THEHERITAGE
History of the
St.Mary'sCounty Fair A COUNTY IN TRANSITION
Photo Courtesy Suzanne Henderson
The Budweiser Clydesdales highlighted the St. Mary's County Fair in the Mid-1950s. Shown here with John Bernard Henderson (Rt.) at age five riding atop the Budweiser wagon.
FOREWORD The L e o n a r d t o w n H i g h S c h o o l P u b l i c a t i o n s ' S t a f f a n d S p o n s o r h o p e t h a t y o u enjoy t h i s e d i t i o n o f The H e r i t a g e w h i c h f e a t u r e s t h e H i s t o r y o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r w h i l e s h o w i n g A C o u n t y i n T r a n s i t i o n . Although space a n d t i m e d o n o t p e r m i t u s t o i n c l u d e e v e r y event o r e x h i b i t o r e v e r y p e r s o n who h a s c o n t r i b u t e d , w e h a v e a t t e m p t e d t o p r e s e n t a c r o s s s e c t i o n of t h e f a i r t o s h o w t h e atmosphere, t h e community i n v o l v e m e n t , t h e h i s t o r y , a n d growth o v e r t h e y e a r s .
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t h e same t i m e , w e h a v e a t t e m p t e d t o s h o w h o w S t .
Mary's C o u n t y ' s changes a r e r e f l e c t e d i n t h e f a i r ( A County i n T r a n s i t i o n ) . St. M a r y ' s C o u n t y has g r o w n f r o m a n a g r a r i a n based s o c i e t y t o one t h a t i s more a n d m o r e h i g h t e c h . T h e c o u n t y i s n o w f i l l e d w i t h c o n t r a c t o r s a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e P a t u x e n t R i v e r N a v a l A i r S t a t i o n . T h i s change i n t u r n a f f e c t s j o b a v a i l a b i l i t y i n t h e c o u n t y and b r i n g s i n more s m a l l b u s i n e s s e s a n d f r a n c h i s e s . As a r e s u l t , t h e c o u n t y i s g r o w i n g b y l e a p s a n d b o u n d s . A l s o many o n e - t i m e employees a r e n o w r e t u r n i n g t o S t . M a r y ' s a n d a r e r e t i r i n g
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Pleasant L i v i n g " . T h e y l i k e t h e r u r a l f l a v o r o f t h e c o u n t y a s w e l l a s i t s c l o s e p r o x i m i t y t o t h e m e t r o p o l i t a n w o r l d s o f B a l t i m o r e , A n n a p o l i s , a n d Wa s h i n g t o n . I t i s t h e r u r a l h e r i t a g e t h a t we have t r i e d t o c a p t u r e i n t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n , t h e v e r y t h i n g t h a t d r a w s m a n y t o o u r l o v e l y S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y. We w o u l d l i k e t o t a k e t h i s t i m e t o t h a n k t h e m a n y w o n d e r f u l v o l u n t e e r s w h o have g i v e n g e n e r o u s l y o f t h e i r t i m e , e n e r g y , a n d m o n e y t o m a k e t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r t h e c o m m u n i t y e v e n t i t people a t t e n d e d t h e f a i r .
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The Excitement Of It All I remember when I How t h e e x c i t e m e n t Began i n t h e When t h e t r e e s w e r e
was l i t t l e Apf t h e f a i r Autumn turning bare.
When t h e w e e k e n d a t l o n g l a s t e p p r o a c h e d You c o u l d s e n s e i t i n t h e a i r Oh t h e s i g h t s , s m e l l s , s o u n d s , The f e e l i n g o f t h e f a i r . Ye a r s l a t e r , w a l k i n g t h r o u g h t h e s e g a t e s I t a l l comes b a c k t o .me. The l a u g h t e r , t h e e x c i t e m e n t , The f e e l i n g o f b e i n g f r e e . Once a g a i n i n t h e m i d s t o f i t a l l , I can f e e l the excitement Of w h e n I w a s s m a l l .
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A Way Of Life In St. Mary's County County f a i r s h a v e b e e n a w a y o f l i f e i n A m e r i c a ' s h i s t o r y a n d h a v e g r o w n a n d changed o v e r t h e y e a r s a s e a c h c o m m u n i t y h a s e v o l v e d . R e s e a r c h i n g t h e h i s t o r y o f the S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r h a s b e e n a n o n g o i n g e n d e a v o r b y t h e P u b l i c a t i o n ' s S t a ff and Sponsor o f Leonardtown High School f o r t h e p a s t one and one h a l f y e a r s . S t u d e n t s h a v e h a d t h e u n i q u e o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n t e r a c t w i t h n u m e r o u s members o f t h e community w h o h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d i n some w a y o v e r t h e y e a r s t o t h e f a i r f r o m i t s inception t o the present. When w e b e g a n r e s e a r c h i n g t h e f a i r ' s h i s t o r y, we knew t h a t o u r c u r r e n t f a i r went b a c k a t l e a s t t o 1 9 4 7 w h e n i t w a s f i r s t h e l d a t Camp C a l v e r t ( n o w S t . Mary's Ryken H i g h S c h o o l ) . L i t t l e d i d we know a t t h e t i m e , h o w e v e r , t h a t f a i r s h a d been h e l d a t L e o n a r d H a l l i n L e o n a r d t o w n as e a r l y a s 1 9 1 2 .
An o l d S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r ticket d a t i n g 1 9 1 6 w a s found i n an old f a r m h o u s e k i t c h e n o n t h e R o b e r t Thompson f a r m b y Te d B u r c h ( b e l o w ) . H o l d i n g t h e framed t i c k e t i s C o u n t y F a i r B o a r d President, John Richards.
After that f i n d , was j u s t b e g i n n i n g .
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Thanks t o t h e h e l p o f L e o n a r d t o w n H i s t o r i a n A l Gough, J r . , w h o s u p p l i e d u s with i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e S t . M a r y ' s Beacon d a t i n g 1 9 1 2 - 1 9 1 6 a n d p i c t u r e s o f the 1 9 1 2 F a i r , a n d J o e M a t t i n g l y , J r . , whose g r a n d f a t h e r w a s a c t i v e i n t h e e a r l y f a i r a t Leonard H a l l , we were a b l e t o p u t the m i s s i n g p i e c e s t o g e t h e r .
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We h a v e t r i e d t o b e c o m p r e h e n s i v e i n o u r f i n d i n g s , b u t r e a l i z e t h a t t h e r e may b e some d e t a i l s w e h a v e o v e r l o o k e d a n d some v o l u n t e e r s whom we h a v e n o t h a d t h e t i m e to i n t e r v i e w a n d who p l a y e d a r o l e i n o u r f a i r ' s h i s t o r y. Our g o a l h a s b e e n t o s h o w a c r o s s s e c t i o n of t h e f a i r f r o m i t s o r i g i n t o t h e present. W e have w o r k e d hard t o be as accurate a s p o s s i b l e and t o i n t e r v i e w as many p e o p l e a s o u r t i m e w o u l d a l l o w . W e hope y o u e n j o y o u r e f f o r t s .
R o b e r t Thompson ( o n whose f a r m was f o u n d a 1916 t i c k e t t o t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y Fair) w a s F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t from 1961-66.
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Leonardtown p r e p a r e s f o r the c o u n t y f a i r i n 1 9 5 0 .
Life On A Farm L i f e o n a f a r m h a s n e v e r b e e n e a s y. A t t h e f i r s t c r a c k o f dawn, f e e t t o u c h the f l o o r a n d n e v e r s t o p u n t i l t h e w h o l e b o d y i s b o n e t i r e d a t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y. N o t a l l i s h a r d w o r k a n d l a b o r o n t h e f a r m , h o w e v e r . W a t c h i n g t h e s p r i n g lambs s p r i n t a c r o s s t h e b l u e - g r e e n r y e g r a s s a s r o b i n s r u n t h e i r s h o r t l i t t l e course f r o m o n e p o t e n t i a l W o r m t o a n o t h e r d e l i g h t s t h e s e n s e s a n d r e n e w s m a n ' s f a i t h i n nature and himself. Farm f a m i l i e s h a v e a l w a y s k n o w n t h i s s e n s e o f f r e e d o m a n d j o y t h a t c o m e s from b e i n g i n d e p e n d e n t a n d l i v i n g c l o s e t o t h e l a n d . T h e r e i s a s e r e n i t y t h a t boosts t h e s p i r i t a n d calms t h e s o u l . I t i s n o wonder t h a t f a r m f a m i l i e s have for generations f o u g h t hard and l o n g t o maintain t h i s l i f e s t y l e . I t i s becoming i n c r e a s i n g l y h a r d e r , h o w e v e r, f o r t h e f a m i l y f a r m t o m a i n t a i n i t s own. D r a s t i c i n c r e a s e s i n p r i c e s o f c h e m i c a l s , f e r t i l i z e r s , e q u i p m e n t , a n d l a b o r a l o n g w i t h c o m p e t i t i o n f r o m f o r e i g n m a r k e t s a r e f o r c i n g many f a m i l y f a r m s out o f b u s i n e s s o r c a u s i n g t h e m t o t a k e o n second j o b s t o m a k e e n d s m e e t . T h e farmer has a l w a y s f a c e d d i f f i c u l t i e s w i t h e c o n o m i c s and t h e e l e m e n t s , y e t h a s been a b l e t o h a n g o n a n d p u l l t h r o u g h somehow.
Claude J a r b o e s i t s a t o p a n o l d C a s e t r a c t o r w h i l e t h e m e n o n t h e h a y wagon use p i t c h f o r k s f o r s m o o t h i n g h a y a n d m o v i n g i t a r o u n d f o r b e t t e r p a c k i n g .
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Hog Killing Was Common On Most Farms. (L) R o b e r t J a r b o e , u n i d e n t i f i e d , J o e Shepard, a n d C l a u d e J a r b o e b u t c h e r h o g s on t h e J a r b o e f a r m .
Claude J a r b o e ( b o t t o m R t . ) Families and f r i e n d s would get t o g e t h e r t o k i l l h o g s . They w o u l d c u r e t h e i r o w n hams i n smoke h o u s e s . T h e lard w o u l d b e g r o u n d i n large enamel p a n s . "We had an e l e c t r i c m e a t g r i n d e r , " said Jarboe. T h e f a t w a s boiled i n a large, round vat w i t h a d o o r a t t h e bottom f o r b u r n i n g wood. "You h a d t o s t i r t h e b o i l ing f a t c o n s t a n t l y s o a s not t o s t i c k . " I t was strained a n d p o u r e d through a m e t a l s i e v e w i t h a cheese c l o t h i n t h e bottom.
Top r i g h t : E l i z a b e t h J a r b o e ( L ) and M a r y R u t h S h e p a r d o n C l a u d e Jarboe f a r m . Bottom l e f t : C l a u d e J a r b o e rendering up l a r d . H o g f a t w a s boiled i n l a r g e v a t s and p o u r e d into metal cans f o r cooking. Photos — 1950 s
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Tobacco i s s y n o n y m o u s w i t h S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y
"The g r e a s e w a s s k i m m e d o f f t h e t o p ; the b o t t o m w a s d a r k e r a n d w h a t was left--the dried f a t a n d pieces of skin ( K r a k l i n ) c o u l d be p u t i n t h e oven t o m a k e t h e m c r i s p , " s a i d Jarboe.
The o n e - h o r s e p l o w w a s a common sight a t one time i n S t . Mary's C o u n t y. C l a u d e J a r b o e a t Mulberry F i e l d s w h i c h h e managed a t o n e t i m e .
" To c u r e hams w e w o u l d r u b M o r t o n Sugar C u r e ( a d r y s a l t ) o n t h e m a n d l a y t h e m s k i n down o n a s h e l f a n d about A p r i l , p u t h a m s i n a p a p e r bag t o k e e p t h e s k i p p e r s o u t t h e n hang t h e m i n t h e m e a t h o u s e i n a cloth/muslin bag. B a c o n w a s cured in the m e a t house a l s o , " J a r b o e recalled. Hogs w e r e k i l l e d a n y t i m e a f t e r Thanksgiving; i t had t o be c o l d .
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Leonard Hall F o s t e r i n g A Love For Rural Life I t s e e m s t h e P r i n c i p a l A i m s i n t h e o r i g i n a l Prospectus and Catalogue o f Leonard H a l l a r e e c h o e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e b a s i c p h i l o s o p h y o f t h e c o u n t y f a i r a n d 4-H i n p a r t i c u l a r . L e o n a r d t o w n H i s t o r i a n , A l G o u g h , J r . , s u p p l i e d o u r s t a f f w i t h the f o l l o w i n g q u o t e f r o m t h e o r i g i n a l P r o s p e c t u s a n d C a t a l o g u e o f L e o n a r d H a l l .
L i v e s t o c k show a t Leonard H a l l ( 1 9 1 2 - 1 9 1 4 ) . ( L t o R t . ) T a y l o r ( l a s t name), u n i d e n t i f i e d , S o n n y T h o m a s s h o w i n g b l a c k angus c a t t l e . L e o n a r d H a l l opened S e p t . 2 0 , 1 9 0 9 a n d t h e s c h o o l ' s curriculum s t r e s s e d s t r o n g emphasis o n a g r i c u l t u r e . T h e f i r s t St. M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r was h e l d t h e r e i n 1912. Leonard H a l l w a s f o u n d e d i n 1 9 0 9 a n d b y 1 9 1 4 - 1 9 1 5 a l r e a d y h a d i n p l a c e t h e following aims: "Besides a t h o r o u g h h i g h s c h o o l e d u c a t i o n o u r p r i n c i p a l a i m is t o i n d u c e young boys i n t h e county t o f o s t e r a l o v e f o r r u r a l l i f e ; t o r e m a i n a t home a n d t h r i v e b y i n d u s t r i o u s a n d scientific farming. Observe h o w, f o r t h i s p u r p o s e , w e h a v e p r o m i n e n t l y i n s e r t e d in o u r c u r r i c u l u m a t h o r o u g h c o u r s e i n t h e o r e t i c a l and practical agriculture. Too f r e q u e n t l y y o u n g men f r o m t h e c o u n t y h a v e d r i f t e d t o the l a r g e c i t i e s , t h e r e t o a c c e p t o c c u p a t i o n s i n j u r i o u s t o the h e a l t h o f b o d y a n d s o u l . " I t was F a t h e r Laurence J . K e l l y , S . J . a n d F a t h e r J o h n L a F a r g e , S . J . , who came t o L e o n a r d H a l l i n 1 9 11 a n d s e t f o r t h t h e s e P r i n c i p a l A i m s w h i c h p u t t h e wheels i n m o t i o n f o r a S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r . T h e i d e a b e i n g " t o e n c o u r a g e young men t o t a k e p r i d e i n a g r i c u l t u r e a n d s t r i v e t o i m p r o v e f a r m i n g p r a c t i c e s . Community i n v o l v e m e n t w a s s e e n a s a v i t a l e l e m e n t a n d b y f o s t e r i n g t h e s e i d e a l s through a c o u n t y f a i r , t h e f r u i t s o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o r s c o u l d b e d i s p l a y e d , enjoyed a n d c o n t i n u e d , " a c c o r d i n g t o t h e P r o s p e c t u s . 8
CD
L e f t t o R i g h t : D r . C h a r l e s H a y d e n (Leonardtown d e n t i s t ) , F a t h e r Lawrence K e l l y, S . J . , u n i d e n t i f i e d , M a t t i n g l y Swann ( b a c k ) , F a t h e r J o h n L a F a r g e ( A u t h o r o f A m e r i c a , T h e M a n o r i s O r d i n a r y , e t . a l . a s w e l l a s being o n e o f t h e o r i g i n a t o r s o f t h e C a r d i n a l G i b b o n s H i g h S c h o o l i n R i d g e , MD), t h r e e boys a r e u n i d e n t i f i e d , b o y ( f a r r i g h t ) l a s t name L o v e . O x C a r t e n t r y a t S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r _ ( 1 9 1 3 - 1 4 ) a t Leonard H a l l . P h o t o c o u r t e s y o f A l Gough, J r .
These X a v e r i a n B r o t h e r s a t L e o n a r d H a l l w e r e t h e n d i r e c t l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the e a r l y e f f o r t s a t d e v e l o p i n g a c o u n t y f a i r . I n 1 9 4 7 t h e f a i r w a s a g a i n p u t i n m o t i o n ( a f t e r a p e r i o d o f a p p a r e n t l a p s e ) o n t h e g r o u n d s o f Camp C a l v e r t (operated b y t h e X a v e r i a n B r o t h e r s ) w h i c h i s now S t . M a r y ' s Ryken H i g h School. Joseph M . M a t t i n g l y w a s o n e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y f a r m e r who p u t t h o s e f a r m i n g p r a c t i c e s i n t o a c t i o n . A c c o r d i n g t o a n a r t i c l e i n t h e S t a r n e w s p a p e r, " J o s e p h M a t t i n g l y was way ahead o f h i s n e i g h b o r s i n c r o p a n d l a n d u s e p r a c t i c e s . H e pioneered m o d e r n m e t h o d s o f l a n d u s e . " T h o s e e f f o r t s p a i d o f f a t t h e f i r s t county f a i r i n 1912 a t Leonard H a l l , where h e was a w a r d e d a g o l d medal f o r h i s corn e x h i b i t i n 1912.
Joseph M a t t i n g l y , J r . h o l d s a g o l d medal w h i c h h i s g r a n d f a t h e r w o n f o r f i r s t place i n the corn exhibit a t the f i r s t S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r held i n 1912 a t Leonard H a l l .
