USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. I > Part 53
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. I > Part 53
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. I > Part 53
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The fair in 1917 was conducted for the benefit of the Red Cross. Beginning that year, scholarships have been offered by the society for excellence in agricultural endeavor and achievements and home eco- nomics, on the part of boys and girls desiring higher education. At present there are more than a dozen pupils enjoying the benefits of courses in agricultural collges or schools giving courses in home eco- nomics, notably the State Normal School at Framingham, assisted by Brockton Fair scholarships.
Since 1917 the Brockton Home and School Gardeners have made annual exhibits and have led the State in their achievements, under the supervision of Miss Annie L. Burke. After viewing one of these exhibitions, ex-Governor Channing H. Cox wrote to Miss Burke: "This morning I am still thinking of the wonderful exhibits which we saw in your department yesterday, and I wish to tell you once more how deeply I appreciate the splendid work you are doing. Nothing can be of greater importance to us here in Massachusetts, and I am sure that nothing will contribute more largely to the good citizenship of the future."
The Shoe Style Show, the feature most distinctive of Brockton and the South Shore District became a feature in 1920, the entire main floor of the Educational Building being devoted to that purpose. It has the backing of the Brockton Shoe Manufacturers' Association and the shoe manufacturers and accessory and allied industrialists of the community. It attracts shoe buyers from all over the country and is the best possible presentation of the goods which keep Brockton and surrounding shoe towns famous and prosperous.
Many thousands of dollars were expended in 1919 to prepare the fair grounds for Night Shows, with every part of the eighty-five acres brilliantly illuminated. One of the many superlative features of the Night Shows has been, every year, a fireworks display out-dazzling every other display of nocturnal pyrotechnics in New England.
Beginning in 1919 a Dog Show has been a feature of the fair, running four days, different dogs every day.
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Fred F. Field became president of the Brockton Agricultural Society in 1919, following the death of William B. Cross, the third president of the society. Hon. Henry W. Robinson was the first president, holding the position from 1874 until his death in 1907. He was suc- ceeded by Charles Howard who resigned in 1917, became honorary president, and was succeeded by William B. Cross.
President Field, the present incumbent, has worked wonders on the fair grounds in converting them into a beautiful park, which is open to the public all through the year. The buildings have been placed on new foundations, put into the best condition, improved, enlarged and made suitable for their respective purposes. Streets have been built, extensive lawns and flower beds, attractive shrubbery, suitable fences, gateways and other things supplied, so that there are no more at- tractive fairgrounds among the 10,000 in North America.
Since 1920 the State shows have been under the management of J. Joseph Cahill who has worked his part of the program up to such a state of perfection that a statement concerning so-called "free attrac- tions" at the Brockton Fair a few years ago led to country-wide con- troversy. A statement appeared in one of the theatrical papers that the Brockton Fair offered "free attractions" costing $10,000. The popu- lar interpretations of the term "free attraction" covers those features of entertainment which became available to those who do not have to pay anything more than admission at the gate to enjoy. The editor of one amusement journal challenged the statement, and asked if it could be substantiated. He was furnished with details which proved to his satisfaction that the statement was far too conservative.
Attractions which cost $225,000 that year, on the vaudeville stages, in the outdoor Horse Show rings, in the athletic field, on the track and elsewhere, were in full view of the 278,000 people who paid their ad- mission fee at the gate. Many fairs have their buildings and fences so placed and constructed that inside admissions are required to see many of the entertainment and educational features. Nothing is. hidden or charged for on the Brockton fairgrounds beyond the gate admission, making the fair justly entitled to its characterization as the place "where a single admission gives in return the greatest value for the money of any place of amusement in the country."
Not all of the attractions included in the $225,000 purchases are under the supervision of Mr. Cahill, but he has general charge of the stage shows and track features.
The society observed its Golden Anniversary in 1923. One of the features was the dedication of its new Agricultural Building, the largest and handsomest building devoted to the exhibition of fruits, vegetables, flowers, Grange exhibits, Home and School Gardens harvests and api- arian products in the United States.
