The fair is run as a nonprofit event by a group of Monmouth residents, Pollard said. ‘This is where everyone gets together to see people they haven’t seen in years. Saturday night is known for that.’ “
Lewiston Journal | Aug. 2, 1986 | page 3A column 1
“Rain waters down fair attendance”
“Fair officials said that were satisfied with attendance the first three days. But rain kept people away from the grounds Saturday, usually considered the fair’s ‘big day.”
Sun-Journal | Aug. 7, 1989 | page 16 column 16
“Annual Monmouth Fair held at same time as annual school reunion”
“MONMOUTH – Saturday was the final day of the four-day Monmouth Fair, which usually takes place the same weekend as the Monmouth Academy reunion, a few hundred yards apart. Joe Stewart, husband of ’43 grad Eleanor Moore Stewart, was smitten by the pulling bug. Joe Steart spent most of the fair week watching oxen and horse pulling, although he took enough time off to have dinner with his wife and her classmates Saturday night.”
Sun Journal | Aug. 12, 1993 | page 11 column 2 & 3
“Hay Day called a success, now town prepares for annual Monmouth Fair”
“Meanwhile, and for a couple of days earlier, Monmouth Fair is being held a short distance from the Academy, on Academy Street, Wednesday through Saturday. A new activity on this year’s agenda is the sculptured zucchini contest scheduled for today.”
Sun Journal | Aug. 4, 1994 | page 3 column 3
“Monmouth Fair had something for everyone, including heat”
“Good weather turned out to be both an advantage and disadvantage for this year’s Monmouth Fair August 5-8. Starting off with temperatures in the 80’s on Wednesday and continuing though Saturday, it was almost ‘to much of a good thing’. Early good crowds were counterbalanced by lesser turnouts later in the week brining gate receipts to ‘just about the same as last year’.”
Sun Journal | Aug. 18, 1998 | page B4 column 2
“Monmouth Fair to open today”
“MONMOUTH – Amusement rides, music, contests and more that 100 exhibitors will make up this year’s Monmouth Fair, slated to begin Wednesday, Aug. 2. The fair, which runs through Aug.5, is in its 90th year, said volunteer Rhonda Smith. Sponsored by the Cochnewagan Agricultural Association, the fair will feature different activities and contests each day, she said. The fair usually attracts 15,000 people an will be open each day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Coordinated with the help of 30 volunteers, the event will be held on Academy Road in Monmouth.
Sun Journal | Aug. 2, 2000 | page 13 column 1
“Monmouth to be site of apple fest, tractor pull”
“MONMOUTH – The Monmouth Fair Association will host multiple events on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the fairgrounds, Academy Road. Including will be the second annual Fall Harvest Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with artisans and crafters displaying an array of items, including food, artwork, home crafts and wooden products. They will be spread out among several buildings on the fairgrounds as well as outside. A large contingent of antique tractors from all over the state will converge on the fairgrounds for the Maine Antique Tractor Club’s annual fall tractor pull in the Charles Henry Robinson Pulling Ring. The pulling events will start around 10 a.m., with many classes to accommodate the various tractor sizes. At approximately noon, they will take a break from pulling to parade their large assortment of antique tractors down Main Street, passing by the Monmouth Museum Apple Fest activities, then circling back to the fairgrounds.”
Sun Journal | Sept. 27, 2007 | page B3 column 3 & 4
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