Grandson J o s e p h A . M a t t i n g l y , J r . , A s s i s t a n t S t a t e s A t t o r n e y , n o w p r o u d l y wears t h a t m e d a l o n h i s p o c k e t w a t c h c h a i n t o d a y . " I t i s p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p o r t a n t to m e , " J o e s t a t e d i n a r e c e n t i n t e r v i e w , " b e c a u s e 1912 i s t h e y e a r my A u n t Martha M a t t i n g l y was b o r n a n d s h e i s t h e o n e who g a v e i t t o me; a l s o because i t b e l o n g e d t o G r a n d d a d d y. " "The c o r n t h a t h e w o n t h a t g o l d m e d a l f o r w a s r a i s e d o n t h e E l l e n b o r o u g h Farm b e h i n d C e d a r L a n e , " r e m i n i s c e d R e t i r e d J u d g e J o s e p h A . M a t t i n g l y , S r . , d u r i n g t h e s a m e i n t e r v i e w . " W e h a d moved t h e r e f r o m M e d l e y ' s N e c k s o t h e g i r l s (my s i s t e r s ) c o u l d b e c l o s e r t o s c h o o l . T h e y c o u l d n ' t g e t t o S t . M a r y ' s Academy from t h e f a r m i n M e d l e y ' s Neck s o Dad b o u g h t t h e E l l e n b o r o u g h Farm s o t h e y c o u l d get t o s c h o o l e a s i e r . "
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Joseph M a t t i n g l y , J r . , r e m a r k e d , " F o r a m a n w h o s a i d h e h a d a t h i r d g r a d e education, Granddad c e r t a i n l y b e l i e v e d i n e d u c a t i o n and almost e v e r y one o f h i s children went t o c o l l e g e --good c o l l e g e s , t o o --and i t wasn't e a s y back then t o send t h e m . G r a n d d a d d y w a s a s e l f - m a d e m a n . H e w a s C l e r k o f t h e C i r c u i t C o u r t f o r t w e n t y - o d d y e a r s a n d w a s a l s o a member o f t h e F a i r B o a r d a n d a member o f t h e House o f D e l e g a t e s s o f a r m i n g w a s n ' t h i s o n l y l i f e ' s a m b i t i o n . " " I r e m e m b e r D a d s a i d h e made 1 0 0 b u s h e l s o f c o r n p e r a c r e w h e n h e r e c e i v e d the g o l d m e d a l i n 1 9 1 2 - - t h a t was a l o t f o r t h o s e d a y s , " s a i d Judge M a t t i n g l y . "Corn s o l d f o r . 2 5 c e n t s p e r b u s h e l w h i c h w a s a p r e t t y g o o d p r i c e b a c k t h e n . " Several o t h e r medals were won b y t h e s e n i o r M a t t i n g l y between 1912 and 1916. Gold m e d a l s w e r e g i v e n f o r f i r s t p l a c e , s i l v e r f o r s e c o n d a n d b r o n z e f o r t h i r d . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e m e d a l s w o n , t h e r e i s a s i l v e r L o v i n g Cup d a t e d 1 9 1 3 a n d a s i l v e r bowl d a t e d 1914 ( s e e p h o t o ) awarded t o M a t t i n g l y.
Three g e n e r a t i o n s o f M a t t i n g l y s t a k e g r e a t p r i d e i n S t . M a r y ' s County's f a r m i n g h e r i t a g e . J o s e p h M a t t i n g l y, J r . ( L ) a n d Retired Judge Joseph A . M a t t i n g l y, S r . ( R ) s i t amid awards and tropheys won b y Judge M a t t i n g l y ' s f a t h e r , J o s e p h M. M a t t i n g l y at t h e f i r s t f a i r s h e l d a t Leonard H a l l between 1912-1914.
The M a t t i n g l y s a r e s t i l l w i n n i n g r i b b o n s i n t h e c o u n t y f a i r s . J u d g e M a t t i n g l y ' s nephew J . M a G u i r e M a t t i n g l y , J r . , h a s e n t e r e d H e r e f o r d c a t t l e f r o m Tudor H a l l F a r m i n t h e f a i r f o r y e a r s , a n d i s a member o f t h e B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s f o r t h e f a i r a n d a c t s a s t h e B o a r d ' s T r e a s u r e r . O t h e r members o f t h e f a m i l y h a v e also been a c t i v e i n t h e f a i r o v e r t h e y e a r s .
11
C h a r l e s F e n w i c k , S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y H i s t o r i a n , r e c a l l s , " A s f a r a s I k n o w, they o n l y had t h e f a i r a t Leonard H a l l f o r a f e w y e a r s . L e o n a r d H a l l a t t h a t time was a n a g r i c u l t u r e s c h o o l . T h e X a v e r i a n B r o t h e r s t r i e d t o g e t t h e c o u n t y t o fund t h e f a i r b u t t h e y w o u l d n ' t . " "The o n e t h i n g I r e m e m b e r t h e m o s t a b o u t t h e f a i r a t L e o n a r d H a l l w a s t h a t t h e y h a d a h o t a i r b a l l o o n t h a t y e a r a n d a man j u m p e d o u t o f i t a n d p a r a c h u t e d down r i g h t a c r o s s t h e s t r e e t f r o m w h e r e I l i v e d w h i c h w a s a t l e a s t a b l o c k a w a y from t h e f a i r g r o u n d s , " s a i d F e n w i c k . " I a l s o r e m e m b e r t h a t m y o l d e r b r o t h e r t o o k me o u t t o t h e f a i r ( a t L e o n a r d H a l l ) t o a t e n t t h a t had n o t h i n g i n i t b u t t o y s . I t h o u g h t I was i n heaven. d o n ' t remember n o w w h a t I g o t t h a t d a y - - s o m e k i n d o f l i t t l e t o y I s u p p o s e . d o n ' t r e m e m b e r v e r y much e l s e a b o u t t h e f a i r a t L e o n a r d H a l l ; I w a s r e a l s m a l l a t the t i m e . " Mary K a t h e r i n e B e l l r e m e m b e r s t h a t h e r f a t h e r d r e s s e d u p l i k e a p u m p k i n f o r the f a i r a t L e o n a r d H a l l . " W e c h i l d r e n p l a y e d w i t h t h a t costume f o r y e a r s , " stated Mrs. B e l l . " I d o r e m e m b e r w h e n t h e f a r m e r s came i n t o L e o n a r d t o w n o n C o u r t T u e s d a y, h o w e v e r. E v e r y f a r m e r i n t h e w o r l d came t o t o w n . M e n b r o u g h t t h e i r h o r s e s a n d paraded t h e m a r o u n d t o w n f o r p o t e n t i a l b u y e r s t o s e e . I t c e r t a i n l y w a s a m a n ' s d a y. W o m e n a n d c h i l d r e n w e r e s u p p o s e d t o b e o f f t h e s t r e e t s - - a t h o m e s o m e w h e r e . We c o u l d n ' t b e o u t t h e r e w i t h t h e m e n , b u t I l i v e d r i g h t t h e r e o n M a i n S t r e e t where I c o u l d s e e e v e r y t h i n g . " "My h u s b a n d ' s ( W e b s t e r ) f a t h e r , M r . R o y B e l l , w a s q u i t e a g o o d h o r s e doctor- - h e knew h i s h o r s e s ! H e r a i s e d h o r s e s a n d t r a i n e d u n d e r a w e l l - k n o w n v e t e r i n a r i a n i n B a l t i m o r e . B a c k i n t h o s e d a y s t h e r e was n o c e r t i f i c a t i o n , y o u know. A t t h a t t i m e , t h a t ' s h o w d o c t o r s a n d l a w y e r s t r a i n e d --under o l d e s t a b l i s h e d e x p e r t s . W h e n I m a r r i e d Webster i n 1932 we l i v e d a t Cedar P o i n t ( n o w P a t u x e n t R i v e r N a v a l A i r B a s e ) a n d I c a n t e l l y o u , a n y o n e i n t h a t a r e a who n e e d e d t h e i r animals checked went t o M r . B e l l . H e w a s v e r y w e l l r e s p e c t e d a s a v e t e r i n a r i a n , " reminisced Mrs. B e l l . When t h e B u d w e i s e r C l y d e s d a l e s came t o t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y Fair i n the l a t e 4 0 ' s , M r. B e l l examined t h e m l i k e t h e y w e r e a piece o f j e w e l r y. H e had a l o t of r e s p e c t f o r them." Buck Briscoe, Mr. St. Mary's County, stands with the Clydesdales.
As t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n w e n t t o press, a h a n d w r i t t e n l e t t e r f r o m B r o t h e r Walter, C.F.X. t o H e n r y F o w l e r, S r. c a m e t o u s f r o m H. Fowler, Jr. o u t l i n i n g the history of the L e o n a r d Hall fair. See pages 181 & 182.
12
Cover p i c t u r e s h o w s t h e c a t t l e s h o w r i n g a t Camp C a l v e r t ( 1 9 4 7 ) w h i c h i s n o w the S t . M a r y ' s R y k e n c a m p u s . A l e x B l a c k h a l l ( s h o w i n g h e r e f o r d ) a n d H e a t h S t e e l e (Glenn M a r y F a r m s ) e n t e r i n g t h e r i n g . S t e e l e w a s i n s t r u m e n t a l i n o r g a n i z i n g t h e f i r s t f a i r a t Camp C a l v e r t ( 1 9 4 7 ) . T o t h e r i g h t i s a n o l d B u i c k - - " a r e l i c t h e n i n 1 9 4 8 , " s a i d Suzanne Henderson whose f a t h e r owned t h e c a r a n d " u s e d t o announce the e v e n t s f r o m a s p e a k e r s y s t e m h e h a d i n s t a l l e d . H e w o u l d a l s o p l a y r e c o r d s and m a r c h e s f o r t h e f a i r g o e r s o n a t u r n t a b l e . "
From Leonard Hall to Camp Calvert For s e v e r a l County H i s t o r i a n over t h e f a i r o r fair f o r several
y e a r s t h e f a i r was n o t i n p r o g r e s s . A c c o r d i n g t o S t . M a r y ' s Charles Fenwick, " T h e Xavarian Brothers asked t h e county t o t a k e h e l p f u n d t h e f a i r b u t t h e y w o u l d n ' t , " h e s a i d , " s o t h e r e was n o years."
In 1947 t h e f a i r was a g a i n u n d e r t a k e n and t h e f o l l o w i n g l e t t e r d e t a i l s t h e events a s t h e y d e v e l o p e d . M r . H e a t h S t e e l e r e c a l l s how t h e 1947 S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r a g a i n came t o b e .
13
HEATH W. STEELE 106 WOODSTOCK DR. CHES. CITY, MD 21915
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Left to Right: A Blackhall twin, Ben Parran, Elwood Cusic, Ignatious Pilkerton, Man from Cage Farm (owned by The Parrans), and one of the Blackhall twins.
17
R i g h t . S e n a t o r Henry F o w l e r , S r. i n o n e o f h i s many r o l e s a t the S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r . Shown h e r e w i t h The Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e .
From Horse And Buggy To Super Highway The Fair Has Maintained Its Own. O r i g i n a l l y, t h e f a i r was s t r i c t l y a g r i c u l t u r a l i n t h a t i t was a m e e t i n g t i m e f o r f a r m e r s t o show t h e i r a n i m a l s and goods, a n d f o r f a r m e r ' s w i v e s t o show t h e i r needlework and sample e a c h o t h e r ' s c o o k i n g . T h e e a r l i e s t known " s h o w i n g s " g o a l l the way b a c k t o t h e o r i g i n o f S t . M a r y ' s C i t y . A c c o r d i n g t o H e n r y F o w l e r , J r . , "the e a r l y beginnings o f t h e f a i r were i n S t . M a r y ' s C i t y. . . I ' v e seen pen and i n k s k e t c h e s o f men s h o w i n g t h e i r a n i m a l s i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e s e t t l e m e n t . " As t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f S t . M a r y ' s C i t y e x p a n d e d , s o d i d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a s . A t some p o i n t , " t h e f a r m e r ' s ' s h o w i n g s ' b e g a n t a k i n g p l a c e o n the g r e e n s i n L e o n a r d t o w n o n Wednesdays, t h e o f f i c i a l ' F a r m e r ' s M a r k e t D a y ' a n d 'business d a y ' o f t h e w e e k , " s t a t e d F o w l e r. I t was a l s o r e v e a l e d t h a t b u s i n e s s people w o u l d t a k e advantage o f t h e g a t h e r i n g s t o a d v e r t i s e t h e i r m a c h i n e r y a n d farm implements. " M e r c h a n t s l o v e d t h e g a t h e r i n g s because f a r m e r s f r o m f a r t h e r o u t o n l y came i n t o t o w n maybe f o u r t i m e s a y e a r . " " R a i l r o a d s e r v i c e o n l y extended i n t o M e c h a n i c s v i l l e i n 1946, s o t h a t when v i s i t i n g merchants c a m e i n o n t h e t r a i n , t h e y had t o r i d e a buck board i n t o t h e c o u n t y, a n d t h e y w o u l d s p e n d t h e w e e k w i t h c o u n t y s t o r e o w n e r s d o i n g b u s i n e s s , " said F o w l e r . L a t e r , t h e r a i l r o a d w a s extended i n t o L e x i n g t o n Park w i t h t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f t h e Patuxent River Naval A i r Station. County g r o w t h h a s become a m a j o r i s s u e i n t h e p a s t 4 0 y e a r s b e c a u s e t h e county h a s changed f r o m b a s i c a l l y a g r a r i a n t o " m o r e h i g h - t e c h " . F o w l e r remembers much o f t h e c o u n t y ' s c h a n g e s t h r o u g h t h e o b s e r v a t i o n s o f h i s f a t h e r , S e n a t o r Henry F o w l e r , S r . " D a d d y a l w a y s s a i d t h a t b e t t e r t h a n 9 0 % o f t h e c o u n t y w a s r e l a t e d u n t i l t h e base opened d u r i n g World W a r I I . D a d w a s i n s t r u m e n t a l i n bringing the f i r s t d u a l highway i n t o the county while i n the state l e g i s l a t u r e , and u s e d h i s g i f t o f g a b a s t h e f a i r ' s P u b l i c R e l a t i o n s m a n , a n d a s a b e h i n d - t h e scenes o r g a n i z e r o f t h e f a i r a n d a s t h e Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e C o m p e t i t i o n M a s t e r o f Ceremonies f o r many y e a r s . "
18
Bernard Johnson ( L ) e x p l a i n s h i s f a t h e r ' s ( J u l i u s Johnson- County E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y f r o m 1 9 3 2 - 1 9 5 9 ) role i n t h e e a r l y f a i r t o p u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s Angela Coblentz ( m i d d l e ) a n d L i s a G r e e r a s t h e y s t r o l l J o h n s o n ' s beautiful gardens.
As t h e c o u n t y became m o r e p o p u l a t e d , i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n i n c r e a s e d a s w e l l a s i n t r a - s t a t e communication. A g r i c u l t u r a l agents were a s s i g n e d t o e a c h county i n order t o h e l p f a r m s m e c h a n i z e t h e i r f a r m s and show them d i v e r s i f i e d t e c h n i q u e s f o r f a r m i n g . J u l i u s Johnson was t h e e x t e n s i o n a g e n t f r o m 1 9 3 2 t o 1 9 5 9 , d u r i n g which t i m e t h e o f f i c i a l S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r w a s f o u n d e d , a span o f t w e n t y seven y e a r s , " a n d h e w a s t h e o n l y e x t e n s i o n a g e n t w i t h o u t a c o l l e g e d e g r e e - - a self-educated man," s a y s h i s s o n , Bernard Johnson, who has been a c t i v e w i t h t h e c o u n t y f a i r many y e a r s . J u l i u s J o h n s o n ' s f i r s t w i f e , L y l i a n M a t t i n g l y J o h n s o n , was e q u a l l y i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l e x p a n s i o n o f t h e c o u n t y , h o l d i n g t h e p o s i t i o n o f Home d e m o n s t r a t i o n A g e n t - - t h e f e m a l e e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e e x t e n s i o n agent. " S h e w a s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r b r i n g i n g i d e a s t o f a r m e r s ' w i v e s a b o u t h o u s e c a r e , c o o k i n g a n d c a n n i n g . S h e h a d g o n e t o s c h o o l i n Te n n e s s e e t o q u a l i f y f o r t h e p o s i t i o n , " s t a t e d Bernard Johnson. " D a d ' s second w i f e , Anna, was a l s o a Home D e m o n s t r a t i o n A g e n t i n C h a r l e s C o . " " A r o u n d 1 9 4 6 , " s a i d J o h n s o n , " m y f a t h e r J u l i u s , l o c a l f a r m e r s , members o f t h e F a r m B u r e a u , members o f t h e M a r y l a n d To b a c c o A s s o c i a t i o n , a n d l o c a l c i v i c organizations got t h e idea t o organize t h e f a r m e r s ' g a t h e r i n g s i n t o a county f a i r. T h e y , i n t u r n , c o n t a c t e d t h e Maryland S t a t e F a i r Board t o g e t approval and the g u i d e l i n e s n e c e s s a r y f o r a l o c a l f a i r . O n c e e v e r y t h i n g w a s a r r a n g e d , t h e X a v a r i a n B r o t h e r s o f f e r e d t h e g r o u n d s o f t h e i r n o v i t i a t e , a l s o k n o w n a s Camp C a l v e r t , i n 1 9 4 7 t o b e t h e home o f t h e f a i r . T h e f i r s t t w o y e a r s o f t h e c o u n t y f a i r were s p e n t t h e r e o n t h e grounds o f what i s now S t . M a r y ' s Ryken High S c h o o l . The f a i r b u i l d i n g s c o n s i s t e d o f N a t i o n a l G u a r d t e n t s t h a t w e r e u s e d f o r a b o y ' s camp t h e r e i n t h e s u m m e r, " J o h n s o n r e l a t e d .
19
(L) H e n r y F o w l e r t a l k s t o a p r i n c e s s f r o m t h e Q u e e n ' s C o u r t . O f f i c i a t i n g Queen, J u l i u s Johnson ( C o u n t y Extension A g e n t , 1932-1959) a n d B i l l y C u s i c r e c e i v i n g t r o p h y f o r b e s t s t e e r .