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AIRPLANE VIEW OF BROCKTON FAIR GROUNDS, THE GATHERING PLACE OF 300,000 PEOPLE THE FIRST WEEK IN OCTOBER OF EACH YEAR
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The year 1924 will go down in history as the year of the exhibit of a $150,000 necklace or electric novagem scintillator containing 30,000 jewels which rivalled diamonds in their entrancing brilliancy. With the aid of thirty powerful searchlights and the accessories of clouds of live steam and smoke bombs, the Night Shows furnished something never before exhibited in New England. It was also the year of the United States Government Aviation Meet, with all representative types of gov- ernment airplanes on exhibition and in flight. It was the last word in airship displays between the two oceans.
This year the fair will hold the seventh annual pure food exposition as one of its features. When the Food Show, as it is popularly called, was made a feature of the fair in 1921, it immediately took on the proportions of the most largely attended food exposition in New Eng- land and has continued to grow larger each successive year, until in 1927 much additional space was demanded. It is an educational feature, exhibiting the best in food products and displaying the most approved methods of food preservation and most approved utensils and equipment used in cooking.
For several years there has been an exhibition of farm machinery in a big circus tent which has done much to educate the farmers con- cerning inventions which take much of the drudgery and backache out of agriculture and speed up production. One of the recently added educational departments is that devoted to Better Homes, teaching nutrition, home economics and better living conditions and attain- ments, through inexpensive means. In 1927 a building, 200 feet long and 125 feet wide, was first devoted to House and Home Exhibits of modern means of home equipment with gas and electrical devices, and all 'that goes into home-making and housekeeping.
The special features, aggregation of shows, and wonderful entertain- ment mentioned are largely in excess of the presentations of the or- dinary fairs of the better sort. It has often been said that the Brock- ton Fair starts where others leave off, and with considerable truth. At the same time, it is still a "cattleshow," continues to exhibit the domestic animals and the folk of the barnyard, the expressions of the skill and talent of the farmer and the farmer's wife. It operates all the year round, doesn't wait for one fair to be over before plans are made for the next or one even farther in the future, through its city office keeps constructive publicity going the rounds and lends a helping hand continually.
The present officers of the Brockton Agricultural Society are : Pres- ident, Fred F. Field; secretary, Perley G. Flint; treasurer, Edward M. Thompson; vice-presidents : Edward M. Thompson, Walter Rapp, Fred Drew, Horace A. Keith, Frank L. Crocker; hon. director, Abbott W. Packard; directors, Carlton R. Blades, William A. Boyden, Harry
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C. Briggs, J. Joseph Cahill, Frank L. Crocker, Harold S. Crocker, Davis M. DeBard, Fred Drew, Fred F. Field, Fred F. Field, Jr., Perley G. Flint, Elmer E. Folsom, Alton B. Hastings, Jr., Ralph E. Hatch, Wil- liam N. Howard, Horace A. Keith, James P. Keith, Albert F. Nelson, Everett T. Packard, Frank E. Packard, A. Roger Perkins, Charles H. Pope, Clarence C. Puffer, Walter Rapp, Horace Richmond, Edward M. Thompson, Edward H. Tindale, Herbert L. Tinkham, F. Harold Tolman, Harry C. Tolman.
The following is a list of the heads of departments: Advertising, Harry C. Tolman; Athletics, Horace A. Keith; Charitable Organiza- tions, George H. Leach; Children's Sports, James P. Keith; Claim Agent, Clarence C. Puffer ; Commercial Horse Show, Alton B. Hastings, Jr .; Concessions, Loyed W. Briggs; Dairy Show, Herbert L. Tinkham ; Day Nursery, Mrs. C. S. Millet; Dog Show, Herbert L. Tinkham ; Educational Building, Davis M. DeBard; Electrical Committee, Albert F. Nelson; Fair News, F. Harold Tolman; Farm Machinery, A. Roger Perkins; Food Inspector, Dr. Charles G. Miles; Food Show, Elmer E. Folsom ; Fruits-Vegetables-Flowers, Edward H. Tindale; Gates, Henry Rapp; Governor's Day, Walter Rapp; Grange Exhibit, William N. Howard; Horse Show, Fred F. Field; Household Arts, Fred Drew; Industrial Exhibit, Joseph C. Crocker, Jr .; Junior Extension Club Work, George L. Farley; Muster, Frank L. Crocker ; Police, Herbert Boyden ; Poultry Show, Everett T. Packard; Publicity Department, Elroy S. Thompson ; School Gardens, Miss Annie L. Burke; Sheep and Swine, Ralph E. Hatch; Special Exhibits, William A. Bullivant; Style Show, Frank E. Packard; Ticket Committee, Harold S. Crocker; Transpor- tation, Carlton R. Blades; Trotting, Harry C. Briggs; Work, Draft Horses and Oxen, James F. Powers; Vaudeville, J. Joseph Cahill.
