Frankville Fair – Sept 26th and 27th, 1895
From the pages of The Athen’s Reporter and County of Leeds Advertiser, Tuesday Aug 20, 1895 issue we have learned a bit about the annual Fair held in Frankville. Unlike the fair held at Unionville, it appears to be a smaller county fair. The list of prizes and judging catagories gives us some idea into what the fair was like.
If you read further down this page after the list of prizes, The Athen’s Reporter of Oct 1st, 1895 gives an account of a day at the fair.
The officers of the Frankville Fair Association, recognizing the fact that the cash and special prises that have been so freely given by he businessmen of the surrounding towns and villages have been of great help in bringing our fair up to its high standard as a Township Show, desire to once more take this opportunity of returning thanks to all those that have contributed so generously to the success of our fair.
John F. Wood, M.P., Brockville Cash $20.00
Walter Beatty, M.P.P., Delta “ $10.00
Montreal Bank, Brockville Branch “ $10.00
Toronto Bank, Brockville “ “ $10.00
Molson’s Bank, Brockville “ “ $10.00
Molson’s Bank, Smith’s Falls, “ “ $10.00
Union Bank of Canada, Smith’s Falls “ $10.00
Jas. Cummings, Lyn “ $ 5.00
W.A.Edgers, Frankville “ $ 5.00
R.Brownbridge, Frankville “ $ 5.00
D.Derbyshire, Brockville “ $ 5.00
R.Bowie, Brockville “ $ 5.00
W.H.Comstock, Brockville “ $ 5.00
Pair General Purpose Horses
The James Smart Manufacturing Company, Brockville, One Dandy Perfection coal stove, value $6.00, to first.
William Johnston, Dealer in Dairy Produce, Brockville, One bag of sale, value $1.25 to second.
Pair Carriage Horses
Central Canada Coal Company (limited) Brockville. James Reynolds Secretary. When in want of any kind of coal, call on us before purchasing elsewhere. One ton of coal in yard, value $5.00 to first.
John Briggs & Sons, Sash & Door Factory, Brockville- Goods to the value of $1.50 to second.
Pair of Roadsters
Cossitt Bros, Agricultural Instruments, Brockville-One set mowing maching knives, value $3.50 to first.
D.Allport, Proprietor Smith’s Falls Woolen Mill.- One piece of flannel, value $1.25 to second.
Pair Carriage Horses Sixteen Hands, to be Driven by a Lady
J,R.McNish, General Produce Merchant, Brockville, Cash $4.00, to first
WR.Gardiner, Manager Edged Tool Works, Brockville, One axe and helve [sic], value $1.50 to second.
Single Driver, to be driven by owner’s wife or daughter
R.W.Steacy, jeweller, Smith’s Falls, Piece of silver ware, value $3.00 to first
D.W. Downey, Boot & Shoe Store, Brockville – One pair of Ladies’ boots, valu $1.50 to second
Single Roadster
A.S. Ault & Co, coal merchants, Brockville. Farmers and blacksmiths will find it to their own advantage to call on us when in town for either stove or blacksmith coal. Stove coal was sell for $5.00 per ton in our yard., Office, Kings st. east.- Ten lengths 4 inch sewer pipe, value $3.00 to first
G.A.Rudd, manufacturer of Harness, buggy tops, &c. -\One whip, value $1.50 to second.
Three Year Old Colt in Harness
William Gilroy & Co., general merchants, Smith’s Falls- One carriage rug, value $1.75 to first
Copy of the Brockville Times to the second, value $1.00
Bicycle Race, Ladies
E.J.Scott, jeweller, Smith’s Falls- Ladies’ Ring, value $4.00 to first
R.Davis & Sons, merchants, Brockville – One Silk handkerchief, value $1.00 to second
Cow showing most milking points
Smith & Knapp. Cash $5,.00 – $3.00 to first and $2.00 to second, Competition open to Patrons of Barlow’s and Frankville cheese factories only.
Collection of Oil Paintings
R.H.Smart, hardware merchant- Carpet-sweeper, value $2.50 to first
Allen Turner & Co., druggists, Brockville – Selection of tube colors and brushes, value $1.25 to second.