"Money f o r t h e f i r s t f a i r u n d e r t h e f i r s t f a i r b o a r d p r e s i d e n t , M a j o r H o w a r d C. D a v i d s o n , o w n e r o f Cremona F a r m , w a s r a i s e d b y s e l l i n g s t o c k , " a c c o r d i n g t o B i l l H o l l e y , c u r r e n t f a i r b o a r d m e m b e r. " S h a r e s o f s t o c k i n t h e f a i r w e r e s o l d f o r t e n d o l l a r s e a c h , a n d t h a t f i r s t y e a r , o v e r $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 was r a i s e d . S t o c k h o l d e r s are t h e o n l y members a l l o w e d t o v o t e o n t h e B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s . I f y o u h a d 1 0 s h a r e s , y o u h a d 1 0 v o t e s . T h e d e c i s i o n w a s made t o l e a s e t h e l a n d a c r o s s f r o m t he S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y P o o r h o u s e F a r m , " a c c o r d i n g t o B i l l H o l l e y , " a n d t h e c o u n t y paid one d o l l a r a y e a r f o r t h e 2 5 - y e a r l e a s e o n t h e f a i r g r o u n d s . A f t e r t h a t f i r s t 2 5 y e a r l e a s e , t h e same g r o u n d s h a v e b e e n l e a s e d f o r 5 y e a r s a t a t i m e according t o MaGuire M a t t i n g l y, F a i r Board Tr e a s u r e r. " W e d o a b i t o f l o b b y i n g with t h e County Commissioners," s a i d M a t t i n g l y.
20
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, 4 ) 7 7;!./ ( / ' / / 7 a f i l h ( , / f i r r i ( / / / ( â&#x20AC;¢(41 I l i a 46 e,i/r(,171/, / 7 / 7 / /(' 7y / / i ifwitit, / / / A i x y / //1I 1 / ( 1 7 (3,/ ' ( 7 ' 2 z 7 .
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SHARES $ 1 0 . 0 0 E A C H st: S t o c k s w e r ew er s o l d f o r $ 1 0 . 0 0 p e r s h a r e a n d o n l y a s t o c k h o l d e r c o u l d v o t e . T h i s s t o c k i s t h e p r o p e r t y o f S u z a n n e Henderson, S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r B o a r d Member.
" B u i l d i n g s s u c h a s t h e b a r n s , a n d t h e a u d i t o r i u m were e f f o r t b y v o l u n t e e r s , i n a l m o s t t h e same s p i r i t a s c o m m u n i t y H o l l e y r e l a t e d t o u s i n a n i n t e r v i e w . E v e n n o w, a l l t h e f a i r volunteers- - t h e people a r e t h e r e b e c a u s e t h e y l o v e what t h others t o see i t , e n j o y i t , a n d share i t .
b u i l t a s a community ' b a r n - r a i s i n g ' , " M r. buildings are run by e y do a n d t h e y want
Local businessmen h e l p b u i l d t h e Smith b u i l d i n g ( n o w t h e f l o w e r b u i l d i n g ) . T h e b u i l d i n g has been d e d i c a t e d t o B a r n a r d J . Smith who d o n a t e d a l l m a t e r i a l s .
Henry F o w l e r , S r . ( L ) , t w o identified w o r k e r s ( c e n t e r ) , and B a s c o m B r o u n ( R t ) d u r i n g the b u i l d i n g o f t h e S m i t h building donated a n d b u i l t by Barnard J . S m i t h ( S u z a n n e Henderson's f a t h e r ) . T h e building i s on the p a r k i n g l o t side o f t h e s t r e e t a n d i s now the f l o w e r b u i l d i n g .
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"The f i r s t f e w b u i l d i n g s w e r e t h e w o o d e n o n e s s u c h a s t h e f l o w e r b u i l d i n g and t h e a g r i c u l t u r e b u i l d i n g s ( t h e 3 t h a t l o o k a l i k e ) , " s a i d E l w o o d C u s i c w h o w a s in on t h e volunteer w o r k from t h e beginning o f the f a i r . " T h e b i g c a t t l e barn was b u i l t f o r t h e f i r s t f a i r a l s o . " Suzanne H e n d e r s o n remembers t h a t h e r " f a t h e r b u i l t t h e f l o w e r b u i l d i n g o u t of h i s own p o c k e t and i t was t h e f i r s t o n e t o have a c o n c r e t e f l o o r , t h e f i r s t t o have s h e e t r o c k , a n d i t a l s o h a d a s t o r a g e t a n k i n t h e b a c k o f t h e b u i l d i n g , " says H e n d e r s o n . " T h e b u i l d i n g w a s l a t e r d e d i c a t e d t o m y f a t h e r b y t h e f a i r board- - t h e r e i s a p l a q u e t o t h a t e f f e c t i n t h e b u i l d i n g . " Wo r l d Wa r I I b r o u g h t a b o u t s t r a n g e a r r a n g e m e n t s w i t h t h e A n d r e w s A i r F o r c e Base. " T h e o f f i c e r s a t A n d r e w s A i r F o r c e B a s e w e r e n e r v o u s t h a t W a s h i n g t o n , D C , m i g h t b e bombed, s o t h e y w a n t e d t o r e n t a n a r e a w h e r e t h e y c o u l d s t o r e s u p p l i e s t h a t c o u l d b e u s e d i n c a s e o f s u c h a n e m e r g e n c y, " s a i d S u z a n n e H e n d e r s o n who r e l a t e d t o u s i n a n i n t e r v i e w t h a t " t h e a u d i t o r i u m was r e n t e d f o r $ 2 , 0 0 0 a y e a r and t h e s u p p l i e s w e r e o n l y r e m o v e d o n e w e e k b e f o r e t h e f a i r w a s t o b e g i n a n d r e t u r n e d one week a f t e r t h e B l a c k F a i r was d o n e . B a c k t h e n w e h a d t w o f a i r s . Ours w a s h e l d o n e w e e k a n d t h e B l a c k F a i r w a s h e l d a f t e r o u r s . A f t e r t h o s e t w o weeks, t h e s u p p l i e s w e r e p u t b a c k . " "The 4 - H c l u b s w e r e a l w a y s a c t i v e i n t h e c o u n t y f a i r a s w e l l a s I c a n r e m e m b e r, " s a i d E l i z a b e t h R u s s e l l , s e c r e t a r y t o J u l i u s J o h n s o n f r o m 1 9 4 1 t o 1 9 6 8 when h e w a s a C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t . " E t h e l J o y w a s t h e C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r 4 - H w h e n i t w a s f i r s t s t a r t e d i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y, a n d I b e l i e v e t h a t i t w a s s t a r t e d i n t h e 3 0 ' s . M o s t l y t h e y worked t h r o u g h t h e s c h o o l s ; t h e n t h e y s t a r t e d m e e t i n g i n g r o u p s i n homes a s w e l l a s s c h o o l s . I d o b e l i e v e 4 - H p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e v e r y f i r s t f a i r a t Camp C a l v e r t i n 1 9 4 7 , " s a i d R u s s e l l .
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Clockwise L . B i l l G e i s e r, County A g r i c u l t u r e A g e n t a f t e r J u l i u s Johnson, M r s . Robert S t e v e n s , s o n Danny Stevens ( b a c k ) , M r . R o b e r t Stevens, a n d c e n t e r , Luther Wolf. "Danny S t e v e n s w a s o n e of t h e most outstanding 4-H'ers s i n c e w e have had 4-H i n t h i s c o u n t y . H e always won a n d w o r k e d v e r y hard t o w i n , " s a i d Elwood Cusic.
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Some o f t h e f i r s t f a i r buildings o n t h e s i t e where t h e o f f i c e i s n o w located. O n the f a r left i s t h e f i r s t building o n the existing grounds a c c o r d i n g t o Suzanne H e n d e r s o n .
L i o n s Te x A s h e n b e c k ( l e f t ) , R o n G r a y, a n d S a l R a s p a m a n t h e main g a t e t o t h e f a i r g r o u n d s a s Lions h a v e d o n e p r a c t i c a l l y since t h e f a i r opened i n 1947.
The l o c a l L i o n s C l u b s h a v e v o l u n t e e r e d t o t a k e t u r n s s e l l i n g t i c k e t s a t t h e g a t e o f t h e f a i r g r o u n d s a s f a r b a c k a s a n y o n e c a n r e m e m b e r. T h e c l u b s d e c i d e among t h e m s e l v e s w h o t a k e s w h a t d a y a n d t h e n t h e members d i v i d e u p t h e t i m e s o t h a t n o one h a s a n u n f a i r t i m e s c h e d u l e .
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A County In Transition by Andrew Stone
St. M a r y ' s County used t o b e a s m a l l r u r a l community w i t h most o f i t s income coming f r o m f a r m i n g a n d f i s h i n g . N o w , w i t h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e P a t u x e n t River N a v a l A i r S t a t i o n t h e c o u n t y i s becoming more u r b a n i z e d w i t h a c o n s t a n t l y i n c r e a s i n g p o p u l a t i o n . T h i s g r o w t h i s h a v i n g d r a m a t i c e f f e c t s o n a number o f issues c o n t r o v e r s i a l i n n a t u r e . The g r o w t h o f i n d u s t r y a n d t e c h n o l o g y d u e t o c o n t r a c t o r s a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e Patuxent R i v e r N a v a l A i r S t a t i o n , a n d t h e g r o w t h o f s m a l l businesses a s a r e s u l t , have h a d a l a r g e i m p a c t o n t h e e x p a n s i o n o f u r b a n d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e c o u n t y . I t is possible t h a t without t h e Naval A i r S t a t i o n , S t . Mary's C o u n t y ' s main source of income w o u l d s t i l l b e a g r i c u l t u r e a n d seafood. P a x R i v e r and i t s v a r i o u s m i l i t a r y r e l a t e d i n d u s t r i e s around t h e t r i - c o u n t y area a r e t h e s o l e r e a s o n s f o r t h i s c o u n t y ' s r a p i d expansion coupled w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t people a r e moving t o t h e more r u r a l a r e a s t o e s c a p e t h e c i t i e s a n d t o r e t i r e . O n e - t h i r d o f t h e c o u n t y ' s population i s near Lexington Park. According t o t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y Department o f Economic a n d Community Development r e p o r t o f J u n e , 1 9 8 8 , a b o u t 3 , 3 7 7 r e s i d e n t s i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y w e r e employees a t P a x R i v e r o r NESEA, o r a r e w i t h some c o n t r a c t o r a f f i l i a t e d w i t h P a x R i v e r . S i n c e 1 9 4 3 , w h e n t h e N a v a l A i r S t a t i o n came t o t h e L e x i n g t o n P a r k a r e a , the p o p u l a t i o n h a s s t e a d i l y c l i m b e d . J u s t i n t h e l a s t e i g h t y e a r s , t h e population grew f r o m 5 9 , 8 9 5 r e s i d e n t s i n 1 9 8 0 t o 7 8 , 9 0 0 r e s i d e n t s i n 1989 a c c o r d i n g t o t h e S t . M a r y ' s D e p a r t m e n t o f P l a n n i n g a n d Z o n i n g Census B u r e a u a n d the Census o f A g r i c u l t u r e . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e l a t e s t f i g u r e s , c o u n t y g r o w t h between 1 9 8 0 - 1 9 8 9 w a s m o r e t h a n a n y o t h e r 1 0 y e a r p e r i o d s i n c e t h e U . S . C e n s u s i n 1790 r e c o r d e d 1 5 , 0 0 0 c o u n t y r e s i d e n t s .
Left t o R i g h t : T o n y D e l o s i e r, Howard Y o u n g , J o e D e l o s i e r , Warren D e l o s i e r a n d C l a u d e Jarboe o n J a r b o e ' s f a r m i n 1948.
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W i t h t h e g r o w t h o f p o p u l a t i o n comes t h e g r o w t h o f s h o p p i n g c e n t e r s , p r i v a t e i n d u s t r y and t h e need f o r more s c h o o l s and more highways. T h i s g r o w t h a l s o h e l p s a c c o u n t f o r some o f t h e d e c r e a s e i n f a r m l a n d a c r e a g e . Examples o f t h i s r e c e n t g r o w t h i n t h e L e x i n g t o n P a r k a r e a i n c l u d e S a n S o u c i Plaza ( s h o p p i n g c e n t e r ) w h i c h was o n c e f a r m l a n d i t s e l f , t h e W i l d e w o o d C e n t e r (shopping c e n t e r ) w h i c h w a s a p a r t l y w o o d e d a r e a , a n d t h e n e w h o u s i n g development, H u n t i n g C r e e k , l o c a t e d i n t h e P a r k H a l l a r e a and a t t h i s w r i t i n g i s s t i l l b e i n g d e v e l o p e d . F a r m s a l o n g C h a n c e l l o r s Run Road a n d G r e a t M i l l s Road a r e being developed. T h e scene i s b e i n g r e p e a t e d i n o t h e r a r e a s a c r o s s t h e c o u n t y. Since 1 9 8 2 , t h e amount o f f a r m l a n d h a s d e c r e a s e d b y 2 0 , 0 0 0 a c r e s w i t h a l o s s of a l m o s t 2 0 0 f a r m s . T h e a c r e a g e o f l a n d s t i l l i n f a r m i n g has decreased 1 9 . 7 percent, f r o m 100,221 a c r e s a c c o r d i n g t o D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e and Resource Economics. D e v e l o p m e n t , g r o w t h a n d e x p a n s i o n a r e a m a j o r c o n t r i b u t i n g f a c t o r added t o t h e c o m p e t i t i v e f o r e i g n m a r k e t f o r f a r m p r o d u c t s . T h i s u r b a n i z a t i o n h a s i t s p o s i t i v e a n d n e g a t i v e e f f e c t s . M a n y people f e e l t h a t t h e development i s a good t h i n g f o r i t h a s b r o u g h t a h i g h e r l e v e l o f e c o n o m y t o t h e a r e a . H o w e v e r , t h i s u r b a n i z a t i o n i s a l s o t a k i n g i t s t o l l . T h e a g r i c u l t u r a l i n d u s t r y and water industry i s s l o w l y f a d i n g . T h e market value f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s s o l d has dropped f r o m $ 2 2 , 5 1 7 , 0 0 0 i n 1 9 8 2 t o $ 1 3 , 2 7 1 , 0 0 0 i n 1 9 8 7 , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e 1 9 7 4 1987 S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y C e n s u s o f A g r i c u l t u r e . T h i s i s d u e p a r t l y , h o w e v e r , t o the f a c t t h a t o v e r t h e l a s t f e w y e a r s , a d r o u g h t s i t u a t i o n h a s h u r t t h e c r o p growth. T h i s i s a l s o due i n p a r t t o t h e c o m p e t i t i o n o f f o r e i g n markets h a v i n g much c h e a p e r l a b o r a n d t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y c a n s e l l t h e i r p r o d u c t s f o r a l o w e r price. Another r e a l i t y f o r f a r m e r s i s t h a t t h e y a r e a l l t o o o f t e n f a c e d w i t h t h e dilemma o f h a v i n g t o s e l l t h e i r p r o p e r t y t o s u r v i v e . O f t e n a p i e c e o f l a n d m i g h t stay i n one f a m i l y f o r g e n e r a t i o n s u n t i l f a m i l y m e m b e r s a r e f a c e d w i t h modern r e a l i t y and a r e f o r c e d t o g i v e i t u p . M a n y f a r m e r s t r y t o supplement t h e i r income w i t h p a r t - t i m e j o b s o r t h e i r w i v e s w o r k a t p u b l i c j o b s i n o r d e r t o make ends m e e t . Also a t t h i s w r i t i n g , t h e r e a r e m o r e t h a n t w e n t y - e i g h t m i l l i o n a c r e s nationwide t h a t a r e e n r o l l e d i n s i x t y - s i x - f o o t -wide b u f f e r s t r i p s b e t w e e n f i e l d s for w i l d l i f e o r wetland areas according t o t h e U.S. Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e . A Ninth Conservation Reserve Program has been s e t t o t a k e h i g h l y e r o s i v e l a n d o u t of c r o p p r o d u c t i o n and h a s i t p l a n t e d w i t h new f o l i a g e t h a t p r o h i b i t s e r o s i o n . The maximum r e n t a l f o r M a r y l a n d h a s b e e n s e t a t $ 8 5 . T h i s s h o u l d h e l p p r o t e c t w i l d l i f e areas: h o w e v e r, t h e f a c t i s t h a t land i s being taken from farmland.
Left t o R i g h t : C l a u d e J a r b o e , Howard Yo u n g , a n d t w o u n i d e n t i f i e d tenant farmers ( c u t t i n g potatoes o n the c a r t r e a d y i n g t h e m f o r planting).
