USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 57
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Mount Hamilton Lodge, No. 43, A. O. U. W .- The Ancient Order of United Workmen organized their lodge August 1, 1878, the following being the Charter Members : Homer J. Alderman, William D. Allison, Karl D. Anderson, Morris Appleton, Clarence M. Ayres, John H. Baird, Emory
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Barris, George P. Bassett, George W. Bennett, Henry W. Betts, Max. Blum- enthal, Charles L. Breyer, Thomas A. Brookbanks, Frederick J. Buneman, M. D. Burgess, Louis Callisch, Milton Campbell, George Carson, Curtis F. Chadwick, Walter Chadwick, Thomas F. Childs, J. B. Church, Charles E. Clayton, Charles A. Clemence, Henry Clifton, Richard E. Collins, Thomas H. Cordell, Andrew J. Cory, John B. Cory, J. B. Cox, Hugh A. de Lcay, Charles Denny, James B. Finch, Samuel Flack, Jeptha Fuson, William T. Garner, Andrew A. Gaston, Charles H. Gorr, William F. Gussefeld, Frank M. Haight, Oliver A. Hale, Alonzo B. Hamilton, John F. Hardisty, A. W. Harvey, Daniel N. Haskell, William O. Hatch, C. W. F. Heumann, Jacob Hobson, H. A. Houghton, Lauren E. Humphreys, Wm. Jackson, Daniel R. Jayne, Charles W. Kerr, Henry Laurilliard, Arch. K. Litton, Harrmann Levy, M. S. Levy, E. B. Lewis, James B. Lewis, Augustus F. Lincoln, George J. Mallmann, Byron G. Mantle, A. McMahon, William MeMeekin, Albert B. McNeil, Morgan Miles, Samuel E. Moreland, Frank Molke, Ira T. Newsom, William Osterman, Walter A. Parkhurst, Z. M. Parvin, James M. Pitman, John S. Potts, Henry E. Reynolds, Lewis Schoen, Robert Scott, James N. Shaw, Daniel L. Shead, Alvis B. Singleton, Benjamin Solomon, Joseph M. Stillwell, William P. Veuve, William Vinter, Frank M. Ward, Thomas M. White, James W. Wilkinson, John R. Wilson, Joseph Wolf, Chapman S. Yates. The original officers were: J. B. Church, P. M. W. ; Thomas H. Cordell, M. W .; A. B. Hamilton, G. F .; WV. P. Veuve, O .; James M. Pitman, Rec .; O. A. Hale, F. Resigned : J. B. Finch, F. Elect : Max. Blumenthal, R .; Wm. Jackson, G .; W. A. Parkhurst, I. W .; A. W. Harvey, O. W. The lo lge, which now musters one hundred and thirty members, meets every Wednesday evening at Champion Hall, First street, between San Antonio and San Fernando streets, and has as officers for the current year : A. B. McNeil, P. M. W .; J. B. Finch, M. W .; George Carson, G. F .; Max. Blumenthal, O .; J. M. Pitman, Rec .; William Osterman, F .; M. J. Ashmore, R. ; William A. Carpenter, G .; M. D. Hyde, I. W .; J. B. Lewis, O. W.
San José Stamm, No. 77, U. O. R. M .- This society which is a branch of the Red Men's Lodge, was organized April 2, 1865, with the following Charter Members: R. Gerdes, L. Schoen, A. Holloway, W. Roese, T. Lenzen, I. Moser, the first office-bearers being: R. Gerdes, Chief ; T. Lenzen, Second Chief; L. Schoen, Secretary ; H. Foertsch, Treasurer. The present member- ship numbers fifty; those now in office are: V. Humburg, Chief; Z. Hirth, Vice-Chief; F. Raux, Secretary ; C. Doerr, Treasurer; and the lodge meets in Messing's Building, First street, between San Fernando and El Dorado streets, on Thursday evening in each week.