Collection of Crayon Drawings
W.Johnston, druggist, Smith’s Falls- Fancy case, value $1.50 to first
Copy of Weekly Times to second
Collection of Water Colors
A.H. Swarts, furniture dealer and undertaker, Brockville. Call and see my stock and you will be surprised at the wonderful low prices. –One bamboo table, value $1.50 to first; Copy of Brockville Times, value $1.00 to second
Colony of Working Bees
Cossitt Bros. Ag’l Implements Mfg., Brockville- One set mowing machie knives, value $3.50 to first
William Martin, general agent Massey Harris Mfg. Co., Brockville – Cash $2.00 to second.
Display of Honey
Agricultural Society – $4.00 to first
Alex. McCrady & Son’s Brockville – Pair Driving mitts, value $3.00 to second
Twenty Pound Crock of Butter
The Rathbum Co., dealers in lumber, sash, doors and factory goods, coal, all sizes, best quality and at lowest prices; also bran, shorts, Flour and feed – 100 lbs, Diadem flour, value $2.50 to first
Collection of Fruit
John Culbert, Rock Bottom Grocery, Brockville- Caddy tea value $2.00 to first, copy of the Weekly Recorder to second
Two Colored Cheeses
D.Derbyshire, produce dealer, Brockville- Cash $5.00-$3.00 to first and $2.00 to second
Two White Cheese
W.J.Cluff, dealer in cheese factory supplies, dairy products and general insurance agents, Brockville- Cash $2.00 to first
T.Gilmour & Co., wholesale grocers, Brockville- One caddy tea, value $2.00 to second
Display of Fancy Work
R. Hawkins, Tinsmith, eavetroughing and dealer in Stoves and Cooking Ranges – A Bird Cage value $1.25
Artificial Paper Flowers
Charles C. Lyman & Co., dry goods merchants, Brockville- Oil cloth floor mat, value $1.00
Best Looking Young Lady
William Coates & Son, practical opticians, Brockville – One silver necklace $1.00, prize winner to call for prize
Best Matched Pair of Cows
E.G. Dobbie, hardware merchant Brockville- Set knives and forks, value $1.50
Mantle Drape
C.M. Babcock, staple and dry goods Merchant, Brockville – One umbrella, value $1.00
The Athen’s Reporter and County of Leeds Advertiser Tuesday Oct 1, 1895 issue
Frankville’s Big Exhibition
The Exhibition Went on “Lively all the While” – The people were there in Thousands and Everybody had a Great Big Time, –
Thursday morning opened up pretty glum and gloomy for the managers of Dave Dowsley’s big show, but about noon the clouds brook away, the sun showed its face for the rest of the day and the exhibitors made a big rush and push to exceed all the township and many other county fairs in Eastern Ontario.
The show of horses was pronounced by competent judges to be the largest and best of all the fairs in this section, and while the Reporter is not an expert in horse lore, we must coincide with the universal verdict.
Cattle, sheep, and swine were shown in large quantities and were a marked improvement on all former exhibits in breeding…… (page ripped and part of this story is missing)…..and quantity of root crop, and we have attended nearly every exhibition of the Frankville fair and have no hesitation in saying that the display was the best ever seen there. We would, however, suggest to the managers that if more care were exercised in placing each class or variety of exhibits together and putting a couple of windows more in front end of Main hall it would add very materially to the convenience of visitors who wish to thoroughly inspect the various exhibits.
Outside on the grounds, the last afternoon, the fun was fast and furious. The trials of speed drew a large crowd to the side of the track.
The Merry-go-Round did not get into running order until late in the afternoon of the last day, but from that until the close every space was occupied. The musical wonder was there also and drew a fair sized crowd. The darkey, barber acrobat, and grey eyed Annie combination came in for a share of attention. A tintype gallery, a number of Aunt Sallies, and a phonograph man, each tried and fairly succeeded, in drawing a few shekels from the pockets of the crowd.
In the inner circle “Uncle Dave” mounted a stocky mare, ‘wearing the same white “Greely plug” that has done duty for so many years, was the High Muckety-Muck of the sports. A barrel race, wheelbarrow race, running race (forward and backward), smoking race, run and jump, bun feed, and pig race were all run off in lively time and afforded and endless amount of fun for the spectators.