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Lack o f o y s t e r s i s h a v i n g a tremendous e f f e c t o n t h e waterman's l i v e l i h o o d . T h e St. M a r y ' s County O y s t e r F e s t i v a l i s a r e m i n d e r o f t h e g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e o y s t e r c r o p . " T h e o y s t e r h a t c h e r i e s ' g o a l o n S t . G e o r g e ' s C r e e k i s t o make a cooperative e f f o r t w i t h u n i v e r s i t y, s t a t e and l o c a l government t h r o u g h a p r i v a t e company, t o f i n d s o l u t i o n s t o p r o b l e m s w i t h o y s t e r s i n t h e C h e s a p e a k e B a y a n d t o provide a b e t t e r supply and a h i g h e r q u a l i t y o y s t e r t o t h e customers," according t o M i k e S t a t l e r , P r e s i d e n t o f t h e S t . G e o r g e ' s O y s t e r Company. ( E n t e r p r i s e ) County D i r e c t o r o f E c o n o m i c a n d C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t , J o s e p h M i t c h e l l , t o l d a group o f farmers and business p e o p l e a t t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y A g r i c u l t u r e C o n f e r e n c e h e l d o n T u e s d a y, F e b r u a r y 2 0 , 1 9 9 0 , t h a t t r e n d s i n f a r m i n g m u s t c h a n g e i f t h e f a r m e r i s t o s u r v i v e e i t h e r i n S t . M a r y ' s County o r anywhere e l s e i n t h i s c o u n t r y. I n 1 9 8 7 , t o b a c c o a n d c o r n a c r e a g e e a c h d r o p p e d t o t h e l o w e s t p o i n t s i n c e 1 9 4 5 w h i l e s o y b e a n p r o d u c t i o n r e a c h e d i t s h i g h e s t l e v e l d u r i n g t h a t same period. ( E n t e r p r i s e , F e b r u a r y 1990) Wheat a c r e a g e d e c r e a s e d s t e a d i l y i n 1 9 7 8 a f t e r a n i n c r e a s e i n 1 9 7 4 . W h e a t acreage t h e n i n c r e a s e d u n t i l 1 9 8 2 w h e r e i t r e m a i n e d s t a b l e u n t i l 1 9 8 7 . E x c e p t for a l a r g e unexplained " j u m p and d e c r e a s e " i n 1 9 7 4 , vegetable production has been i n c r e a s i n g e a c h y e a r s i n c e 1 9 6 4 . B e t w e e n 1 9 7 8 a n d 1 9 8 7 , t h e n u m b e r s o f c a t t l e a n d s h e e p decreased w h i l e between 1 9 7 4 a n d 1 9 8 7 h o g numbers i n c r e a s e d . (Enterprise, February 1990). "The k e y t o t h e p r o b l e m s s m a l l f a r m e r s f a c e i n t h i s d e c a d e w i l l b e f a r m management," s a i d J u d s o n A l v e y , t o b a c c o a n d l i v e s t o c k f a r m e r s o u t h o f C h a p t i c o . "Successful f a r m e r s w i l l h a v e t o b e businessmen, e c o l o g i s t s , n e g o t i a t o r s , conservationists and marketers," he s a i d , "and i t ' s n o t going t o g e t any b e t t e r. " A c c o r d i n g t o L e r o y G r e y, a n 1 8 - y e a r v e t e r a n o r g a n i c f a r m e r who m a n a g e s w h a t w a s f o r m e r l y Thompson's O r c h a r d , " f a r m e r s w i l l have t o p l a n t f o r t h e m a r k e t s o t h e y can s e l l w h a t t h e y p r o d u c e , n o t j u s t p r o d u c e . " Farming i s c h a n g i n g , a n d t h e r e i s n o d o u b t t h a t t h e c o u n t y i s a l s o c h a n g i n g . Perhaps w i t h c o n t r o l s o n g r o w t h a n d w i t h a l o n g - r a n g e p l a n , S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y c a n s t i l l grow and y e t keep i t s r u r a l f l a v o r a n d q u a i n t c h a r m o f t h e c o u n t r y s i d e . St. M a r y ' s has a p r i d e a l l i t s own.
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MARYLANDAGRICULTURALTRENDS--ST. MARY'S COUNTY Table 1.
Acres o f Land by Type of Use
Year
Number of farms
Land not in farms
Land in farms
Percent o f land i n farms
1920 1930 1940 1950 1959 1964 1969 1974 1978 1982
1,790 1,392 1,347 1,380 1,104 1,032 862 829 871 940
47,053 69,893 87,552 83,390 108,425 118,100 143,830 136,063 134,325 138,204
190,387 167,547 147,328 151,490 126,455 116,785 95,146 102,913 104,395 100,221
80.2 70.6 62.7 64.5 53.8 49.7 39.8 43.1 43.7 42.0
Year
Cropland used o n l y for pasture
1920 1930 1940 1950 1959 1964 1969 1974 1978 1982
-23,769 21,456 10,889 5,939 4,612 4,755 5,544 5,400 4,403
Other pasture not cropland or woodland -5,321 -5,365 2,905 4,128 --1,528 3,500
Corn
1920 1930 1940 1950 1959 1964 1969 1974 1978 1982
21,137 15,724 13,229 13,058 12,540 12,708 11,163 13,721 15,037 11,564c
15,808 11,184 6,331 7,504 5,721 4,530 2,520 4,604 1,992 3,834
Woodland not pastured
-9,045 -5,506 3,505 4,021 --6,372 4,254
Table 2. Wheat (grain)
Year
Woodland pastured
-71,853 -67,785 55,576 49,576 --38,384 31,716
Cropland not harvested & not pastured -13,304 12,088 17,076 8,676 10,911 10,663 7,204 7,093 6,547
Cropland harvested __a 38,698 35,338 37,506 43,156 38,740 30,649 39,677 39,645 39,779 Other land -5,557 -7,363 6,698 4,771 --5,973 1,Q2
Total land pastured -38,135 -21,760 12,349 12,761 --13,300 12.157
Total cropland -75,771 68,882 65,471 57,771 54,263 46,067 52,425 52,138 50 729
Acres o f Crops Harvested
Soybeans Barley (beans) (grain) __a 13 16 -75 402 645 885 9,367 1,393 5,981 1,817 5,924 -10,382 -10,707 2,002 10,962 1,564
Oats (grain) 337 159 196 551 1,215 649 --525 464
Tobacco 5,626 5,439 5,838 7,643 7,528 7,437 5,230 5,533 6,410 8,104
Vegetables Land i n Hay & melons orchards 5,631 4,957 7,820 7,869 7,035 5,514 2,929 3,889 4,262 4,238
914 311 140 96 60 35 62 738 91 139
-338 105 120 42 41 40 22 59 45
Table 3. Number o f Livestock and Mature Chickens on Farms and Number o f Broilers and Chickens Sold
Year
Cattle and calves
1920 1930 1940 1950 1959 1964 1969 1974 1978 1982
7,195 5,399 4,683 5,887 6,997 5,823 4,272 5,613 5,630 5,177
Milk cows 2,479 2,502 2,709 2,658 1,503 888 457 563 542 608
Top: M a r y l a n d ' s A g r i c u l t u r e trends f r o m t h e H i s t o r i c a l Data f o r Maryland A g r i c u l t u r e , 19201982. M a t e r i a l C o u r t e s y M a r t h a J. D a u g h d r i l l , A g r i c u l t u r e / Seafood D e v e l o p m e n t S p e c i a l i s t .
Hogs and pigs 10,170 6,671 5,050 8,029 9,882 10,290 16,101 15,813 16,347 15,413
Sheeo and lam 3,585 6,785 1,802 889 375 257 259 545 281 540
Horses ind mulesb 4,573 3,236 2,924 2,019 398 __a 432 494 789 847
Chickens Broilers & 3 months chickens old & older sold 71,085 65,425 67,602 78,596 94,402 75,287 49,450 27,163 26,734 24,733
71,592 83,808 46,717 73,641 99,838 D 20,305 14,555 20,768 14,513
a_..Not available. b H o r s e s and ponies f o r 1969 and l a t e r years. D = Disclosure. cGrain o n l y.
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Bottom: L o w e r l e f t . T o b a c c o i s s t i l l h a r v e s t e d b y hand o n Maryland f a r m s . Lower r i g h t . C l a u d e J a r b o e surveys a h e a d o f hereford cattle on t h e Jarboe farm i n Va l l e y L e e , M a r y l a n d .
Operating Expenses â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Always An Issue As w i t h a n y o r g a n i z a t i o n , m o n e y i s a l w a : i s a n i s s u e a n d t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r Board i s n o e x c e p t i o n . T h e y have had good y e a r s and bad b u t a r e now o n a n even k e e l a c c o r d i n g t o b o t h C o u n t y F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t , J o h n R i c h a r d s a n d McGuire M a t t i n g l y , T r e a s u r e r . "One s o u r c e o f i n c o m e f o r t h e f a i r i s T h e M a r y l a n d A g r i c u l t u r e F a i r B o a r d , w h i c h i s c o m p o s e d o f n i n e members a p p o i n t e d b y t h e G o v e r n o r a n d a s s i s t s t h e S t . Mary's County F a i r Board b y c o n t r i b u t i n g m o n e y f o r p r e m i u m s each y e a r , " s t a t e d Robert J a r b o e , S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n e r a n d C h a i r m a n o f t h e M a r y l a n d Agriculture F a i r Board f o r t h e p a s t t h r e e y e a r s . T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e Maryland A g r i c u l t u r e F a i r Board i s t o e m b e l l i s h and f o s t e r t h e i d e a l s o f a g r i c u l t u r e .
(L. t o R t . ) F r a n k Brown ( L ) o u t g o i n g Chairman o f t h e Maryland A g r i c u l t u r e F a i r Board p r e s e n t s R o b e r t J a r b o e w i t h a g i f t a t t h e t i m e J a r b o e became C h a i r m a n . ( O n board t h e g o v e r n o r ' s y a c h t i n A n n a p o l i s . ) J a r b o e h a s been C h a i r m a n f o r t h e p a s t t h r e e y e a r s . S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t , J o h n R i c h a r d s , h a s r e p l a c e d J a r b o e a s a member o f t h e M a r y l a n d F a i r B o a r d this year (1990).
The b o a r d a l l o c a t e s f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t t o o v e r 1 6 0 e v e n t s a n n u a l l y a c r o s s t h e s t a t e f r o m c o u n t y f a i r s t o 4 - H t o F FA ( F u t u r e F a r m e r s o f A m e r i c a ) . " A n y o r g a n i z a t i o n r e c e i v i n g m o n e y m u s t b e a f f i l i a t e d w i t h a g r i c u l t u r e i n some w a y , " s a i d Jarboe. T h e c o u n t y f a i r s i n t u r n must a d h e r e t o t h e r e g u l a t i o n s o f t h e s t a t e board. F o r example, t h e f a i r c a t a l o g u e must b e o u t t o t h e p u b l i c a t l e a s t 3 0 days b e f o r e t h e f a i r o p e n s . " A l l r e p o r t s m u s t b e i n 3 0 d a y s a f t e r t h e f a i r closes a n d a l l premiums m u s t b e p a i d w i t h i n 45 d a y s a f t e r t h e c l o s e o f t h e f a i r , " said M c G u i r e M a t t i n g l y , t r e a s u r e r o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r f o r t h e p a s t
29
three y e a r s . " S o m e t i m e s t h a t i s v e r y h a r d t o d o when y o u have a b o u t 9 0 0 c h e c k s to w r i t e and s i g n . T h e Maryland A g r i c u l t u r e F a i r Board c o n t r i b u t e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y $ 1 9 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 f o r t h e 1 9 8 9 f a i r , " s a i d M a t t i n g l y . " T h e r e a r e a l s o many t r o p h i e s donated b y v a r i o u s l i v e s t o c k a s s o c i a t i o n s . "
J. M c G u i r e M a t t i n g l y , J r . ( F a i r B o a r d Tr e a s u r e r ) ( l e f t ) s i t s at h i s d e s k i n t h e o f f i c e b u i l d i n g . ( R t . ) J o h n Richards, F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t a n d w i f e , A n n , r e s t f r o m t h e i r b u s y d a y.
According t o J a r b o e , "We r e c e n t l y h a d a l a r g e i n c r e a s e f r o m Paramutual Betting. W e w e n t f r o m $450,000 t o $600,000 from a l l race tracks. T h r o u g h l e g i s l a t u r e i n t h e M a r y l a n d G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y, t h e f a i r b o a r d m u s t g i v e a percentage t o p r o m o t e a g r i c u l t u r a l e v e n t s . W h e n h o r s e r a c i n g was e s t a b l i s h e d a s a s t a t e money m a k i n g a c t i v i t y , i t w a s d e c i d e d i n l e g i s l a t u r e t h a t a c e r t a i n percent was t o g o t o a g r i c u l t u r e r e l a t e d a c t i v i t i e s . " When a s k e d a b o u t t h e b e s t y e a r a t t h e c o u n t y f a i r a s f a r a s p r o f i t s a r e concerned, M a t t i n g l y s a i d t h a t o f h i s t h r e e y e a r s a s t r e a s u r e r , t h i s y e a r h a s been t h e b e s t . H e e s t i m a t e s t h a t a t l e a s t 3 8 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e a t t e n d e d t h e f a l l o f 1989 ( w h i c h i s a b o u t t h e same a s t h e l a s t t h r e e y e a r s ) d e s p i t e t h e c o n s t a n t t h r e a t o f H u r r i c a n e Hugo. H u g o c a u s e d t h e f e r r i s w h e e l t o b e t a k e n down a n d p u t back u p s e v e r a l t i m e s . T h e t h r e a t e n i n g w i n d s c r e a t e d a n e e d f o r c o n s t a n t assessment a n d c h a n g e s a s t h e w e e k e n d p r o g r e s s e d . " B y S u n d a y, h o w e v e r , t h i n g s had s e t t l e d d o w n a n d n i c e w e a t h e r a l l o w e d p e o p l e t o come o u t b y t h e h u n d r e d s , " said M a t t i n g l y. " S u n d a y s a r e o f t e n t h e b e s t d a y r i g h t a f t e r t h e c h u r c h h o u r s . T h i s y e a r w a s n o d i f f e r e n t ; a s a m a t t e r o f f a c t , d u e t o H u g o , m o r e p e o p l e came o n Sunday t h a n e v e r . " When a s k e d h o w d i f f i c u l t i t i s t o o b t a i n i n s u r a n c e f o r t h e c o u n t y f a i r , M a t t i n g l y r e p l i e d t h a t " n o w we h a v e a company t h a t s p e c i a l i z e s i n i n s u r i n g f a i r s , John R . D r u r y a n d S o n i n L e o n a r d t o w n . O u r p r e m i u m s r u n f r o m $ 8 , 0 0 0 t o $ 1 0 , 8 8 8 per y e a r . "
30
M a t t i n g l y s t a t e d t h a t o f t e n h e i s a s k e d what t h e f a i r board does w i t h t h e money t h e y p u l l i n f r o m t h e f a i r . H i s r e p l y i s t h a t m o s t o f t h e money i s p u t r i g h t b a c k i n t o t h e f a i r g r o u n d s . I n 1983 and 1987, paved walkways were added, and i n 1 9 8 9 , w e p u t a n e w r o o f o n t h e g r a n d s t a n d b y t h e h o r s e s h o w r i n g . T h i s year a new hog b u i l d i n g was b u i l t ( 1 9 9 0 ) .
(L. t o R . ) A n n R i c h a r d s , J o h n Richards, E l w o o d C u s i c a n d James Owens s t a n d b e f o r e t h e new r o o f b u i l t i n 1 9 8 9 .
Elwood C u s i c ( 2 n d f r o m r i g h t ) r e m e m b e r s w e l l t h e b u i l d i n g o f the g r a n d s t a n d b l e a c h e r s . " T h e y w e r e b u i l t i n s t a g e s . T h e f i r s t h a l f was b u i l t i n 1 9 8 7 a n d t h e second h a l f i n 1988. This was o n e o f my p r o j e c t s . I s u p e r v i s e d t h e b u i l d i n g f r o m scratch. T h e f i r s t h a l f c o s t r o u g h l y t e n thousand d o l l a r s and t h e s e c o n d h a l f t h e s a m e .
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There i s a l w a y s s o m e t h i n g t h a t n e e d s t o b e d o n e o n t h e g r o u n d s a s w e l l a s o t h e r expenses a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e r u n n i n g o f t h e f a i r . " W e a l w a y s s e t a s i d e m o n e y, i f we c a n , i n c a s e o f a b a d y e a r a n d w e t r y t o make i n v e s t m e n t s w i t h a n y money t h a t i s l e f t o v e r , b u t t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e money i s u s e d t o u p g r a d e t h e f a i r a n d p a y e x p e n s e s , " s a i d M a t t i n g l y . " A t l e a s t w e d o n ' t h a v e t o b o r r o w m o n e y. "
L. R i c h a r d Owens. R t . D e n n i s W o l c o t t s i t t i n g o n n e w l y purchased g o l f c a r t s ( 1 9 8 9 ) .
"Our l a r g e s t i n t a k e i s , o f c o u r s e , f r o m t h e m a i n g a t e w h i c h h a s b e e n manned f o r t h e p a s t s e v e r a l d e c a d e s b y t h e l o c a l L i o n s C l u b s i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y. T h e y organize t h e t i m e s a m o n g t h e v a r i o u s c l u b s a n d d o n a t e m a n p o w e r, " s t a t e d M a t t i n g l y. " W e a l s o g e t a percentage o f t h e c a r n i v a l a t t r a c t i o n s and c o - o p w i t h school o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d o t h e r n o n - p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n s . W e s e l l space f o r e x h i b i t o r s f r o m t h e c o u n t y a n d we a l s o have o u t s i d e c o n c e s s i o n s . T h e r e i s a f l a t fee d e p e n d i n g o n t h e c o n c e s s i o n ' s h i s t o r y o f p r o f i t s ( f o o d s t a n d s , i c e c r e a m , peanuts, e t c . ) . W e r u n t h e beverage s t a n d o u r s e l v e s b u t c l o s e t h e s t a n d o n F r i d a y, k i d s d a y , " s a i d M a t t i n g l y .
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Li bAY PASSES CURVIUN FFIDAYSCWOOtDA SCHOOLCNIEDP04
iNS CLUBS ART'S COUNTY CINS
'WV:1702'
Chester L y n c h ( L ) , J o h n B r a d f o r d , a n d T e x Aschenbeck, m e m b e r s o f t h e L e x i n g t o n P a r k L i o n s Club, s e l l t i c k e t s a t t h e m a i n g a t e .
"As f a r a s e x p e n s e s c o n c e r n i n g o u r l i v e s t o c k , o u r y o u n g s t e r s g e t b e t t e r t h a n market p r i c e f o r t h e i r a n i m a l s a n d w e h a d b e t t e r t h a n 1 0 0 b u y e r s t h i s y e a r , " remarked M a t t i n g l y . " B e t w e e n $ 6 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 a n d $ 8 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 p e r y e a r , c h a n g e s h a n d s between t h e o w n e r s o f t h e a n i m a l s o n e x h i b i t a n d t h e b u y e r s . " T h e r e a r e v a r i o u s p e o p l e w h o b u y t h e a n i m a l s : t h o s e w h o j u s t w a n t t o f i l l t h e i r home l o c k e r s , t o business p e o p l e who m a y d i v i d e t h e a n i m a l s a m o n g t h e m s e l v e s . U s u a l l y t h e e x h i b i t o r w r i t e s a l e t t e r o f thanks t o t h e b u y e r ; i t ' s good p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s - brings them back."