Phil Sheridan Post, No. 7, Grand Army of the Republic, Department of California .- This Post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized
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August 10, 1878, with the undermentioned Charter Members: W. F. Ellis, A. M. Henkel, H. T. Welch, John White, Charles Smith, John S. Gessell, D. N. Haskell, J. B. Wright, L. L. Nattinger, D. M. Rodibaugh, F. H. Angell. The original officers were: W. F. Ellis, Post Commander; L. L. Nattinger, Senior Vice-Commander; Charles Smith, Junior Vice-Commander; D. N. Haskell, Surgeon; Henry T. Welch, Chaplain ; D. M. Rodibaugh, Quarter- Master; A. M. Henkel, Adjutant; F. H. Angell, Officer of the Day; John White, Officer of the Guard. The Headquarters are at Druid's Hall, where the post meets every Wedensday evening; the muster-roll now numbers sev- enty-four, while the officers for the current term are: A. G. Bennett, P. C .; L. L. Nattinger, S. V. C .; Daniel McGinley, J. V. C .; A. McMahon, Surg .; D. M. Rodibaugh, Chap .; L. Finigan, Q. M .; H. S. Foote, Adj .; L. W. Denan, Officer of the Day; M. Costello, Officer of the Guard.
Harmony Lodge, No. 4, Order of Sons of Hermann .- This Lodge was organized July 20, 1879, with the following Charter Members: F. Zueschke, D. Boernert, P. Warkentin, G. Gebhardt, D. Schneider, C. Goepper, S. Volk, G. Schmidt, G. Wendt. G. Meyer, C. Strard, S. Kopp, A. Frank, C. Metzler, H. Erle, B. Lenz, J. Messing, J. Dittus, C. Deuser, G. Scherrer, B. Straub, G. Lauek, N. Niederreuther, G. de Witt, C. Longgi, C. Heckmann, L. Bauer, C. Dellwing, C. Bernhardt, D. Schoenheit, M. Magnus, J. Phillips, N. Allen, R. Ziegler, N. Husing, J. Emig, C. Bode, C. Emig, B. Hegele, J. Krattiger, H. Rochr, G. Kluever, C. Fischer, F. Jung, F. Kunz, F. Brunst, J. Hartzoke, H. Emig. The first officers were: F. Zueschke, President; E. Boernert, Vice-Pres- ident; P. Warkentin, Socretary; G. Gebhardt, Treasurer; S. Volk, Conductor; G. Meyer, I. G .; E. Heckmann, O. G. The lodge meets on Wednesday in each week in Red Men's Hall, and the present membership is fifty-one. The officers for the current year are : P. Warkentin, President ; D. Schneider, Vice-President; C. Fischer, Secretary; G. Gebhardt, Treasurer; George Kluever, Conductor; B. Hegele, O. G .; S. Kopp, I. G.
San José Turn-Verein .- This society was organized June 17, 1868, by Henry Seebach, Chris Yertts, Charles Doerr, Emil Reinhardt, F. Hoos, Wil- liam Conradys, William Ziegler, William Althaus, Julius Kreiger. The first officers were: President, F. Hoos; Vice-President, Henry Seebach ; Record- ing Secretary, E. Reinhardt; Corresponding Secretary, C. Doerr; Treasurer, W. Conradys ; First Leader, W. Siegler; Second Leader, Julius Kreiger; Curator, W. Althaus. The society meets on the first Wednesday in each month in their hall situated on First, between San Carlos and San Fernando streets, the present officers being : C. Doerr, President; Recording Secretary, Peter Warkentin; Treasurer, Henry Rochr; First Leader, C. Bertlesmann ; Curator, M. Magnus; Steward, F. Beunermann.
San José Germania Verein .- In the year 1856 was started the San José
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Verein, which continued as a German Club until the year 1865, when the Germania was instituted, the two being shortly after amalgamated. The first President of the San Jose Verein was Louis Krumb, there being asso- ciated with him in membership Adolph Pfister, John Balbach, Louis Magen- heimer, and others. On the inauguration of the Germania in 1865, Louis Krumb was elected its President and Dr. Eichler, Secretary. The present membership now numbers sixty, while the officers are: President, John Bal- bach; Vice-President, M. Stern; Treasurer, F. Luther; Secretary, George Fricke; Librarian, F. Theilig; Curator, Charles Otter ; Musical Director, H. Schemmel; Committee of Management, William Steinbuehler, G. A. Knoche. The society is entirely a social one, its rooms on Santa Clara street. opposite the Opera House, being open to members only on Thursday of each week, where are a well-selected library and reading-room. On the last Sunday of each month a dramatic entertainment is given, whither a member is entitled to invite a certain number of guests.