Plymouth County Agricultural Society-Until the organization of the Brockton Agricultural Society in 1874, the largest agricultural fair in this part of the country was carried on by the Plymouth County Agri- cultural Society on extensive grounds near the centre of Bridgewater. This grand old society was organized at the county courthouse in Plymouth in 1819. Its membership included many of the most prom- inent men and women of the county and it was the organization brought together most effectually, with a county significance and consciousness, of any which existed.
There was an exhibition hall on an eminence on the grounds, above Town River in Bridgewater, which was the pride of the society. This was destroyed by fire in 1890. The fair of 1891 was held with the exhibits shown in a large tent. The prominent feature of the fair in those days was the annual dinner, at which prominent men in Federal and State offices and in various other lines of activity made speeches. At the fair of 1891, Governor William E. Russell was the principal
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speaker. There was an especially large attendance and much encourage- ment was given toward erecting a new exhibition hall. This was done the following year.
Some years ago it became expedient for the society to accept a tempting offer for its fairgrounds and they were converted into a brickyard. Since that time the annual fair has been held in several locations in the county, sometimes under special direction of the Grange in West Bridgewater, a few years on the historic green at Halifax and more recently at Grange Park in Bridgewater.
The present officers of the Plymouth County Agricultural Society include: President, Ernest Leach; secretary, Mrs. Alice G. Leach; and treasurer, William S. Beatty. The annual fairs are held on the park of Bridgewater Grange.
Hingham Agricultural and Horticultural Society-For many years a large number of farmers and gardeners in Hingham and vicinity were associated together for the purpose of holding an annual fair and other- wise promoting the interests of agriculture in the community. This organization styled itself the Hingham Agricultural and Horticultural Society after a preliminary meeting held October 1, 1858. The society was proposed by Fearing Burr who presented at a meeting October 27 by-laws which were adopted. The original officers were: President, Albert Fearing; vice-presidents: Solomon Lincoln, David Whiton and Charles W. Cushing ; recording secretary, Edmund Hersey ; correspond- ing secretary, Thomas T. Bouve; treasurer, Joseph H. French; direc- tors: Albert Whiting, Seth Sprague, Henry Cushing, Henry Ripley, John Stephenson, Elijah Leavitt, Morris Fearing, Amos Bates, John' Lincoln, Warren A. Hersey, John R. Brewer and Thomas L. Whiton.
The first annual fair was held September 28 and 29, 1859. The exhibition of domestic animals was on the open lot in Hingham Centre. Other exhibits were in the Town Hall. One of the features on the morning of the second day was a float bearing four groups of young ladies, representing the seasons, drawn by fifty yokes of oxen, driven by Charles W. Cushing. Captain Alfred G. Hersey was marshal of the parade, led by the Boston Brigade Band, and escorted by survivors of the old rifle company, under Captain John K. Corbett, of the Lincoln Light Infantry. This military organization a short time afterward answered the call of Governor John A. Andrew, a resident of Hingham, for Civil War duty. The parade ended at a large tent in which the first annual dinner was held with six hundred guests.
Fairgrounds were purchased, consisting of sixteen acres at the corner of East and Leavitt streets. An exhibition hall was erected and its dedication came September 25, 1867. Albert Fearing, who served as president of the society from its institution in 1858 till his death in
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1875, gave six thousand five hundred dollars toward the erection of the hall.
The Hingham Agricultural and Horticultural Society still exists as a useful organization in the town but discontinued holding an annual agricultural fair many years ago.
Marshfield Agricultural and Horticultural Society-One of the local fairs in Massachusetts which remains true to the best traditions of the movement which has done so much for the promotion of agriculture and community service is that held at Marshfield each year, under direction of the Marshfield Agricultural and Horticultural Society. This society was organized in 1866 and the following year incorporated. It had three hundred and thirty-seven members when it made its first annual report in 1868. An exhibition hall was nearly completed when it was demolished by the severe gale of September, 1869. Another was completed shortly afterward.