On the track, Moonstone, Bayonet, Texas Pointer, and Daisy had a close contest for supremacy, with the result that Bayonet got 1st, Moonstone 2nd, and Texas Pointer 3rd place.
A bicycle race was wheeled off between the heats and resulted in Brownlee 1st and Moles 2nd.
The baby show attracted a lot of interested spectators. Mayor Culbert and the Recorder man acting as judges. They could not do better than to award the prize to an Athens baby, seeing that the judges at Unionville were partial enough to award the prize for the best looking young lady to that classic village. Mrs. Alex. Green was awarded the special prize.
The prize list will be published in the Recorder as soon as the secretary gets it in shape for publishing and it can be relied upon as correct and official.
be secured. A few of his acts are: Running forward and backward with feet encased in market baskets; Crossing wire blindfolded with a bul lap bag; walking backward with feet in hoops; carrying a cook stove to the centre of wire, cooking and eating a meal consisting of eggs, chops $c. Performance of one hour’s duration.
he immense canvas rose into space with the daring aeronaut clinging to a single trapeze bar, but the culmination of excitement was reached as the little cord was severed and the parachute commenced to drop. For a moment it rushed downward through space, until it filled with air, when it slowly floated away over the fields and woods and finally settled to the ground with its undaunted living freight unharmed. There need be no fear that the ascension will not take place, for if the weather proves unfavorable on the day named the high wire performance will be given instead and the balloon ascension made the following day. And then, if the weather is such that it is
most exciting scene during the fair. The process of inflating the balloon with hot air will be done in the presence of the assembled thousands. Prince Leo, the manager, is a thorough gentleman, courteous to all, and will be pleased to answer any questions relating to his feelings and experiences in the many hundreds of ascensions he has made in different parts of the world. Miss VanTassell will also personally superintend the process of inflation and see that everything is in proper order before the word to cast off is given. The opportunity to see this may never occur again, as the expense of getting this exhibition is enormous.
to return their sincere thank to exhibitors and visitors who have annually assisted to make the Fair a success. Year after year the Fair has grown in popular favour, until it is generally conceded, even by our rivals, that the Unionville Fair far outstrips all others in Eastern Ontario in the number and variety of its exhibits, the immense number that yearly congregate within its enclosures, and in the excellence of its arrangements for catering to the wants and whims of a fair going people. Our buildings are the largest and best arranged of any east of Kingston, while the Cattle, Sheep, Swine, and Poultry sheds and pens are large in number and admirably adapted to the requirements of those exhibiting. For this season we can only add that everything will be put in first class order and that no pains or expense will be spared to keep up the reputation of the Unionville Fair.
roomy with a smooth surface, and having a convenient Judges’ stand in the centre. Our fair was always noted for the largest and best exhibits of horses in the whole eastern portion of the province, and present indications are that there will be a good show in that class this fall.
f a cereal of any kind we would ask him by all means to bring it along to help keep the exhibits up to the quality usually shown. Our prizes are such as to pay any one well to make and extra effort to bring in a good sample.
always quite a lot of animals in these classes that change hands during the fair, and there is no better place for a buyer to go than to a place where he can see competing animals side by side.
if you have not enough of your own family to fill every seat, give an invitation to your neighbour to jump in and come to the greatest show on earth.
and admiration Miss VanTassel’s daring aerial sights.
Another very interesting attraction at the coming fair will be O’Connell & Salvail’s clown circus, museum and trained animal show, which will certainly be on the grounds on the last two days. Six different kinds of large colored lithographs will be hung up in a few days, giving full particulars.
and best collection of stock, grain, roots, ladies’ work and the thousand and one things that go to make up a great aggregation of agricultural products and handiwork of the farmers, mechanics, and dairymen of Leeds county. Unionville fair officers never deceived the public. They always advertise thoroughly what they have to offer their patrons and always carry out what they advertise; so that any announcements that appear over the signatures of the society may be relied upon as being bona fide. Further announcements will be made from time to time through these columns. The above is merely an introduction of what is to follow.