Handel and Haydn Musical Society of San Jose .- This association was organized in the month of September, 1875, with the following Charter Mem- bers: B. F. Caswell, J. H. Elwood, George Pomeroy, W. A. Parkhurst, A. P. Murgotten, G. E. Lighthall, R. B. Crichton, Elliot Reed, Alfred Barstow, W. D. St. Clair, Charles E. Schroder, E. Rosseau, J. W. Pembroke, T. T. Bird, Mesdames A. Barstow, B. L. Hollenbeck, E. P. Reed, J. H. Elwood, Elliot Reed, L. A. Tuck, A. E. Pomeroy, H. S. Foote, A. M. Crichton, W. D. St. Clair, E. Rosseau, and Misses Della Marvin, Allie Marvin, Lillie Johnson, Nora Willey, Mary Willey, Fannie Williams, Emma Pembroke, Sallie Webb. The original officers were: Elliot Reed, President; Mrs. B. L. Hollenbeck, Vice-President; George Pomeroy, Secretary ; G. E. Lighthall, Treasurer; W. D. St. Clair, Librarian; J. H. Elwood, Conductor ; Miss Lucy Washburn, Pianist. The meetings of the society are held in the Bank of San Jose Building, at the corner of First and Santa Clara streets, where they have the largest musical library in California. The present membership numbers fifty ladies and gentlemen, many of whom display vocal and instrumental talent of a high order, the attainment of which being in a great measure due to the untiring efforts of J. H. Elwood, the Conductor. George Pomeroy, President.
Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Society .- The following interesting his- tory of this association, from the pen of Colonel Younger, is extracted from The Pioneer of June 8, 1878: " This society has assumed such proportions in her real estate, and in her exhibitions in the various departments, as to chal- lenge the admiration of the citizens of the Pacific coast. Her history of small beginnings, the energy of her pioneers to organize at once, to experi- ment and develop the resources of this, then a new and undeveloped country, ought to be of interest to those citizens who have located recently in the val-
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ley, under more favorable circumstances. The pioneer meeting which was the germ of this society, was held August 13, 1853, under a large live-oak, in what is now known as the Live-oak Park, then belonging to L. Prevost. The meeting was composed of William Daniels, L. Prevost, L. Pillia, J. R. Bontemps, B. S. Fox, and E. W. Case. It was held for the purpose of organ- izing the Pioneer Horticultural Society, which they did. The subsequent meetings were held at the old City Hall. This little band was strengthened by such men as Joseph Aram, J. Q. A. Ballou, R. G. Moody, Judge D. Devine, L. A. Gould, Thomas Fallon, John Lewelling of Alameda county, and some others. During the balance of this year and the year 1854, they met ouce a month, brought in their fruits and flowers for exhibition, to compare and discuss the merits, and determine what fruits were best adapted to the valley. This was often most interesting and instructive. All were invited to attend, and many were enticed to those meetings to see the development of the fruit- growing capacity of the valley. Many ladies attended and were richly rewarded, for after witnessing the display of fruits and flowers, at the conclu- sion these were divided among them. The old pioneers knew how to be gallant to the ladies! These exhibitions soon excited the agrienlturists to action. We shall soon see a union of these two interests, and follow them in their tedious stages to the formation of this society, under an Act of the Legislature in 1859.
A meeting of agriculturists was held at the City Hall in San Jose, May 6, 1854, pursuant to call made by F. B. Murdoch, editor of the San José Telegraph. "H. C. Melone was called to the Chair, and H. Hamilton appointed Secretary. William M. Stafford stated the objects of the meeting to be to organize a County Agricultural Society. On motion of F. B. Mul- doch a committee was appointed consisting of F. Kennedy, Joseph Aram, and O. P. Watson, to prepare a Constitution for the society, said committee to report at an adjourned meeting to be held at the Court House on Situr- day, the 20th instant, at two o'clock, P. M. On motion of John Yontz. the proceedings of this meeting were directed to be published in the San Jose Telegraph. The meeting then adjourned. H. C. Melone, Chairman; Hiram Hamilton, Secretary." The next meeting was held at the Court House. May 20, 1854. "On motion, H. C. Melone was called to the Chair, and E. P Reed appointed Secretary. The committee who had been appointed to draft a Constitution and By-laws for the society, presented their report. On motion, the same was received, and the committee dischargedl. On motion of Colonel Stafford, the Constitution and By-Laws as presented by the committee, were taken up, read by sections, amended ant adopted. On motion of O. P. Watson, the Chairman appointed a committee, consisting of O. P. Watson, S. Robinson, William M. Stafford, J. Miller, and Isaac Bird, to report officers for the society. The committee made the following nomi-
