Fair photo from Kosciusko County, photo courtesy of Kosciusko Historical Society

Editor’s note: This is part of a historical series. The following is information from a 1942 article. The article is from the files of the Kosciusko County Historical Society. All photos courtesy of Kosciusko Historical Society.

WARSAW — In view of the fact that there appears to be a division of sentiment concerning the question of holding the annual county fair on the streets of Warsaw, a brief history of the origin and subsequent career of Kosciusko County fairs may not be altogether inappropriate.

The Kosciusko County Agricultural Society was organized June 2, 1855, with the following officers: President David Rippey; Vice President M. A. Bierce, S. Hoppus and John Makemson; Secretary George Moon; and Treasurer Samuel H. Chipman. This organization was for the purpose of inaugurating county fairs and it was decided to hold a fair the following year. The first fair was held in the courthouse and courtyard in Warsaw in the fall of 1856, and was not only well-attended but exhibited an unusual degree of skill in many departments of agriculture and housewifery, and was a financial success.

A committee appointed to consider the purchase of fairgrounds reported in favor of a tract of six acres owned by A. T. S. Kist, immediately south of the Tippecanoe River bridge in the northwest part of town. (Note -The old bridge was removed in 1903 when the course of the Tippecanoe River was changed by construction of the canal a couple miles north of the city which took the river away from Warsaw. It is now generally conceded that this change in the river’s course was a serious mistake.) 

These grounds were purchased, fenced and cleared, and temporary buildings were erected and occupied as fairgrounds until the year 1861, when it was decided that more room was needed. The society proceeded to negotiate for 10 acres in a tract located in what is now East Warsaw, owned by Abner Baker. The purchase of the new tract was made on May 18, 1861. The new grounds were cleared, fenced and substantial buildings erected. The first fair was held on the new grounds Oct. 2, 3 and 4, 1861. The event was remarkably well-attended and citizens of the county generally displayed much interest. It proved a financial success.

The first race track constructed was only one-third of a mile circuit. In 1874, it was the opinion of members of the society that the grounds were not large enough to accommodate a race track of sufficient dimensions to attract fast horses from a distance. Consequently, a new tract was advocated, and the society purchased five acres of adjoining land from Dr. Jacob Boss. A new race track measuring a half-mile circuit was then constructed. The tract then consisted of approximately 15 to 20 acres and comprised the area now bounded on the north by Center Street, on the east by what is now Bronson Street, on the west by Scott Street and on the south by the right-of-way of the Pennsylvania railroad.

Juvenile Resourcefulness.

The grounds were enclosed by a tight board fence about 8 feet in height. The main entrance gate opened on Center Street at the point where is now located Maple Avenue. Right here, let it be recorded that the high board fence at aforesaid was regarded as an awful barrier against pleasure and enjoyment by many small boys of the community who were thereby unable to indulge in daily attendance at the fair on account of the inability to dig up the necessary price of admission. In fact, that fence appeared to be the bane of their sweet young lives.

Kosciusko County Fair

After a short time, however, with customary juvenile resource in cases of extreme emergency, an organization was perfected and acrobatic rehearsals conducted. Sufficient skills were developed whereby one of the more sturdy lads would hold another on his shoulders, and one of the smaller boys would crawl up the backs of the other two and easily drop over the fence. He would then tie a stout rope around a nearby tree and throw the loose end over the fence to his comrades. The larger boys were thus enabled to climb “hand-over-hand” to the top of the fence and drop down inside the grounds.

Another scheme successfully employed by the boys to provide mass free admission was to form a “syndicate,” skirmish sufficient junk to bring pennies and nickels to the amount of 50 cents, the price of a three-day juvenile ticket. One lad would purchase a ticket, enter the grounds at the gate, then proceed to the fence near the railroad where were assembled his comrades, push the ticket through a crack in the fence to another member of the gang, who in turn would repeat the performance, and so on until the entire crew had obtained admission to the great Kosciusko County Fair for the price of one ticket. True, the management had watchmen stationed at various locations to prevent illegal entrance, but the kids cleverly countered by watching the watchmen.

The new half-mile race track was considered one of the best in the central west, and many horses of note in the speed world encircled this track on various occasions. The Kosciusko County Fair attracted great crowds from this and adjoining counties. Lengthy processions of farm wagons and other horse-drawn vehicles made their way over dusty (often muddy) country roads into Warsaw to view the exhibits and participate in the agricultural fiesta.

Transformation and Retrospection

The tract which once comprised the old fairgrounds is now traversed by paved streets. More than 50 attractive residences are located on the site, in addition to a half dozen store buildings and a church. Only a portion of the southeast corner of the tract is yet vacant.

A large pond, which might truthfully be termed a miniature lake, long since drained out, covered a goodly portion of the east side of the grounds. Water lilies grew in profusion. Boys attending school in a little round frame schoolhouse nearby would push with poles flimsily-constructed rafts over the pond and gather lilies for their schoolgirl sweethearts. This school was a private institution conducted by Miss Florence Frasier, daughter of the late George W. Frasier, a prominent Warsaw attorney of those days.

It is comforting to know that since the planting of the old fairgrounds, many of those who have purchased lots and built homes thereon have wisely preserved a number of the sturdy hickory trees and spreading oaks which in earlier years afforded shade and shelter for the multitude, most of whom are now in attendance at the assembly in the Great Beyond.

With the collapse of the Kosciusko County Agricultural Society in 1885, no fairs were held in the county for a number of years. However, in the year 1906, a few public spirited citizens conceived the idea of inaugurating a free street fair, to be conducted in part on the carnival plan. Among the originators of the free street fair idea were: President Charles Ker; Vice President Capt. C. W. Scott; Secretary W. S. Rogers; Directors Ben Phillipson and Conrad Schade; and Manager of Amusements Gordon Rutter.

The first race track constructed was only one-third of a mile circuit. In 1874, it was the opinion of members of the society that the grounds were not large enough to accommodate a race track of sufficient dimensions to attract fast horses from a distance.

1917 Kosciusko County Fair band — The two drummers in front, left to right, are Charles Hillegas of Warsaw, and Mr. Woods, first name not recalled, of Warsaw; in the second row, left to right, are Louis Mendel, an unidentified member, Elmer Vandermark of Palestine, Harry Edgington of Warsaw, an unidentified member and Loren Hall of Milford; in the back row, left to right, are Charles Jeffries of Mentone, Millard Stookey of Leesburg, Elmo Calvert of Warsaw, Edison Vandermark of Palestine and Charles Ross of Clunette. Standing in the background at the courthouse door is Jake Huffer.