The original officers were : President, George M. Baker; vice-president, Levi Walker; secretary, John Baker; auditor, Warren Kent; directors: Luther Thomas, Constant Oakman, Frank P. Arnold, Stephen Henry, Charles T. Hatch, Charles P. Wright, Joseph O. Cole, Jonathan S. Ford, Bailey Chandler, James S. Bates and Hiram Randall.
Among those who served the society as president was the late Thomas W. Lawson, the noted financier, author of "Frenzied Finance" and other books. During the time Mr. Lawson had his Dreamwold estate at Scituate he contributed generously the products of his extensive farm at the annual fairs, exhibited his show horses and took a special interest in the Marshfield Fair, which was the one nearest his home and heart.
The officers and directors for 1927 are as follows: President, Joseph J. Shepherd, Pembroke; first vice-president, Harold B. Vesper, Rock- land; second vice-president, Gilbert H. West, Pembroke; third vice- president, Edward S. O'Neil, Duxbury ; treasurer, Ralph C. Ewell, Marsh- field; secretary, Shirley R. Crosse, Marshfield; auditor, Horace T. Fogg, Norwell; directors: Ernest H. Sparrell, Norwell; Joseph C. Hagar, Marshfield; Fred M. Lamson, Marshfield; John H. Gutterson, Norwell; Walter Shuebruk, Cohasset; Arthur L. Power, Norwell; Frank S. Alger, Rockland; Fred W. Cole, Scituate; Silas Wright, Marshfield; Everett S. Damon, Rockland; Charles C. Langille, Marshfield; Phillip B. Oak- man, Marshfield; Horace C. Keene, Marshfield; Henry H. Cudworth, Marshfield; Frank Kenny, Winthrop; Bradford H. Pierce, South Han- son ; Ralph W. Newdick, Marshfield; Milton L. Kerr, Cohasset; Walter S. Kerr, Cohasset; Herbert A. Ryder, Marshfield; Edgar C. Thayer, Pembroke; Joseph W. Parker, Marshfield; William A. Howard, Pem- broke; Charles J. Hollis, Weymouth.
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Woman's Board-Mrs. Joseph C. Hagar, Marshfield Hills, president ; Mrs. Herman Kent, Marshfield, vice-president ; Mrs. Edmond L. Damon, Marshfield Hills, secretary ; Mrs. John Baker, Marshfield; Mrs. George P. Bryant, Brant Rock; Mrs. Herbert B. Chamberlain, Hanover Center; Mrs. George H. Chandler, Marshfield; Miss Lydia T. Chandler, Marsh- field; Miss Alice Hatch, North Marshfield; Miss Lucretia Hatch, North Marshfield; Miss Florence L. Keene, Marshfield; Mrs. Claude R. Marvin, Marshfield; Mrs. Joseph W. Parker, Marshfield; Miss Catherine T. Phil- lips, South Hanover; Mrs. H. A. Ryder, Marshfield; Mrs. John H. Spar- rell, Norwell; Mrs. Helmuth Weber, Marshfield; Miss Addie M. Wil- liamson, Marshfield.
Middleboro Agricultural Society - Something new in the line of agricultural fairs was furnished by the Middleboro Agricultural Society when it held its first annual fair May 27, 29 and 30, 1927, as this was much earlier than any of the other fairs. It was the time for early planting rather than for harvesting, consequently there were no exhibits of fruits and vegetables but what was missing in "big pumpkins" was made up in other features. Particular attention was paid to the trotting and pacing events. There was a horse show, polo, motorcycle racing, style show and fireworks. The society has a good race-track and can take care of a large attendance.
The first fair was a success and the society expects to take its place with the other agricultural societies in the county and vicinity in promoting the interests of the community along agricultural, sporting and educational lines.
The officers of the society include : President, Dr. Leonard A. Baker ; vice-president, Ezra F. Shaw; secretary-treasurer, Norman C. Smith.
The Plymouth County Health Association was organized in April, 1923, by a small group of people, which included a number of physicians and nurses actively engaged in public health work. The new organiza- tion was welcomed by the constituted health authorities and much in- terest in the movement was developed. It has been from the first affiliated with the Massachusetts Tuberculosis League. The object of the association is to cooperate with this league and "existing health agencies in the county, in the stimulation, promotion and coordination of anti-tuberculosis and general health work."