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nations: For President, Dr. L. H. Bascom; Vice-President, J. F. Kennedy; Recording Secretary, E. P. Reed; Corresponding Secretary, W. S. Letcher; Treasurer, F. G. Appleton; For Board of Managers, J. B. Allen, of Gilroy; Frost of Fremont; James Houston of Alviso; Joseph Aram, William R. Basshamn, Dr. Langhorne, and Samuel Robinson. Mr. Aram moved that the committee selected to nominate permanent officers of the society also nomi- nate seven gentlemen as a Committee on Agriculture, and five as a Commit- tee on Horticulture, Carried. The Committee on Nominations reported the following on Agriculture: H. C. Melone, Oliver Cottle, Isaac Bird, J. R. Weller, G. W. Peck, O. P. Watson, and H. C. Skinner. On Horticulture, Joseph Aram, J. F. Kennedy, William Daniels, Louis Prevost and John Morse, Carried. Messrs. Melone, Stafford and Watson were then appointed a committee to procure a suitable room. On motion of Judge Devine, the society was authorized to procure a suitable book, in which to transcribe the Constitution and By-Laws, names of members, and the proceedings of the society. Judge Daniels moved that the society meet again on the sec- ond Saturday in June, at two o'clock P. M. J. F. Kennedy moved that the Secretary present a copy of the proceedings of this meeting to the Editors of the Sin José Telegraph, and California Farmer for publication, and also to give notice of the meeting in June. Dr. L. H. Bascom, President; E. P. Reed, Recording Secretary." The next meeting was held June 11, 1854, at the Court House. Little business was transacted save the amending of the Constitution, and introduction of a resolution by Judge Daniels to appoint a committee of three to draft rules for the regular order of business. Daniels, Williams and Aram were appointed, "On motion of Captain Aram, the com- mittee was instructed to report at next meeting. On motion of Mr. Weller, John M. Horner was elected an Honorary member of the society. Mr. Melone moved that Mr. Horner be invited to take part in the deliberations of the meeting. On motion of O. P. Watson the society adjourned to Sep- tember 1st. E. P. Reed, Secretary." There was no meeting held on Sep- tember 1, 1854. On December 13, 1856, a meeting was held at the City Hall, for the purpose of organizing a County Agricultural and Horticultural Society. "L. H. Bascom was called to the Chair, and H. C. Melone appointed Secretary. On motion, the Constitution and By-Laws of the former society were read. On motion, William Daniels, H. C. Melone, and Dr. J. C. Cobb, were appointed a committee to draft a Constitution and By-Laws, and report the same to a meeting to be held January 1, 1857. On motion the Secretary was requested to furnish copies of these proceedings to the news- papers of this city for publication. On motion, the meeting adjourned until January 1, 1857. H. C. Melone, Secretary." The Constitution must have been then adopted, for at the following meeting the name now in use was fixed upon. "The Santa Clara Valley Agricultural and Horticultural
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Society met in the City Hall at two o'clock, P. M., February 7, 1857, Dr. L. H. Bascom in the Chair. On motion of C. Peebels, the society proceeded to elect officers for the ensuing year. The following gentlemen were unani- mously elected: For President, Judge W. Daniels; Vice-Presidents, Coleman Younger, and Joseph Aram; Secretary, Dr. J. C. Cobb; Treasurer, R. G. Moody; Directors, L. A. Gould, and L. Prevost. At a meeting of the Agricultural Society, held at the City Hall, in the City of San José, on Feb- ruary 7, 1857, a quorum being present the following was adopted: Resolved, That the Treasurer be and is hereby instructed to pay to each member of this society the amount subscribed by said member, provided he applies for the same before the first day of March next, and whatever remains in the treasury after said first day of March be paid to the Treasurer of the Agri- cultural and Horticultural Society of the Valley of Santa Clara, subject to the disposition of said society last mentioned. Adjourned sine die. E. P. Reed, Secretary." "A meeting of the society was held July 2, 1857. Dr. J. C. Cobb resigned and H. C. Melone was elected Secretary to fill the vacancy. On motion, L. H. Bascom, Joseph Aram and Cary Pecbels were appointed a committee to examine the premium list, and fill up the same. On motion, the fair was set for the ISth and 19th of September, 1857. On motion, the society adjourned to the 18th of September next, H. C. Melone, Seere- tary. The Board of Managers met at the City Hall, July 18, 1857. The list of premiums was agreed upon. The Board adjourned to the 1st day of August."