C h a r l i e Wo o d b u r n ( M a n a g e r o f S a f e w a y a t t h e t i m e , c e n t e r ) buys C h a m p i o n s t e e r t o g r a c e t h e S a f e w a y s h e l v e s .
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The c o u n t y f a i r b o a r d d o e s p a y t o h a v e t h e a n i m a l s t r a n s p o r t e d t o t h e n e w b u y e r. W h e n a s k e d w h a t h a p p e n s t o t h e a n i m a l s w h e n t h e y a r e s o l d , " M a t t i n g l y replied t h a t " t h e y a r e s t r i c t l y market animals. T h e y w i l l be k i l l e d and used as food. T h e r e a r e o f t e n t e a r s i n t h e show r i n g b u t t h e y o u n g s t e r s know t h e f a t e o f the a n i m a l w h e n t h e y r a i s e i t . I t i s e a s y t o become a t t a c h e d t o a n a n i m a l t h o u g h a f t e r being w i t h i t every s i n g l e d a y. "
" A l l a n i m a l s s o l d i n t h e show ring g o t o t h e market," said McGuire M a t t i n g l y . B e t w e e n sixty a n d e i g h t y t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s changes hands each y e a r between e x h i b i t o r a n d b u y e r . However, m a n y t i m e s t e a r s a r e exchanged w i t h t h e m o n e y. "
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The Tear Stained Auction Block The g e n t l e e y e s o f t h e m a s s i v e b r o w n s t e e r looked k i n d l y a t t h e c h i l d . She k n e w t h e e n d w a s n e a r f o r h e r f r i e n d and d a y s w h e n s h e c o u l d s m i l e . Her b i g g e n t l e f r i e n d w a s g o i n g a w a y n e v e r t o come b a c k . She t r i e d t o f i g h t t h e t e a r s i n s i d e for happiness she lacked. She remembered t h e d a y t h i s s t e e r a r r i v e d he w a s j u s t a t i n y c a l f . She h a d g r o w n t o l o v e h i m s o her h e a r t was b r e a k i n g i n h a l f . As t h e a u c t i o n e e r t o o k h e r f r i e n d She c o u l d n ' t h e l p b u t c r y . She t o o k h e r f r i e n d a n d g e n t l y s a i d her l o n g a n d p a i n f u l goodbye. Sara J e n k i n s
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D i g n i t a r i e s h a v e a l w a y s b e e n commonplace a t t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r a s evidenced b y t h i s p h o t o o f C o m p t r o l l e r L o u i s G o l d s t e i n c r o w n i n g t h e Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e .
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The Fairest Of The Fair Kim Kliner, Amy Quinlan
The Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e r e i g n s o v e r t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r , r e m o v i n g a l l doubt t h a t s h e i s , i n d e e d , t h e " f a i r e s t o f t h e F a i r " , b u t b e a u t y i s n o t t h e o n l y criterion for her selection. From e a c h h i g h s c h o o l , t w o c o n t e s t a n t s a n d o n e a l t e r n a t e a r e c h o s e n , e i t h e r by f a c u l t y s e l e c t i o n o r s t u d e n t v o t e s , d e p e n d i n g o n t h e s c h o o l . M o s t o f t h e g i r l s chosen a r e honor r o l l students, a c t i v e i n s p o r t s and o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s ; and most p l a n t o g o o n t o c o l l e g e a c c o r d i n g t o Te r e s a S t e r l i n g , c h a i r p e r s o n o f t h e Queen o f To l e r a n c e c o n t e s t f o r o v e r 2 5 y e a r s .
Te r e s a S t e r l i n g , c h a i r p e r s o n o f t h e Queen o f To l e r a n c e Contest f o r o v e r 2 5 y e a r s , s t a n d s w i t h t h e r e i g n i n g Queen.
"We t r y t o g e t t h e i r r e s u m e s a h e a d o f t i m e s o t h e j u d g e s c a n r e v i e w t h e m " said S t e r l i n g . " T h e judges a r e f r o m o u t o f t h e c o u n t y s o t h e r e i s n o b i a s . have a m e e t i n g a t m y h o u s e - - I h a v e d o n e t h i s f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s - - a n d t h e g i r l s t a l k among t h e m s e l v e s . I t g i v e s t h e m a c h a n c e t o g e t t o k n o w o n e a n o t h e r , " Sterling stated.
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For t h e p a g e a n t i t s e l f , t h e c o n t e s t a n t s a r e a s k e d t o w e a r f o r m a l g o w n s a n d "model" them t o demonstrate p o i s e a n d c o m p o s u r e f o r t h e j u d g e s . T h e n each hopeful c o n t e s t a n t m u s t answer a q u e s t i o n ( g i v e n t o them before t h e pageant) t o the b e s t o f t h e i r a b i l i t y , t o i l l u s t r a t e t h e i r p u b l i c - s p e a k i n g c a p a b i l i t y . F r o m the s c o r e s t h e y r e c e i v e i n t h e s e t w o c a t e g o r i e s , a s w e l l a s a r e v i e w o f e a c h g i r l ' s resume, t h e c o n t e s t a n t s a r e e v a l u a t e d and a w i n n e r i s s e l e c t e d . S h e i s crowned o n T h u r s d a y , t h e b e g i n n i n g d a y o f t h e F a i r , b y a c o u n t y o f f i c i a l , a n d spends h e r w e e k e n d r e i g n i n g o v e r t h e F a i r a n d m i n g l i n g w i t h t h e m a s s e s . P r i z e s a r e g i v e n t o t h e Queen b y l o c a l b u s i n e s s e s . T h e Queen t h e n g o e s o n t o t h e s t a t e f a i r i n Ti m o n i u m .
Sometimes r o y a l t y i s n o t a l l i t ' s c r a c k e d u p t o b e . D u r i n g rainy f a i r days even g e t t i n g t o t h e merry-go-round can be a challenge.
In t h e p a s t , though, t h e process w a s d i f f e r e n t . A c c o r d i n g t o Ann (Lacey) A b e l l , t h e Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e i n 1 9 5 0 , i n a February 1990 i n t e r v i e w, " . . . t h e f i r s t g i r l s ( 1 9 4 7 - 4 9 ) w o n b y g e t t i n g t h e m o s t money d o n a t e d . T h e n , w h e n I came along i n 1 9 5 0 , e a c h d i s t r i c t h a d a dance . . . a n d a g i r l was c h o s e n . W e w a l k e d around s c a r e d t o d e a t h a n d n e v e r o p e n e d o u r m o u t h s - - w e w e r e s o n e r v o u s . " F r o m t h e r e , t h e w i n n e r s f r o m e a c h d i s t r i c t b e c a m e c o n t e s t a n t s i n t h e Queen o f To l e r a n c e p a g e a n t . A c c o r d i n g t o M r s . A b e l l , t h e c o m p e t i t i o n w a s a l i t t l e e a s i e r back t h e n . " . . . We d i d n ' t h a v e t o s a y a n y t h i n g , j u s t s t a n d t h e r e a n d s m i l e . "
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"Amid t h e r a i n - s o a k e d A l m s H o u s e g r o u n d s ( t o d a y k n o w n a s t h e fairgrounds) p r e t t y , auburn - h a i r e d , b l u e - e y e d Ann Lacey r u l e s as Q u e e n o f T o l e r a n c e o v e r t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r , " stated t h e 1950 a r t i c l e i n t h e S t a r n e w s p a p e r. A n n Lacey A b e l l w a s t h e f o u r t h Queen t o g r a c e t h e f a i r .
Ann L a w r e n c e A b e l l w a s t h e f i r s t Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e i n 1 9 4 7 a n d i n a p h o n e i n t e r v i e w w i t h h e r i n F e b r u a r y, 1 9 9 0 , s h e r e l a t e d t h e e v e n t s s u r r o u n d i n g h e r r e i g n a s q u e e n : " W e had a dance a t T a l l Ti m b e r s ; b a c k t h e n t h a t was ' t h e ' p l a c e to g o . W e h a d been c o l l e c t i n g ( s e l l i n g ) v o t e s and t h e y were c o u n t e d a t t h e dance. T h e o n e w i t h t h e m o s t v o t e s w o n . I remember H e a t h S t e e l e was o n e o f those c o u n t i n g . T h e c r o w n i n g t o o k p l a c e a b o u t a week l a t e r a t S t . M a r y ' s C i t y with a d a n c e f o l l o w i n g i n t h e h a l l (where S t . Mary's College i s now). I f e l t v e r y h o n o r e d t o b e q u e e n b u t I d i d n ' t c a r e much f o r t h e s y s t e m o f g e t t i n g v o t e s . A f t e r t h e f i r s t t w o y e a r s , t h e g i r l s won o n t h e i r own m e r i t a n d n o t because t h e y s o l d m o r e v o t e s . I d i d n ' t h a v e t o d o much a s q u e e n b a c k t h e n ; t h e f a i r h a d j u s t s t a r t e d - - t h i s w a s t h e f i r s t y e a r , a n d w e w e r e a t Camp C a l v e r t ( S t . M a r y ' s R y k e n ) . Everything was h e l d u n d e r t e n t s o r p a v i l i o n s o u t s i d e . G i r l s t o d a y a r e more i n v o l v e d t h a n we w e r e b a c k t h e n . " K i t t y B a i l e y S w a n n w a s t h e s e c o n d Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e i n 1 9 4 8 a n d a l t h o u g h the dance was h e l d a t a d i f f e r e n t p l a c e , t h e e v e n t s a r e s i m i l a r t o 1 9 4 7 . I n a n i n t e r v i e w ( F e b r u a r y 1 9 9 0 ) w i t h Swann, s h e r e l a t e d t h a t " w e h a d a b i g d i n n e r d a n c e at t h e Wharf Club where e i g h t o r n i n e g i r l s were honored. T h e one w i t h t h e most
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votes ( s o l d b y p a r e n t s , e t c . ) was chosen queen. I was p i c k e d a t t h e Wharf C l u b but was crowned i n S t . M a r y ' s C i t y i n t h e b i g h a l l a t t h e c o l l e g e . S e n a t o r Barkley crowned m e . H e p u t my crown o n backwards. I t was w h i t e w i t h r e d r o s e s i n i t . T h e f a i r i t s e l f w a s h e l d a t Camp C a l v e r t ; i t w a s j u s t a c a m p g r o u n d b a c k then."
K i t t y B a i l e y ( n o w Swann) w a s s e l e c t e d a s t h e s e c o n d Queen o f To l e r a n c e a t a d a n c e h e l d a t t h e L e o n a r d t o w n W h a r f a n d crowned b y S e n a t o r B a r k l e y , D e m o c r a t f r o m K e n t u c k y a t a ceremony a t S t . M a r y ' s C i t y , S e p t e m b e r 1 8 , 1 9 4 8 .
A c c o r d i n g t o A r l e n e C a n d e l a C u l l i n s ( Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e , 1 9 5 1 ) , " C a n d i d a t e s attended a Princess B a l l a t w h i c h a g i r l w a s c h o s e n f r o m e a c h d i s t r i c t ; b u t anyone c o u l d g o . T h e q u e e n w a s s e l e c t e d f r o m t h o s e c h o s e n . T h e c r o w n i n g t o o k place o n a n o u t d o o r p l a t f o r m about where t h e A r t s B u i l d i n g i s now o n t h e c u r r e n t fairgrounds. T h e r e were v e r y f e w b u i l d i n g s t h e n . " S e e photo page 4 1 . The m a i n d u t y o f t h e Queen o f To l e r a n c e i s t o r e p r e s e n t t h e e s s e n c e o f S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y, b u t s h e i s a l s o o n h a n d t o p r e s e n t a w a r d s a t t h e F a i r ' s o t h e r c o n t e s t s a n d s h o w s . B e i n g Queen i s a b i g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y b u t i t i s d o u b t f u l t h a t any p r e v i o u s w i n n e r w i l l s a y i t w a s n ' t w o r t h i t . Rt. A r l e n e C a n d e l a i s crowned Queen b y U . S . C i r c u i t C o u r t Judge D u d l e y D i g g s f r o m L a Plata i n 1951.
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A r l e n e C a n d e l a b e i n g c r o w n e d t h e f i f t h Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e b y U . S . C i r c u i t C o u r t Judge D u d l e y D i g g s f r o m L a P l a t a i n 1 9 5 1 . T h e c r o w n i n g t o o k p l a c e o n a n o u t d o o r p l a t f o r m w h e r e t h e A r t s B u i l d i n g i s n o w.
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S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y Queen o f To l e r a n c e Previous Winners 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
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Anne Lawrence Kitty Bailey Janet Burroughs E l i z a b e t h Ann Lacey Arlene Candela E l v a Anderson Cathie Davis S u e Magee R o b e r t a Wood Patsy Napier Connie M i l e s Susie Blake P a t Adams To n y Wormwood S h a r o n Feengan Ruth Drury L o i s Anderson Diane Weiner Kathy B e l l S h a r o n Dumont Ronda W e t z e l Diane H u n t t C a r o l e Anne N o r r i s
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
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Debbie Stone Anne Levay Jan Colleary Debbie B e n n i n g f i e l d M a r i l e e Candela Theresa Boole Bonnie Lynn M a t t i n g l y Sharon T i a r i B a r l e y Nancy I m b e r M a r i e Hodges L i n d a Palma D e b o r a h Behm J u l i e Lawrence C y n t h i a Ta y l o r R e g i n a Sances Minday Kinoo Andrea Knowlton Jennifer Kirby A l l i s o n Dameron Ta n y a Hughes
" T h i s i s t h e Queen a n d h e r c o u r t ( f r o m t h e v a r i o u s d i s t r i c t s ) a s t h e y p o s e i n 1960 i n t h e o l d a u d i t o r i u m (on c u r r e n t f a i r g r o u n d s ) b e f o r e t h e p a r t i t i o n s w e r e p u t i n , " s a i d E l w o o d C u s i c , F a i r B o a r d member.
Top: H e n r y F o w l e r , S r . officiates. ( B o t t o m L.) Queen o f To l e r a n c e (1982), J a n C o l e a r y Pennissi. ( B o t t o m R t . ) A l l i s o n Dameron, 1 9 8 8 Queen.
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Top: T h e Q u e e n a n d h e r c o u r t o n t h e M e r r y -Go- R o u n d . (Bottom L . ) J e n n i f e r K i r b y , 1 9 8 7 Queen a n d h e r e s c o r t . ( B o t t o m R . ) Ta n y a H u g h e s , t h e 1 9 8 9 Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e .
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P u b l i c a t i o n ' s s t u d e n t s p o s e i n t h e 4 - H b u i l d i n g w i t h Ann Richards ( 3 r d f r o m R t . ) , whose husband has been F a i r Board President f o r t h e p a s t seven years. A n n i s o f t e n j u s t as busy a s h e r h u s b a n d a t f a i r t i m e t o w h i c h a n y p a s t f a i r board p r e s i d e n t ' s w i f e c a n a t t e s t .
John L a n c a s t e r ( C e n t e r ) , C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r A g r i c u l t u r a l Science a n d Black 4-H d u r i n g t h e years o f i n t e g r a t i o n ; James F o r r e s t ( L ) a n d M r s . F o r r e s t , who were b o t h very a c t i v e i n t h e B l a c k 4-H, t a l k w i t h P u b l i c a t i o n ' s s t u d e n t s L a u r e l P o t y e n ( s e c o n d f r o m r i g h t ) a n d Shannon Rhodes ( R ) .