Membership in the association is open to all persons of the county interested in constructive public health work, members of the State Department of Health, county commissioners, superintendent of Plym- outh County Hospital, and ex-officio members of the association. Each town in Plymouth County has a member on the board of directors chosen by its Nursing Service, and where the sale of anti-tuberculosis seals is conducted by an organization other than the Nursing Service,
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such an organization also has one member on the board. Further representation is allowed: one member for each $500 raised by seal sales in the town during the previous year, to be chosen by the same organization, and the chairman of the County Commissioners, the super- intendent of the County Hospital and five members-at-large elected by the association.
There is a Field and Camp Committee whose duty it is to promote the holding of clinics in the various towns in cooperation with the State Department of Health; assist in obtaining nurses for public emergencies, and such other activities as may be of value; arrange for the operation of a summer camp on the County Hospital grounds with power to employ a director and other helpers for its maintenance within the appropriation fixed by the directors; study and report on the best method of doing year-round preventive work.
Dr. James H. Drohan, of Brockton, became its first president, and the board of directors included representatives of boards of health, superintendents of county and State tuberculosis hospitals, school physi- cians, representatives of visiting nurse associations, and others in- terested in public health work in the county. Miss Anna J. Foley, R. N., has been executive secretary since organization.
About the time the Plymouth County Association was organized, the State Department of Health began its ten years' program for the eradication of tuberculosis by holding school clinics for the examina- tion of school children throughout the Commonwealth. Dr. Chadwick had demonstrated that about one-third of the school population was undernourished, and that eight per cent of this group- was actually suffering from a hitherto unrecognized juvenile type of tuberculosis which under certain conditions was curable.
Here was an opportunity which the newly-formed association was quick to recognize. The most effective way to combat the disease in children was said to be placing them in a camp where they would live practically out-of-doors, get the required amount of rest and plenty of wholesome food.
In organizing the association one of the ways in which the founders hoped to make it useful was by cooperation with the County Hospital, and the friendly relations thus established proved to be most fortunate in the matter of the proposed camp. The County Commissioners were immediately interested and offered to provide a suitable location, medical supervision and equipment and to furnish nourishing food practically at cost. This offer was gladly accepted and the camp established, nine children enjoying the benefit of it during the month of August, 1923. The first camp was more or less of an experiment but the improvement in the condition of the children was so marked at the end of the month that its permanence was assured. During the summer of 1924 the
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camp cared for eighty-three children, boys being admitted in July and girls in August. The results again were satisfactory but it was felt that four weeks was too short a period in which to build up a resistance to disease which should be permanent and on July 1, 1925, seventy children, boys and girls, were admitted for the full eight weeks of the camp. This plan was continued during 1926, boys and girls from six to twelve years of age being admitted on July first and remaining until August twenty-fifth.
The association sponsors an all-year health education program in schools and clubs, including the Grange and Industrial groups. The Modern Health Crusade is carried into the schools, and health plays and health poster contests encouraged. "Health days" and "health weeks" are promoted and valuable literature pertaining to the preven- tion of disease and the importance of good health is distributed.
The association also assists in the organization of public health com- mittees and visiting nurse associations in towns in which such com- mittees do not exist-particularly in these towns in which little or no health work is being done. It is hoped by this plan to have visiting nurse service eventually throughout the entire county.
In towns in which nursing service already exists the Plymouth County Association encourages and aids in the extension of the work to include "clinics" and "conferences" for the well baby and the pre-school child.
This association is the sole agent for the distribution of Christmas seals in Plymouth County and it is largely dependent on the money raised from the sale of these seals for the prosecution of its work. Fifty per cent of the money thus raised reverts to the towns for local health work.
Although much has been accomplished during the three and one- half years of its existence, the association faces an ever-widening horizon of possibilities for usefulness which can only be realized through the generous support of all those who believe in health as the foundation of prosperity and happiness.
The First State Normal School Building in America was dedicated in Bridgewater, August 19, 1846. On that occasion, Hon. Horace Mann, secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education, a noted educator, said: "Among all the lights and shadows that ever crossed my path, this day's radiance is the brightest. Two years ago, I would have been willing to compromise for ten years' work, as hard as any I had ever performed, to have been assured that, at the end of that period, I should see what our eyes this day behold. I consider this event as marking an era in the progress of education-which as we all know is the progress of civilization-on this western continent, and throughout the world. It is the completion of the first normal schoolhouse ever erected in Massachusetts,-in the Union,-in this hemisphere. It belongs to Plym-32
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