This society continued to hold fairs under many difficulties until incor- porated under an Act of the Legislature, approved March 12, 1859, as the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Society. The first officers elected under the Charter were: Judge William Daniels, President; Cary Peebels and Cole- man Younger, Vice-Presidents; C. B. Younger, Secretary; R. G. Moody, Treasurer; L. Prevost, and H. H. Winchell, Directors. "October 10, 1857, it was at this meeting that the first move was made to purchase grounds. On motion, it was resolved that a committee of three be appointed to examine into the propriety of purchasing grounds for the Annual County Fair, and report at the next meeting. On motion, Coleman Younger, Joseph Aram, and L. Prevost, were appointed on said committee. This committee made no report, but at a meeting of the Board hekdl November 6, 1858, Cary Peebels, H. H. Winchell, and Coleman Younger were appointed a committee to examine in reference to purchasing permanent grounds to hold our fairs. March 19, 1859 .- The society met pursuant to adjournment, William Daniels in the Chair. On motion, the funds and other property of the society were ordered to be transferred to the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Society, organized under an Act of the Legislature, entitled "An Act concerning Agricultural Societies," approved March 12, 1859. On motion, the society
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·
adjourned sine die. C. B. Younger, Secretary." On March 19, 1859, the following persons met at the City Hall in San Jose for the purpose of organ- izing the society, under the Act of the Legislature mentioned above, and to adopt a Constitution: William Daniels, Cary Peebels, R. G. Moody, H. H. Winchell, Abe S. Beatty, L. C. Ward, Coleman Younger, Henry C. Melone, Caius T. Ryland, Jeremiah Miller, and Charles B. Younger. The business was duly arranged and the following officers elected for the ensuing year: William Daniels, President; Cary Peebels, and Coleman Younger, Vice-Pres- idents; C. B. Younger, Secretary; Ransom G. Moody, Treasurer; Louis Prevost, and H. H. Winchell, Directors. On motion, a committee consisting of Cary Peebels, Col. Younger, H. H. Winchell, H. C. Melone, T. Bodley, H. Shartzer, and J. C. Cameron was appointed to solicit donations to the society, for the purpose of purchasing and improving the fair-grounds for the society. At the meeting of the society held March 26, 1859, the By-Laws were adopted. On motion, a committee consisting of Cary Peebels, H. H. Winchell, H. C. Melone, and Coleman Younger, was appointed to complete the purchase of the fair-grounds for the society, and collect the donations and pay for the grounds and receive the deed for the same; and were instructed to have the fair-grounds inclosed, whenever a sufficient amount of money had been donated to the society for that purpose, and were further instructed to have the track surveyed off after the grounds were fenced, and report to the Board of Managers. The park contains seventy-six acres, and is located on the Alameda, between San José and Santa Clara. The avenue leading from the entrance to the grand stand is one hundred and twenty feet wide. On the right as one enters, there are fourteen acres set apart and laid out in drives and walks, with ample grounds for a large pavilion, that will be built here- after. (For this topic, we refer our readers to the close of this notice.) The grounds are now planted out, with two thousand six hundred forest and ornamental trees, and have made a fine growth. On the left, there are about seventeen acres for stalls and amphitheater; there are three hundred stalls erected for stock, in double rows, with an avenue one hundred feet wide run- ning the entire length of the grounds on that side, with a double row of trees on either side of the avenue next to the stalls; these trees will in a few years give ample shade. In the center of these grounds, and at the back of the stalls, reaching up to the track, are the grounds for the amphitheater. This will be four hundred and fifty feet in diameter, and six hundred trees are planted on the outside for ornament and shade, and to assist in the construction of seats to make them durable and safe. When it is com- pleted it will seat seven thousand five hundred people. The amphitheater will be large enough to exhibit one thousand head of stock at the same time. The trees are so planted that there is a grand entrance for stock, and one for them to retire. In the center there is a clump of trees for the
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judges' stand, and for music. On the outside margin of this circle ther will be a track, one-quarter of a mile around, for speed purposes. Then we shall have one of the fastest mile tracks in the State; judges' stand, and two large stands for visitors." Colonel Younger further pursues this theme in the fol- lowing words: "It would now, not only be pleasant, but instructive to go back to that first meeting held under that ' Live-oak,' to see those old pioneers seated upon the ground under that beautiful tree, discussing the future of this valley, and planning to develop her future greatness. Then follow along as they and others struggled to plant this institution upon a firm and enduring foundation, against many difficulties-for you must bear in mind that the population of San Jose was then counted by the hundreds, and the county by a few thousands.