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4-H Makes The Best, Better. by Sharon Dunn The l a r g e s t i n f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m f o r y o u n g p e o p l e c a r r i e s t h e s l o g a n "Learn b y D o i n g " . T h i s group i s t h e 4 - H . T h e 4 - H e x i s t s i n o v e r 8 0 c o u n t r i e s i n the w o r l d t o d a y, w i t h c h i l d r e n r a n g i n g i n ages f r o m 9 - 1 9 . The 4 - H ' s c r e e d s t a n d s f o r t h e H e a d , H e a r t , H a n d s , a n d H e a l t h . T h e y f o l l o w t h e m o t t o , " T o make t h e b e s t b e t t e r " ; a n d a t e v e r y m e e t i n g t h e y r e c i t e : I pledge My Head t o c l e a r e r t h i n k i n g My H e a r t t o g r e a t e r l o y a l t y My Hand t o l a r g e r s e r v i c e a n d My H e a l t h t o b e t t e r l i v i n g , f o r m y c l u b , m y c o m m u n i t y, my c o u n t r y , a n d my w o r l d . The f i r s t 4 - H w a s i n t r o d u c e d t o t e a c h c h i l d r e n s k i l l s t h a t w i l l h e l p t h e m i n the a d u l t w o r l d . T h e y l e a r n r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , h o w t o w o r k w i t h o t h e r s , a n d s k i l l s such a s p u b l i c s p e a k i n g , f a r m i n g , c o o k i n g , e t c . " T h e 4 - H w a s i n t r o d u c e d t o t h e f a i r i n 1 9 4 7 , " a c c o r d i n g t o E l i z a b e t h R u s s e l l , s e c r e t a r y t o J u l i u s Johnson, County E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f r o m 1 9 4 1 - 1 9 6 8 . " I t h e l p e d h o m e m a k e r s a n d f a r m e r s i n c r e a s e t h e i r k n o w l e d g e a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f f a r m p r o d u c t s a n d homemaking through shows a n d c o m p e t i t i o n s . " T h e a g r i c u l t u r a l a s p e c t s o f t h e 4 - H a r e w e l l exhibited i n the county f a i r . During t i m e s o f s e g r e g a t i o n , when t h e r e were separate w h i t e and b l a c k f a i r s , there were a l s o separate w h i t e and b l a c k 4 - H g r o u p s . A c c o r d i n g t o M r . J o h n L a n c a s t e r, " M r . B i l l G a i s e r w a s t h e A s s i s t a n t C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r A g r i c u l t u r a l Science, b u t he a l s o handled 4 - H f o r w h i t e s o n l y. H e s e r v e d as assistant u n d e r M r . J u l i u s J o h n s o n , S t . M a r y ' s County Extension Agent. M r . Johnson d i d n o t h a n d l e 4 - H . I was County Extension Agent f o r Agricultural Science a n d 4 - H ( b l a c k o n l y ) . I went s p e c i f i c a l l y t o a s s i s t b l a c k farmers and handled t h e b l a c k 4 - H C l u b s o n l y . " Through a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h M r . J o h n L a n c a s t e r , M r . F o r r e s t , a n d M r s . F o r r e s t , more i n f o r m a t i o n w a s u n c o v e r e d c o n c e r n i n g t h e b l a c k f a i r a n d t h e b l a c k 4 - H . Their p a r a d e " w a s s t r i c t l y 4 - H g r o u p s , " a c c o r d i n g t o M r s . F o r r e s t , w i t h e x c e p t i o n s b e i n g m a d e f o r o u t - o f - c o u n t y b a n d s . " E a c h 4 - H g r o u p made a f l o a t t o show o f f i n t h e p a r a d e . I n t h e w h i t e f a i r , a n d n o w i n m o d e r n t i m e s , t h e r e i s a Queen o f T o l e r a n c e . I n t h e b l a c k f a i r t h e r e w a s a V o i c e o f S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y, also known a s M i s s 4 - H o f S t . M a r y ' s . E a c h 4 - H c l u b w o u l d e n t e r o n e g i r l t o r e p r e s e n t t h e m , a n d t h e y w o u l d c o m p e t e w i t h a l l o f t h e o t h e r s . O n S u n d a y, a b i g ceremony w a s h e l d f o r t h e w i n n e r . "
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stripes. T h e c h i l d r e n would e x h i b i t chickens and hogs, and t h e l e a d e r would help set u p a b o o t h p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e theme f o r t h a t y e a r . " In 1962, due t o i n t e g r a t i o n , M r. J o h n Lancaster w a s reassigned a s County Extension Agent f o r t h e 4 - H o f b l a c k s and w h i t e s . B e f o r e s e g r e g a t i o n , 1 , 5 0 0 black c h i l d r e n and 1,000 w h i t e c h i l d r e n i n t h e c o u n t y w e r e i n v o l v e d i n 4-H. A f t e r i n t e g r a t i o n , a l l p a r t i c i p a t i o n dropped d r a s t i c a l l y. A c c o r d i n g t o Mrs. Jean Dean, t h e C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r 4 - H s i n c e J u l y 1 9 8 8 , " i n 1 9 8 6 t h e r e w e r e o n l y t w o 4 - H c l u b s i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y, w i t h o n l y 3 5 t o t a l members. T h e n u m b e r s have r i s e n t o 2 6 5 t h i s y e a r , w i t h 28% o f t h e members b l a c k . " Mrs. D e a n g a v e u s some r e a s o n s w h y 4 - H i n v o l v e m e n t numbers h a v e d r o p p e d s o . " I n t h e 5 0 ' s a n d 6 0 ' s t h e r e w e r e n ' t a s many e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r a c t i v i t i e s f o r c h i l d r e n t o d o , a n d women v o l u n t e e r e d m o r e . T h e 6 0 ' s a n d 7 0 ' s m o v e m e n t s w e r e 'back t o t h e l a n d ' . T h e r e were more i n d e p e n d e n t , s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t p e o p l e who d i d not j o i n groups r e a d i l y . N o w t h e County E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e g i v e s seminars f o r more s e l f h e l p ; 4 - H w a s a n o u t g r o w t h o f t h e t i m e . " Not a s m a n y c h i l d r e n j o i n l o t . E a c h member i s r e q u i r e d t o of p r o j e c t s , w h i c h c h i l d r e n c certificates, ribbons, trophies, to t h e Maryland S t a t e F a i r Board
4 - H c l u b s n o w, b u t t h o s e w h o d o l e a r n a n d e a r n a do a t l e a s t one p r o j e c t a y e a r. T h e r e a r e l i s t s a n d e s i g n o n t h e i r own. T h e y c a n e a r n medals, and even scholarships. A s t a t e g r a n t i s g i v e n f o r awards.
Children i n 4 - H c a n j o i n s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t g r o u p s , compete i n speaking contests, and contests o f o t h e r s k i l l s . T h e y a l s o perform community services, and c a n g o t o a summer c a m p . Although 4-H i n v o l v e m e n t has d e c l i n e d , c h i l d r e n w h o do p a r t i c i p a t e g e t a variety o f educational opportunities, while having fun. H o p e f u l l y i n t h e future we w i l l s e e m o r e i n v o l v e m e n t i n t h i s g r e a t c l u b .
This s t e e r w o n 4 - H Grand Champion o v e r a l l i n b o t h St. M a r y ' s C o u n t y a n d Charles C o u n t y i n 1 9 8 8 . Joey R o b e r t s ( n o t pictured) r a i s e d the steer which i s s h o w n b y h i s sister Dawn Roberts a n d f r i e n d C h r i s Swann.
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Caring f o r a n i m a l s i s l e a r n e d e a r l y o n t h e f a r m and f a i r week c a l l s f o r e x t r a c a r e f o r t h e s h o w r i n g .
Dawn R o b e r t s o f C h a r l e s County s e e m s t o k n o w exactly w h a t t o d o t o spruce u p b r o t h e r J o e y ' s winning m a r k e t s t e e r ! The s t e e r t o o k G r a n d Champion i n 1 9 8 8 .
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Ode To The Smell! Ode t o t h e s m e l l That w a f t s t h r o u g h t h e a i r That c l i n g s t o t h e b r e e z e And s t a y s i n y o u r h a i r To l i v e s t o c k a n d r i d e s To t h e smoke a n d t h e t r a s h That b u r n s i n y o u r n o s e And t a r n i s h e s b r a s s To t h e h o r s e s a n d c o w s To t h e p i g s a n d t h e g e e s e To t h e g i r l s a n d t h e b o y s Who m u s t c l e a n o f f t h e i r f e e t To t h e c h a m p i o n b u l l Unaware o f t h e j u d g e Who m u s t c a r e f u l l y s t e p Through t h e m u c k w i t h a g r u d g e Unaware o f t h e f a c t That h e w i l l s o o n b e b l e d So many a f a m i l y Soon c a n b e f e d And w h e n a l a s The g o o d d a y i s d o n e You m u s t s i m p l y s a y That y o u s u r e d i d h a v e f u n ! Andrew S t o n e
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Ode To A Cow Ho-hum, I ' m a c o w t h a t s a y s m o o . My l i f e i s d u l l , m y f a t e - b e e f s t e w . I e a t and sleep, d o b o t h w h i l e standing. My f o o d i s g r a s s ; I ' m n o t d e m a n d i n g . Moo, I s a y - - b u t n o t h i n g , I d o . I ' d g i v e my l i f e t o b e l i k e y o u . My o n e e x c i t e m e n t i s t h e F a i r , Though t h i s o c c a s i o n i s q u i t e r a r e . My a u n t s a n d u n c l e s , c o u s i n s , f r i e n d s , A l l o f my f e l l o w cows a t t e n d . A l l s o r t s o f people gaze and poke, prod, swarm, j u d g e , a n d j o k e . To t h e m I ' m j u s t a b a r n y a r d c r e a t u r e Soon t o b e a m e a l t i m e f e a t u r e . Perhaps o n e d a y I ' l l b e t a k e n s e r i o u s l y . . . even t r e a t e d q u i t e i m p e r i o u s l y . For n o w I ' l l j u s t h o p e t h a t i t i s n ' t m y f a t e To e n d u p a t h i c k s t e a k o n a W e s t e r n S t e e r p l a t e . Kim K l i n e r
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(L.) P u b l i c a t i o n student Sharon Dunn makes a f r i e n d . O p p o s i t e p a g e —top: W a s h i n g , a l l t h a t wool i s n ' t easy! Bottom: T h e s e 4 — H m e m b e r s await t h e o u t c o m e o f t h e judges' d e c i s i o n .
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Winning i s i m p o r t a n t t o 4 - H ' e r s b u t b u i l d i n g c h a r a c t e r a l o n g the way i s a g o a l w h i c h i s n o t o v e r l o o k e d ( 1 9 7 3 ) .
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C h a r l i e Wo o d b u r n ( b u y e r f o r l o c a l s u p e r m a r k e t ) i n s p e c t s a winning Hereford s t e e r ( 1 9 7 3 ) .
Winning 4 - H E n t r i e s i n t h e 1989 F a i r
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It's Not All Hog Heaven by Karen Raley
Raising p i g s d e m a n d s m o r e t h a n a s m a l l s h a r e o f responsibility since t h e owner s t a y s q u i t e b u s y feeding, watering, brushing, a n d cleaning u p a f t e r t h e i r hogs. M a n y youngsters awaken r a i n o r s h i n e i n t h e e a r l y morning h o u r s i n order t o f i n i s h t h e i r c h o r e s b e f o r e g o i n g t o school. T h e y o f t e n s h a r e t h e s e d u t i e s w i t h t h e i r f a m i l i e s a n d d o n ' t seem to mind t h e r o u t i n e . I t i s v e r y r e w a r d i n g i n t h e end t o e x h i b i t a p i g and place i t i n competition.
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Piglet At The Fair by Sara Jenkins Ti n y p i n k s n o u t s a n d l i t t l e c u r l y t a i l s , Cute l i t t l e e y e s , p e e k i n g t h r o u g h t h e r a i l s Grunts a n d t i n y s q u e a l s , e c h o t h r o u g h t h e a i r , Is t h e r e anything so sweet a s a p i g l e t a t t h e f a i r ?
"The g r e a s e d p i g c o n t e s t is coming b a c k t o t h e 1991 f a i r , " s a i d M r . Elwood C u s i c . " W e u s e d to h a v e i t a l l t h e t i m e but h a v e n ' t had i t f o r a t least t h e l a s t f i v e years." (1972)
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Onyx T h e Angus Onyx t h e A n g u s w a s s o l i d a n d b l a c k , P u t t i n g a l l o t h e r s t o shame. No v a l u a b l e q u a l i t i e s d i d h e l a c k . A w i n n e r h e became. I h e l d my b r e a t h a s b i d s w e r e m a d e . A glance a t him I dared. Suddenly I h o p e d a n d p r a y e d That O n y x w o u l d b e s p a r e d . Beth A l t o n
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( L e f t / C e n t e r ) R a l p h B o y d e n and h i s b r o t h e r , N e a l Boyden ( R t . ) w i t h d a u g h t e r, P a t s y, show t h e i r w i n n i n g polled Herefords i n t h e 1960 f a i r .
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Farmers From St. Mary's And Neighborhood Counties Frequent The Fair And Take Home Ribbons.
( L . ) One o f t h e B l a c k h a l l t w i n s , ( R t . ) N e a l Boyden ( B e l A l t o n ) Charles C o u n t y s h o w i n g S h o r t h o r n c a t t l e . ( P h o t o c o u r t e s y Elwood C u s i c )
( L . ) B u d d y " B e n , J r . " P a r r a n f r o m Cage F a r m i n C a l v e r t C o . (Rt.) F r e d Crouse, 1960.
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L. t o R . H e n r y F o w l e r ' s s i s t e r , M r s . L o u i s e P a r l e t t , Susanna F o w l e r , H e n r y F o w l e r , S r . , v i s i t o r f r o m B a l t i m o r e , Larry M i l l i s o n . M i l l i s o n bought beef c a t t l e f r o m the f a i r on a r e g u l a r b a s i s f o r t h e B e l v e d e r e R e s t a u r a n t .
Mrs. P a r l e t t a n d Elwood C u s i c w i t h Grand Champion. (Photo c o u r t e s y E l w o o d C u s i c )
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L. M r . G i b s o n ( 2 n d f r o m L . ) , J o e C u s i c , 3 r d f r o m L . , B o b b y C u s i c , a n d R t . B i l l y C u s i c s t a n d w i t h Champion Hereford c a t t l e f r o m P a t u x e n t V i e w Farm i n M e c h a n i c s v i l l e . ( P h o t o c o u r t e s y Elwood C u s i c )
The T r - C o u n t y a r e a i s well represented i n the c a t t l e show r i n g .
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A Proud Moment For Black 4-H. (History of a Separate Fair) — Staff — Few p e o p l e w h o w a n d e r t h r o u g h t h e e x h i b i t s a t t h e f a i r t o d a y , r e a l i z e t h a t there was a s e p a r a t e b l a c k f a i r w h i c h t o o k p l a c e i n September e a c h y e a r f r o m 1949 u n t i l i n t e g r a t i o n i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 6 0 ' s . I n a n e x t e n s i v e i n t e r v i e w w i t h M r. James F o r r e s t , h i s w i f e , H a r r i e t , a n d J o h n L a n c a s t e r, much l i g h t was s h e d o n t h e days of o l d . "The f i r s t b l a c k f a i r w a s h e l d a t t h e C a r d i n a l G i b b o n s H i g h S c h o o l i n R i d g e , Maryland, i n 1 9 4 9 " , s a i d F o r r e s t , t h e p a s t p r e s i d e n t o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s County Board o f E d u c a t i o n a n d p a s t p r e s i d e n t o f t h e c o u n t y ' s B l a c k F a i r . C a r d i n a l Gibbons H i g h S c h o o l w a s t h e f i r s t b l a c k h i g h s c h o o l i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y . " W e had a F a r m e r ' s a n d H o m e m a k e r ' s A s s o c i a t i o n w h i c h w a s a n o r g a n i z a t i o n o f l o c a l f a r m e r s a n d homemakers w h o s e p u r p o s e w a s t o t e a c h f a r m e r s h o w t o g r o w t h e i r f o o d b e t t e r , h o w t o s e w, c a n f o o d , a n d r a i s e h e a l t h i e r a n i m a l s . M o s t o f t h i s was d o n e t h r o u g h t h e h o m e m a k e r ' s c l u b ; t h e n t h e i d e a came a b o u t t o c o m b i n e t h e f a r m e r s a n d t h e homemakers k n o w l e d g e a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g t o w a r d d e v e l o p i n g a q u a l i t y p r o d u c t , " said John L a n c a s t e r, a County E x t e n s i o n Agent d u r i n g t h e B l a c k F a i r y e a r s .
John L a n c a s t e r ( c e n t e r ) , C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r A g r i c u l t u r e and B l a c k 4 - H d u r i n g t h e y e a r s o f i n t e g r a t i o n ; J a m e s F o r r e s t (second f r o m l e f t ) , P a s t P r e s i d e n t o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y Board o f E d u c a t i o n a n d P a s t P r e s i d e n t o f t h e B l a c k F a i r ; a n d Mrs. F o r r e s t ( l e f t ) , w h o a l o n g w i t h h e r husband was v e r y a c t i v e with t h e i r c h i l d r e n i n 4 - H , e x p l a i n w h a t t o o k place i n and around B l a c k F a i r w e e k . Right: Shannon Rhodes — 2nd From Right: Laurel Potyen
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"The i d e a w a s t o i n c r e a s e t h e q u a l i t y o f l i f e - - t o i m p r o v e t h e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g , " s t a t e d F o r r e s t . " J o h n had t h e knowledge a n d know-how t o i n s t r u c t u s . By c o m b i n i n g t h e 4 - H c l u b s w i t h t h e h o m e m a k e r s , w e w e r e a b l e t o move t o w a r d s t h a t goal. P e o p l e brought t h e i r c o r n , t o b a c c o , hogs, c h i c k e n s , canned g o o d s , e t c . , and t h e r e w e r e a f e w t h o r o u g h b r e d h o r s e s . " "The f a i r w a s moved f r o m C a r d i n a l G i b b o n s t o L o v e v i l l e . W e h e l d i t o n t h e Bernard S o m e r v i l l e p r o p e r t y i n a t e n t . T h e l a s t f a i r w e h a d a t L o v e v i l l e was ruined by r a i n so w e n e g o t i a t e d i n t h e 1 9 5 0 ' s w i t h t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r Board t o a l l o w u s t o u s e t h e f a i r g r o u n d s o n R o u t e 5 . T h e w h i t e s h e l d t h e i r f a i r one w e e k a n d w e h e l d o u r s t h e n e x t , " r e l a t e d F o r r e s t . According t o M r s . H a r r i e t F o r r e s t , " w e had a Miss 4 - H o f S t . M a r y ' s County who w a s c h o s e n f r o m t h e v a r i o u s b l a c k 4 - H g r o u p s i n t h e c o u n t y . W e w o u l d h a v e e i g h t o r n i n e g i r l s f r o m w h i c h t h e queen was c h o s e n . W e h a d a b i g ceremony o n Sunday f o r t h e c r o w n i n g o f t h e q u e e n a n d h e r c o u r t . O u r p a r a d e h a d m o r e p a r t i c i p a n t s t h a n t h e w h i t e f a i r ; we a l w a y s had a n i c e parade. O u r bands were from o u t o f t h e c o u n t y.
The B l a c k F a i r ' s E d u c a t i o n a l F l o a t w a s o n e o f m a n y f l o a t s and b a n d s w h i c h moved f r o m S t . M a r y ' s Academy a r o u n d t h e square a n d o n t o b u s e s w h i c h t o o k t h e m t o t h e f a i r g r o u n d s . ( P h o t o s c o u r t e s y James a n d H a r r i e t F o r r e s t )
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Leonardtown had n o band a t t h e t i m e ; w e u s e d t o g e t t h e B a t e s H i g h S c h o o l Band f r o m A n n a p o l i s , a n d many o t h e r s . W e a l s o h a d t h e C a r d i n a l G i b b o n s D r u m a n d B u g l e Corps. W h e n t h a t p a r a d e w e n t t h r o u g h L e o n a r d t o w n , i t w a s s o m e t h i n g ! P e o p l e w o u l d r e a l l y come o u t t o w a t c h t h e p a r a d e . O u r f l o a t s w e r e s i m p l y b e a u t i f u l . " "Our 4 - H ' e r s w o r e u n i f o r m s . T h e b o y s w o r e w h i t e p a n t s a n d w h i t e s h i r t s a n d the g i r l s w o r e g r e e n - s t r i p e d d r e s s e s . W e used t o have more y o u t h p a r t i c i p a t i o n : the young p e o p l e u s e d t o w o r k t o g e t h e r b a c k t h e n . T h e n w h e n t h e f a i r was i n t e g r a t e d i n t h e 1 9 6 0 ' s f e w young people p a r t i c i p a t e d . T h e y s t i l l d o n ' t , " s a i d Mrs. F o r r e s t .
(L) L o u i s F o r r e s t ( s o n o f J a m e s a n d H a r r i e t F o r r e s t o f Leonardtown), a n d Jean Fenwick ( R ) p o s e d u r i n g 4 - H e v e n t . The 4 - H u n i f o r m s c o n s i s t e d o f w h i t e p a n t s a n d w h i t e s h i r t with g r e e n t i e f o r b o y s a n d g r e e n and w h i t e s t r i p e d d r e s s e s f o r g i r l s . ( P h o t o s c o u r t e s y James a n d H a r r i e t Forrest)
"The f i n a n c i n g f o r o u r f a i r w a s p a r t l y f r o m t h e M a r y l a n d A g r i c u l t u r e F a i r Board. T h e y p a i d f o r r i b b o n s a n d a w a r d s f o r t h e c h i l d r e n . W e , i n t u r n , h a d t o report everything t o the s t a t e f a i r b o a r d : g a t e receipts, f e e f o r r e n t a l o f ground a n d a n y o t h e r money t r a n s a c t i o n s , " r e l a t e d M r s . F o r r e s t . " W e h a d o u r o w n f a i r catalogue and s o l d ads t o pay f o r i t . "
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"Our j u d g e s f o r t h e e x h i b i t s w e r e f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a r y l a n d w h o w e r e specialists i n t h e i r a r e a , agronomists, e t c , " s t a t e d J o h n L a n c a s t e r, former County E x t e n s i o n A g e n t f o r t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a r y l a n d . " I t i s s t i l l d o n e t h e same w a y t o d a y . " "Once t h e b l a c k f a i r w a s i n t e g r a t e d w i t h t h e w h i t e f a i r , t h e b l a c k s l o s t t h e i r l e a d e r s h i p r o l e s . W e used t o g o o u t a n d g e t o u r own a d s a n d r u n o u r own e x h i b i t s a n d o r g a n i z e e v e r y t h i n g . W e h a d o u r o w n c a t a l o g u e w h i c h was a l o t o f w o r k ; i t t o o k l e a d e r s h i p a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n t o p u t o n e o u t , " s a i d James F o r r e s t . "When F r a n k Guy w e n t o u t o f t h e p r i n t i n g b u s i n e s s , a l l t h e f a i r b o o k s w e r e p u t t o g e t h e r a n d g i v e n t o R a y e t t a M c W i l l i a m s , w h o i s s t i l l a member o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r B o a r d t o d a y . " " To d a y ' s y o u n g p e o p l e a r e n ' t i n t e r e s t e d m u c h i n 4 - H , " s t a t e d James F o r r e s t . "When I w a s y o u n g , w e r a i s e d c h i c k e n s , h a d t o s e l l t h e e g g s - d o o r t o d o o r . "
L o u i s F o r r e s t ( s o n o f James and H a r r i e t F o r r e s t o f Loveville) poses w i t h t h e 150 chicks h e r a i s e d f o r a 4-H Club p r o j e c t . ( P h o t o c o u r t e s y James a n d H a r r i e t F o r r e s t )
"We h a d p o u l t r y c o n t e s t s a n d y o u c o u l d r e a l l y s e e t h e d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e o n e s t h a t were r a i s e d p r o p e r l y . O u r g o a l w a s t o c o m p e t e a g a i n s t o u r s e l v e s - t o d o a b e t t e r job e a c h y e a r. I f I h a d n ' t been i n 4 - H , I w o u l d n ' t b e where I am t o d a y . I j o i n e d when I was t e n y e a r s o l d . " Lancaster e x p l a i n e d t h a t " t h e c h i l d r e n were t a u g h t p u b l i c speaking, a s w e l l as l i f e s k i l l s i n t h e b l a c k f a i r . T h e 4 - H l e a d e r s w o u l d g o i n t o t h e home a n d teach t h e c h i l d r e n s k i l l s . I t was i m p o r t a n t f o r them t o l e a r n how t o b e o u t i n f r o n t o f t h e p u b l i c . T h e y w o u l d g o o n t r i p s t o Wa s h i n g t o n , h a v e d a n c e c o n t e s t s , e t c . " W e made y o u t h r e s p o n s i b l e f o r s e l f , " s a i d L a n c a s t e r .
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"The b l a c k 4 - H ' e r s w o u l d g o f o r a w e e k t o a s t a t e 4 - H Camp e a c h y e a r h e l d a t Princess Ann College o n t h e Eastern Shore. T h e r e a g r o u p p i c t u r e w a s t a k e n o f them i n u n i f o r m . T h e y h a d c l a s s e s e v e r y d a y i n c o o k i n g , s e w i n g , e t c . , " e x p l a i n e d Harriet Forrest. "After integration o f the f a i r s , t h e black participation wasn't there. T h e y c o u l d n ' t compete- - t h e i r f a i r w a s n ' t o f f e r i n g what o u r s was o f f e r i n g , " s a i d M r s . F o r r e s t . " F o r e x a m p l e , I w o u l d g r o w my f l o w e r s i n my y a r d - - n o t i n a h o t h o u s e - why e n t e r m i n e w h e n I c o u l d n ' t c o m p e t e . " L a n c a s t e r r e f l e c t e d , " P u r e b r e d h o g s a r e going t o be above what o u r s w e r e ; t h e y w e r e g i v e n v i t a m i n s and supplements--we d i d n ' t have any purebred hogs."
"They g a v e m y s o n , G e o r g e , o n e h o g ( a s o w ) a n d h e h a d t o r a i s e i t and h e r p i g l e t s f o r a 4 - H P r o j e c t . " ( P h o t o s 1961 c o u r t e s y James a n d H a r r i e t F o r r e s t )
" W e ' r e n o t b l a m i n g a n y o n e , " s a i d James F o r r e s t , " t h a t ' s j u s t t h e w a y t h i n g s w e r e . A l l t h e l e a d e r s h i p t h e b l a c k s h a d j u s t f e l l a w a y. F r o m t h e e a r l y 1 9 6 0 ' s b l a c k s f a d e d a w a y a n d p a r t i c i p a t e d l e s s . T h e n a v a l b a s e came i n , f a r m i n g b e g a n t o d w i n d l e , j o b s became m o r e a v a i l a b l e a n d e v e r y t h i n g h a s c h a n g e d a l o n g w i t h i t . "
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The Smell Of Tradition â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Southern Maryland Stuffed Ham. by Julie Miles "My g r a n d m o t h e r t o l d m e t h a t s t u f f i n g h a m g o t s t a r t e d t h r o u g h t h e s l a v e people. P e o p l e o n t h e o l d e s t a t e s would t a k e t h e p i g ' s head and j o w l s t h e n s t u f f them w i t h c a b b a g e a n d k a l e . P e o p l e f r o m t h e ' b i g h o u s e s ' w o u l d come d o w n a n d t a s t e t h e s t u f f i n g ; t h e y l i k e d i t s o much t h e y a s k e d t h e s l a v e s t o s t u f f t h e i r hams. M y m o t h e r w o u l d s t u f f f o u r o r f i v e h a m s a t a t i m e f o r d i f f e r e n t p e o p l e . W h i t e f o l k d i d n ' t w a n t t h e i r homes a l l s m e l l e d u p . Y e a r s a g o t h e y w e r e c o o k e d i n an o l d i r o n k e t t l e . M o s t p e o p l e w o u l d make homemade b a g s o f m u s l i n t o c o o k t h e i r hams i n , " s a i d v e t e r a n ham s t u f f e r , M r s . H a r r i e t F o r r e s t . Outside o f b e i n g one o f S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y ' s most b e n e f i c i a l h i s t o r i a n s , M r s . Forrest constructs a n d submits t h e guidelines f o r t h e judging o f t h e S t . Mary's County F a i r S t u f f e d Ham C o n t e s t . T h e b a s i c p r o c e s s f o r s t u f f i n g a h a m a s s t a t e d by M r s . F o r r e s t d u r i n g a r e c e n t i n t e r v i e w : " Y o u c u t p o c k e t s i n t h e h a m , t h e n s t u f f t h e pockets w i t h f l a v o r e d greens, season i t t o t a s t e , t h e n cook i t . "
S o u t h e r n M a r y l a n d s t u f f e d hams a r e j u d g e d a t t h e c o u n t y f a i r . Ve t e r a n ham s t u f f e r , H a r r i e t F o r r e s t , w h o c o n s t r u c t s a n d submits t h e g u i d e l i n e s f o r t h e j u d g e s s t a n d s a t f a r l e f t .
The c o n t e s t a n t s a r e j u d g e d o n t h r e e b a s i c c r i t e r i a . " F i r s t , t h e hams a r e t o be c u t i n p o c k e t f o r m f o r t h e s t u f f i n g p r o c e d u r e . S e c o n d , t h e c o l o r o f t h e h a m should be l i g h t p i n k . T h i r d and f i n a l l y , t h e s t u f f i n g s h o u l d b e d e e p g r e e n i n c o l o r, n o t a l l k a l e , a p p r o x i m a t e l y o n e - h a l f cabbage, o n e - h a l f k a l e and o n i o n s . " After a l l t h e physical q u a l i f i c a t i o n s have b e e n met, t h e r e a l c o n t e s t begins.
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The f i n a l p h a s e o f t h e c o m p e t i t i o n i s t h e t a s t e t e s t . J u d g e s i n c l u d i n g M r s . Forrest, a r e from various backgrounds a n d p r o f e s s i o n s f r o m a r o u n d o u r l o c a l region and o t h e r c o u n t i e s . S e a s o n i n g v a r i e s f r o m m i l d t o u n b e a r a b l e , i t a l l depends o n t h e s t u f f e r ' s p r e f e r e n c e a n d a d d e d p r o p o r t i o n s o f r e d p e p p e r . " S o m e c o n t e s t a n t s b r i n g t h e ham r i g h t t o t h e f a i r i n t h e o l d c l o t h , o t h e r s d e c o r a t e t h e ham b e a u t i f u l l y . " Contestants must r e p r e s e n t a s t o r e , r e s t a u r a n t , o r t a v e r n w h e r e t h e k i t c h e n has b e e n e x a m i n e d b y t h e H e a l t h D e p a r t m e n t . N o i n d i v i d u a l s t u f f e r s a r e a l l o w e d to p a r t i c i p a t e .
Southern M a r y l a n d s t u f f e d hams l i n e t h e t a b l e s t o b e judged. H a m s a r e donated to t h e S t . M a r y ' s N u r s i n g Center and h a m sandwiches are s o l d d u r i n g t h e f a i r to r a i s e m o n e y f o r t h e institution.
Prizes c o n s i s t o f a l a r g e b l u e r i b b o n f o r t h e f i r s t p l a c e w i n n e r, a s m a l l e r red r i b b o n f o r second p l a c e , a n d a w h i t e r i b b o n f o r t h i r d p l a c e . E a c h w i n n e r receives a p l a q u e t o p l a c e i n t h e s t o r e t h e y represent. A f t e r t h e b a t t l e i s o v e r, a n d v i c t o r y h a s b e e n c l a i m e d , t h e r e m a i n i n g h a m s a r e d o n a t e d t o t h e S t . Mary's N u r s i n g C e n t e r a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s s e l l z e s t y h a m s a n d w i c h e s a s a f u n d r a i s e r t h r o u g h o u t t h e f a i r f e s t i v i t i e s . I n 1 9 8 9 s i x t e e n hams w e r e d o n a t e d .
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The Mighty World Of Carousels by Angela Coblentz The m u s i c o f a l u l l a b y c a r e s s e s m e , Welcoming me l i k e t h e a r m s o f a g r a n d m o t h e r, P u l l i n g me t o w a r d s Its h i s t o r y o f gentleness. My f i n g e r s s t i c k y w i t h L e f t o v e r s p i d e r t h r e a d s o f c o t t o n c a n d y, Grasp t h e l e a t h e r s t r a p To " l e a d " m y m i g h t y f r i e n d a r o u n d t h e w o r l d . As h e g a l l o p s a l o n g , m o n o t o n o u s u p a n d d o w n movement, To t h e s o u n d o f o r g a n m u s i c , I s e e s e p a r a t e w o r l d s around me, That o f games, f o o d , v o i c e s a n d p e o p l e . I r i d e above a l l o f t h e s e w o r l d s Master o f a l l I s e e , t o m y s e l f , I l i s t e n t o o t h e r people g i g g l e , And w o n d e r w h y t h e y d o n ' t s h a r e t h e a n c i e n t n e s s o f t h i s w o r l d . I p a t my m i g h t y c r e a t u r e As i t s Movement s l o w s , Melody s l o w i n g w i t h t h e r h y t h m o f o u r b r e a t h i n g - I have conquered t h e mighty w o r l d o f c a r o u s e l s .
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Peanuts From Heaven by Clayton Hartley
Each y e a r a m a j o r h i g h l i g h t o f t h e c o u n t y f a i r i s t h e a n n u a l p a r a d e w h e r e many p e o p l e c o m e t o g e t h e r t o c a t c h t h e s p i r i t o f t h e f a i r . Suzanne H e n d e r s o n , f a i r p a r a d e c h a i r p e r s o n , r e c a l l s a p a r a d e i n t h e m i d - 5 0 ' s when a p i l o t f r o m D i x o n s ' a i r p o r t i n P a r k H a l l s e n t a b a r r a g e o f " p e a n u t s f r o m heaven" i n t o t h e c h e e r i n g c r o w d . F o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n f i f t e e n y e a r s t h e 1 9 8 8 f a i r parade boasted l i v e l y music, l a u g h t e r, a n d t h e sound o f marching f e e t i n t h e s t r e e t s o f Leonardtown. T h e parade m a d e i t s w a y f r o m t h e Governmental C e n t e r, past t h e r e v i e w i n g s t a n d and t h e n on t o t h e f a i r g r o u n d s . Henderson s a i d " b a n d s u s e d t o come f r o m a l l o v e r ; P r i n c e G e o r g e ' s C o u n t y, C a l v e r t C o u n t y, N a v y b a n d s , M a r i n e C o r p s b a n d s a n d s c h o o l b a n d s . I n e a r l y parades 4 - H g r o u p s h a d b e a u t i f u l f l o a t s a n d we h a d a n t i q u e c a r s , c l e a n a n d s h i n y t r a s h t r u c k s , l o c a l f i r e t r u c k s , a n d N a v y a n d M a r i n e C o r p s e x h i b i t s a n d m u c h much more. B u c k B r i s c o e , M r . S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y, w o u l d b r i n g d i g n i t a r i e s f r o m t h e White House t o j u d g e t h e f l o a t s . H e w o u l d g e t s e n a t o r s a n d c o n g r e s s m e n f o r example. F u l t o n L o u i s , J r . , t h e f a m o u s n e w s c a s t e r w o u l d c o m e . T h o s e t h a t h e asked u s u a l l y c a m e . A l l f l o a t s h a d t o f o l l o w a t h e m e . I n 1 9 4 8 t h e t h e m e w a s S t . Mary's County Farming: P a s t , P r e s e n t , F u t u r e . " "A h i g h p o i n t i n f a i r h i s t o r y w a s w h e n t h e B u d w e i s e r C l y d e s d a l e s , t a l l , powerful d r a f t horses bred i n t h e Clyde Va l l e y i n Scotland, g r a c e d o u r f a i r one glorious y e a r. P e r h a p s i n t h e f u t u r e , we c a n coax them back t o o u r f a i r once a g a i n , " s t a t e d Suzanne.
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( To p ) T h e R i d g e D r u m a n d B u g l e C o r p . m a r c h i n t h e p a r a d e . (Bottom) T h e C h o p t i c o n H i g h S c h o o l Band m a r c h e s f r o m t h e Te c h n i c a l C e n t e r t o t h e f a i r g r o u n d s i n 1 9 7 3 .
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The S e v e n t h D i s t r i c t b o y s 4 - H f l o a t m o v e s t h r o u g h L e o n a r d t o w n .
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The Fair Parade Never Lacked Variety!
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I t Wo u l d n ' t Be a Parade W i t h o u t Bands!
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One o f t h e m a n y e x a m p l e s o f t h e d i v e r s i t y o f t h e f a i r . ( 1 9 6 0 )
A Little Bit Of Something For Everyone by Kim Miner, Matthew Olson Entertainment a t t h e f a i r h a s changed o v e r t h e y e a r s l i k e e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . Although t h e b e s t i s d i f f e r e n t , i t s t i l l goes o n . C h u b b y Checker " r o c k e d " young and o l d a l i k e i n t h e 1 9 5 0 ' s a t t h e f a i r a n d G r a n d p a J o n e s g a v e t h e c o u n t r y m u s i c f a n s some " g o o d o l e , ' d o w n home, f o o t s t o m p i n ' e n j o y m e n t . " However, a t t h e e a r l i e s t f a i r s e n t e r t a i n m e n t f o c u s e d l e s s o n a c i r c u s atmosphere a n d m o r e a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s . E v e n t o d a y , t h e c o m p e t i t i o n s f o r the b e s t p r o d u c e a n d / o r l i v e - s t o c k a r e s t i l l v e r y e n t e r t a i n i n g . E v e n t h e f i r s t f a i r i n 1 9 4 7 introduced r i d e s as a r e g u l a r p a r t o f t h e f a i r as evidenced by t h e f e r r i s wheel and carousel. T h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r w i l l never b e s h o r t o f entertainment s i n c e t h e r e i s s u c h a smorgasbord o f a c t i v i t i e s .
Members o f t h e L e o n a r d t o w n P u b l i c a t i o n s C l a s s mug f o r t h e camera w h i l e r i d i n g t h e c a r o u s e l , a f a v o r i t e a t t h e f a i r . L. t o R . B e t h A l t o n , M a t t O l s o n , A n d y S t o n e , C l a y t o n H a r t l e y, Amy Q u i n l a n , a n d K a r e n R a l e y.