But let us follow them in their struggles. In the first place, they had no funds, no hall, no fair-grounds; the Board would appoint their committees to beg, and to sell, annual memberships, to form a basis for premiums; then they would have to cater for what we now call a hall, and for a piece of ground from some citizen, for a stock fair-grounds; and between the two, with other necessary expenses, they were in good luck if they came ont even. And thus it continued for years, until the old committees, or, in other words, the old war-horses, were ashamed to beg. Our first stock fair would beggar description ; but our fruits, grain, vegetables, and Howers, on account of the newness of the country, excited more interest then than now. In our present advanced prosperity, we can hardly realize that we had such a beginning, with a population now in the county of thirty-five thousand, and in San Jose of eighteen thousand, with a fair-ground, worth nearly one hundred thousand dollars, splendidly improved and beautifully ornamented, our stock fairs, in every department, would do credit to any State fair. Now, for a moment, let us imagine the time when the pavilion will be completed according to the plan, and filled up with the mechanical inventions, and other industries of the country ; and when the amphitheater, according to the plan, shall have been built, with seven thousand, five hun- dred spectators, seated, to view the exhibition of a thousand head of fine thorough-bred stock; the population of the town increased to twenty, or thirty thousand, and of the county to fifty thousand. That day will indeed be a proud one for the people of Santa Clara county, but will they ever think of the struggles of those few who built up this institution, and made it a grand success, dating back to the Live-oak meeting, and running up to the present date. There were one hundred and ninety-nine original con- tributors to the purchase and improvement of the fair-grounds, which ranged from three hundred down to one dollar, the county giving five hundred dol- lars. April 1, 1859, the Board, through the committee appointed to solicit subscriptions, and the sale of memberships, etc., had raised the sum of four-
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teen thousand four hundred and sixty-four dollars, fifty-five cents. The expenses for the year 1859, up to November 29th, including purchase of fair-grounds, and improving the same, and expenses of holding the fair of that year, were sixteen thousand three hundred and ninety-six dollars and eighty cents. This was the first fair held under the Charter. Due credit should be given for those who planned and carried out this grand enterprise to its present success. This has been, in part, already done, but the main success is due to the members of the Board, the committee they appointed, November 6, 1858, and the addition made to that committee afterwards. These determined upon success. They visited every section, nearly every citizen in the county, presented the importance of acquiring fair-grounds while it could be done at a moderate price, and while the opportunity offered to make a selection that would meet the convenience of the public. By their energy, they raised the means to buy and improve this beautiful park. This was the constant labor, or nearly so, of several years. This Board and this committee were kept in power until they had completed the enterprise ; the society was out of debt, and the fairs a complete success. This they did without ever receiving one dollar of compensation for labor performed, or money expended by them for necessary expenses. The exhibitions at the pavilion have been most attractive from the beginning, and the members representing the Horticultural Department deserve special mention on this. occasion, for to them is due our success at the hall, and the grand develop- ments of the fruit-growing capacity of the valley. The mention of the names of these gentlemen will bring up pleasant recollections: L. Prevost, William Daniels, B. S. Fox, E. W. Case, William O'Donnell, Joseph Aram, James R. Lowe, Sr., L. Pillia, D. T. Adams, J. Q. A. Ballou, L. A. Gould, L. F. Sanderson, and others. These gentlemen collectively, and by turns, have arranged and ornamented the hall, have furnished, with others, fruits, vegetables, and flowers, the two first of which, in size and flavor, challenge the admiration of visitors, while the last named, in variety and beauty, are hardly excelled in any country. They have made this department a great success, while, by their labors at home, and their exhibitions at the pavilion, they have written the history of the fruit-growing capacity of the valley, so that our fruits are shipped to all parts of the United States, and to Europe. Now, if I were to attempt to introduce to you the names of all those who contributed in any way to the success of the enterprise, from the beginning to the present time, it would be an endless task, but, as I have mentioned the names of some of the founders, in their proper place, and who worked this institution up to its present charter organization with great success, it may be eminently proper to mention a few of those who since that time have occupied the front, without any disparagement to many others who have done their duty. W. C. Wilson has occupied the Presidency of this
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