Rides a t t r a c t e v e r y o n e f r o m age t w o to e i g h t y - t w o . F r o m a t r a d i t i o n a l pony ride t o t h e incredible Gravitron, t h e r e is something t o a r o u s e e v e r y person's f a n c y. S c r e a m s o f j o y c r y o u t a s contagious l a u g h t e r w o r k s w o n d e r s o n everyone a r o u n d . T h e c a u s e o f t h i s constant j o y s e e m s t o b e i n c r e a s i n g l y evident. " T h e F a i r " i s t h e cause, and everyone, y o u n g o r o l d , l a r g e o r s m a l l , contributes t o the f e e l i n g .
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A view of 1988's entertainment T h u r s d a y, S e p t e m b e r 2 2 , 1 9 8 9 , w a s " Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e D a y " , a n d among t h e amusement o f f e r e d t o f a i r - g o e r s w a s t h e D i x i e R a m b l e r s . T h i s b l u e g r a s s b a n d p l a y e d i n t h e P a v i l i o n a t 6 p m a n d t h e down-home s t y l e p r o v e d t o b e a r e a l c r o w d p l e a s e r. T h a t e v e n i n g , t h e s k y w a s i l l u m i n a t e d w i t h a b a r r a g e o f c o l o r f u l f i r e w o r k s . T h e d i s p l a y r a i s e d e y e s t o t h e s k y a n d d r o p p e d a f e w j a w s among t h e awestruck audience. "A t r e a t o f $ 3 , 3 0 0 f i r e w o r k s w a s p r e sented b y t h e Z a m b e l l i B r o t h e r s o u t o f New C a s t l e , P e n n s y l v a n i a , " s a i d J o h n Richards, f a i r b o a r d p r e s i d e n t . " T h e y built t h e fireworks a n d o u r licensed fireworks e x p e r t , L u t h e r Horne, s e t them off. W e a r e s h a r i n g t h e c o s t w i t h Rosedale C a r n i v a l A t t r a c t i o n s w h o r u n s our f a i r c a r n i v a l . "
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A c a r n i v a l h a s t h r i l l e d f a i r g o e r s a s f a r b a c k a s t h e 1 9 4 7 f a i r a t Camp C a l v e r t . S u z a n n e Henderson r e c a l l e d how a M r. J a c k G a l l i g e r and h i s w i f e s e t u p t h e i r c a r n i v a l each year a t t h e f a i r . " M r . G a l l i g e r would s t o r e a l l h i s c a r n i v a l equipment i n V i r g i n i a a n d o n e y e a r h e d i d n ' t h a v e t h e m o n e y t o g e t h i s e q u i p m e n t o u t o f s t o r a g e a n d m y f a t h e r , B a r n a r d S m i t h , a f a i r b o a r d member h i m s e l f , l o a n e d Mr. G a l l i g e r t h e money t o b r i n g t h e e q u i p m e n t t o S t . M a r y ' s . T h e y d i d t h e carnival up u n t i l he d i e d . H e would a d v e r t i s e f o r us, and p u t up posters a l l over S t . M a r y ' s , C a l v e r t , C h a r l e s a n d P r i n c e G e o r g e ' s C o u n t i e s . T h e y a l s o g a v e away t i c k e t s a n d s t u f f e d a n i m a l s t o n e e d y c h i l d r e n . " "Each y e a r w h e n t h e f a i r s e a s o n w a s o v e r , h e w o u l d p a c k u p h i s e q u i p m e n t , g o down t o B e l l M o t o r Company, b u y a n e w c a r a n d g o t o F l o r i d a f o r t h e w i n t e r . T h e y made g o o d money g o i n g f r o m f a i r t o f a i r , " r e c a l l s H e n d e r s o n .
"After t h e G a l l i g e r s , another company c a m e i n - I t h i n k i t w a s Snyder, then w e c o m m i s s i o n e d Rosedale Amusement Company out o f R o s e d a l e , M a r y l a n d , and t h e y a r e s t i l l w i t h us. T h e y come i n , s e t t h e c a r n i v a l u p a n d we g e t a commission o n t h e t i c k e t s a l e s , " Henderson s a i d .
F r i d a y, S e p t e m b e r 2 3 w h i c h w a s " S c h o o l D a y " , d r e w s t u d e n t s t o t h e f a i r b y the hundreds. T h e D o u b l e D u t c h R o p e Jumpers p e r f o r m e d w i t h a m a z i n g s k i l l a n d e x p e r t i s e t w i c e d u r i n g t h e d a y, t o t h e d e l i g h t o f t h e i r a u d i e n c e s .
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Each y e a r n e w a t t r a c t i o n s a r e a d d e d t o t h e f a i r s u c h a s t h e s e e x p e r t r o p e j u m p e r s f r o m Wa s h i n g t o n , D C . T h e y a r e s e e n h e r e s t r u t t i n g t h e i r "Double-Dutching s t u f f " f o r f a i r g o e r s .
L a t e r, p i n k t u - t u e d c h i l d r e n f r o m t h e N o r m a J e a n S c h o o l o f Dance e x e c u t e d p i r o u e t t e s and arabesques p e r f e c t l y, w h i l e a p u p p e t s h o w p u t o n b y B l u e Sky Puppet T h e a t e r , a m u s e d c h i l d r e n i n t h e P a v i l i o n . T h e D i x i e R a m b l e r s w e r e i n v i t e d back f o r a n e v e n i n g p e r f o r m a n c e , n o d o u b t d u e t o p o p u l a r demand. S a t u r d a y, S e p t e m b e r 2 4 w a s " P a r a d e D a y " ; t h e p a r a d e b e g a n l a t e i n t h e morning i n L e o n a r d t o w n a n d w o r k e d i t s w a y down t o t h e f a i r g r o u n d s . V i e w e r s d i d not seem t o m i n d t h e m i n o r t r a f f i c p r o b l e m s a s t h e y l i n e d t h e s t r e e t t o w i t n e s s a wide v a r i e t y o f f e s t i v e f l o a t s a n d v e h i c l e s a s t h e y p a s s e d . L a t e r i n t h e a f t e r n o o n , t h e A r k a n d Dove Square Dancers p u t o n a c l a s s i c s q u a r e d a n c e r o u t i n e to t h e amusement o f t h e i r v i e w e r s . A t 4 o'clock the Jazzercise "dancers" illustrated t h e simplicity involved i n physical f i t n e s s a n d weight l o s s . Wrapping u p S a t u r d a y ' s a c t i v i t i e s , t h e S t . M a r y ' s A d u l t W i n d E n s e m b l e l u l l e d t h e i r l i s t e n e r s i n t o t r a n q u i l i t y w i t h t h e i r gentle rhythm a n d b e a u t i f u l melodies as t h e f a i r d r i f t e d p e a c e f u l l y i n t o t h e t w i l i g h t .
NOTE: (The 1990 St. Mary's County Fair w i l l feature Cissy Lynn, Loretta Lynn's
daughter, as a highlight. A large turnout is expected to see the Nashville Star.)
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M r. a n d M r s . D a l l i s H i l l , members o f t h e A r k a n d Dove s q u a r e dancers show off t h e i r "down-home" costumes. Dallis i s president of t h e organization.
"The f i t t e s t a t t h e f a i r . " T h e s e J a z z e r c i s e d a n c e r s c a n g i v e a t i r i n g demonstration a n d s t i l l manage a s m i l e f o r the camera.
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The f a i r w a s c a p p e d o f f o n S u n d a y, S e p t e m b e r 2 5 , a s t h e i n c r e d i b l e v o i c e s o f the B l a c k w e l l B r o t h e r s a n d t h e Z i o n M e t h o d i s t Men G o s p e l S i n g e r s e n t i c e d t h e i r listeners w i t h t h e i r musical expertise. After a l l t h e e x h i b i t s w e r e dismantled a n d the l a s t o f the prize-winning l i v e s t o c k was t a k e n b a c k t o t h e f a r m o r t o t h e s l a u g h t e r h o u s e , e v e r y o n e h a d t o come t o g r i p s w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t 1 9 8 8 ' s f a i r w a s o v e r . E v e n t h o u g h t h e y w e r e saddened, a l l l o o k e d f o r w a r d t o w h a t t h e f a i r h e l d i n s t o r e f o r t h e y e a r s t o come.
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Carnival workers a r e always on hand i n c a s e o f a b r e a k d o w n . "Ah, c o m e o n ! I t c a n ' t b e t h a t bad!" Leonardtown High S c h o o l s t u d e n t To n y K n o t t p r e p a r e s t o board c a r n i v a l r i d e .
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The Lottery Comes To town Mr. Z e r o , t h e l o t t e r y m a s c o t , a c c o m p a n i e d b y c e l e b r i t y p i n g - p o n g b a l l s a n d television personalities, attended t h e Maryland S t a t e L o t t e r y drawing o n September 2 4 , 1 9 8 8 . T h e y managed t o a t t r a c t a l a r g e c r o w d t o s e e t h e " P i c k Three", " P i c k F o u r " l o t t o d r a w i n g s a t t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r g r o u n d s . T h e l o t t o had an estimated a n n u i t y value o f 1 . 2 m i l l i o n d o l l a r s .
89
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Bike Rodeo!
Top a n d b o t t o m . P a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h e b i k e r o d e o w a i t f o r a t u r n t o show t h e i r b i k i n g s k i l l s t o t h e crowd. ( 1 9 8 7 )
L . t o R t . S t u d e n t s W a r r e n W e i s m e r, Sharon H o p k i n s , G l e n L e s k i n e n , W i l l A r i c k , a n d K a r e n McAloon t r y t h e i r l u c k a t o n e o f t h e m a n y games a t the f a i r .
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The c l o w n s a r e a favorite w i t h children at t h e f a i r .
Thrills a b o u n d f o r youngsters a t t h e f a i r .
92
93
Catching t h a t g r e a s e d p i g a t t h e f a i r i s n e v e r e a s y, b u t i t sure i s f u n . ( 1 9 7 5 )
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The W i n s l o w F a m i l y p e r f o r m s a t the f a i r .
The o l d t i m e r s g e t i n t o t h e act a s w e l l . ( 1 9 7 3 )
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" T h i s was a f u n c a r w e i g h t e d down i n t h e b a c k ; i t w o u l d r e a r u p a n d g o on i t s b a c k w h e e l s , " s a i d E l w o o d C u s i c . ( 1 9 6 0 )
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A g o - c a r t t r a c k once e x i s t e d o n t h e grounds - now grown u p i n woods. ( 1 9 6 0 p h o t o )
Top. T h e p o l i c e d o g d e m o n s t r a t i o n i s a l w a y s a n e x c i t i n g e v e n t . B o t t o m L . Wheel o f F o r t u n e . R . M e a s u r i n g u p .
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Volunteers, Without Them There Would Be No Fair In t h e s p i r i t o f t r u e community s p i r i t , volunteers l i t e r a l l y b u i l t t h e county f a i r f r o m t h e g r o u n d u p . W i t h o u t t h e i r e f f o r t s t h e f a i r a s we k n o w i t today w o u l d n o t e x i s t . N o t o n l y have m a t e r i a l s a n d s u p p l i e s b e e n d o n a t e d and equipment l o a n e d b u t c o u n t l e s s h o u r s o f h a r d w o r k a n d s w e a t h a v e g o n e i n t o e v e r y aspect o f t h e f a i r . T h e f o l l o w i n g a r t i c l e s w h i c h d a t e b a c k t o t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e f a i r a t Camp C a l v e r t a n d t h e A l m s H o u s e p r o p e r t y ( n o w k n o w n a s t h e F a i r Grounds) t e l l t h e s t o r y o f v o l u n t e e r i s m a n d i t s r o l e i n o u r f a i r .
R a i n y, m u d d y w e a t h e r a l w a y s p r e s e n t s a p r o b l e m a t t h e f a i r . Vo l u n t e e r s s m o o t h t h e r o a d - 1 9 7 5 .
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FRIDAY, J U LY 8, 1949 •
00.-,The- Ye a r I n Advance !
ites on New Fair GroundSelected: esand Entertainment Chairmen ppoint A
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-4-474; -.Plans f o r holding the S t M a r y ' s .County..Fair are n o w w e l l und` way. M r. D a n .Davis, Chairman o f t h e B u i l d i n g .Cqmnaittee, announCe.4.1 , at the last meeting o f the board , o f directors ;that the location o f , t b building, sites o f _the n e w f a i r ground h a d been selected and definitelY, _there would b eat least three buildings erected rin t i m e f o r this .;•ear's' fair .f These-buildings w i l l , be used.i.7-TtYrt-theli l s . c t ' the. farm exhibits. , F o r r t h e . , : housrng of the cattle, probabliii4e.ii -"Illawaimi ' tents w i l l . 4 a v e t o be brought back / i n t a ' p l a r o r this season. 3 3 3 3 3
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lousewivse, Farmers, Cattlemen nvited To Exhibit At St. Mary's Fair 'Banquet In Honor Of Sen. Barkley At Lcrcal , Wharf Club. Miss Kitty Bailey To Be Crowned' "Queen Of :Tolerance", A t Seminary d••
•
(Special to T h e BEACON) ' "Pick y o u r b e s t preserves o f f ae s h e l f a n d g e t y o u r husband's est tobacco and corn and b r i n g !m to the f a i r " were the words on iany lips this week as the Second nnual: St. M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r ets u n d e r w a y . R e s i d e n t s o f outhern Maryland, and especially t. M a r y s County, w e r e asked t o xhibit as much as possible and to upport t h e f a i r b y attendance as ften as possible o n S e p t e m b e r From t h e Henry F o w l e r, S r . f i l e s . 7, 18, and 19. (Courtesy Henry F o w l e r, J r . ) Announcements o f e v e n t s t o )me and reminders of deeds to be Crie came f a s t and furious t h i s Week as t h e workers started t h e rection o f shelves, tents and pens t. t h e Camp Calvert site. 99
Lumber Needed
.
In..order to erect these buildings; naturally materials a're n e e d e d t a • do t h i s . -The m o s t i m p o r t a n t i t e m •being l u m b e r. ; I r v i n g - H e w i t t ' o f H e w i t t L u m b e r C o m p a n y, . C a l l oway, has. generously, consente44df saw, f r e e o f charge, a n y l o g s ' : brought to his m i l l . ."'Many other have 'joined I n t h i s •Worthy..move-: ment t o s t a r t t h e l o g s t r o l l i n g . AmongAmong,there: - . a r e M r s . . . _Susan. Greenwell, M r s . M a u d e G a r d i n e r, Mrs.' M a t t i n g l y G u i a n d . M r s . Frank Hayden. E a c h has- donated 1000-feet ef l i l t r b e r to the c a u s W i t h 'this 4000:feet, .. your County F a i r is' off t o a good start. • •
Volunteers In Action These Clippings From The St. Mary's Beacon Show the Power Of Volunteerism
tikzi New Buildings Highlight Plans For Ste Mary's Fair , Civic groups, merchants and individuals a r e w o r k i n g h a n d -inhand toward the success of the St. Mary's County Fair, Even at this early date, many details o f buildings, entertainment, concessions, etc., have already been ironed out and are ready for operation. "74*- New exhibit buildings w i l l soon be under w a y, w i t h m a n y :local, merchants chipping in wi'h materials for construction. . .. The Leonardtown S a n d a n d Gravel Company and the Leonardtown Concrete Company have donated cement f o r the foundations. H. E . Buckler o f Oraville has a l -
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ready delivered his 1000 feet o f lumber to the saw mill. Bradfcird Reeves o f Chaptica, assisted b y Mrs. Susan- Greenwell, i s soliciting lumber i n t h e upper p a r t o f the county, while Robert A . Stevens h a s been designated f o r the lower section. , Among the new attractions to be offered a t the F a i r is a Marathon sponsored b y t h e Little Theatre Group. M r s . Nancy Robinson reports that this will highlight Saturday's entertainment. Many concessions a n d 11/11118eâ&#x20AC;˘ments will be added t o the, 1949 agenda. J o h n Gardiner i s i n charge o f arrangements f o r .con.cessions as well as special exhibits of farm machinery, electrical appliances, furniture a n d similar The Soroptomist Club will be responsible f o r running the gapes and Dickie Duke will again take on the job of supplying food. O f course, the Leanardtown Volunteer Firemen will be there with a ferris wheel, merry-go-round and other amusement devices.
Volfinteer-Labor' Needed To Erect V4it Buildings The sills f o r the buildings to be used a t t h e F a i r a r e now being laid, thus setting the stage for the coiCstruction. Actual erection of the buildings . w i l l b e g i n n e x t week. Si:nce the F a i r Js a non-profit or. g nization and has small amounts af money, the most of. this *building vkll have to be done with volunteer labor. So all of you who can weild a shammer an.d pull a saw come on 'old 'and 'give ,a days' work to your St. Mary's County Fair. For information-as to the time, you may get in touch w i t h ' M r . Dan Davis of Chaptico or. Mr. Irving H e w i t t o f Calloway. .
The plea f o r lumber h a s met with good response. Among the latest donors a r e M r s . Pearl Boyd, Mr. Guy Herbert, M r . Nick Hall, Mr. Sprigg Reeves, M r s . 'Mary Reeves, a n d Mr. Harry Moreland. Also M r s . Claude Guy a n d Zach Fowler have donated nails. v---The- printers- of- this_yeaes Fair Catalogslia,Ve completed the books.
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Top. L . V e t e r a n F a i r B o a r d Member R a y e t t a M c W i l l i a m s ; To p R . F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t John R i c h a r d s ; ( c e n t e r ) F a i r S e c r e t a r y , M a r y P f e i f f ; R . B i l l H o l l e y , V e t e r a n F a i r Board M e m b e r . B o t t o m : J a m e s O w e n s ( P a s t F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t ) t a l k s t o P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s f r o m Leonardtown H i g h School a s t h e y r e s e a r c h f a i r h i s t o r y .
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Top. H e n r y F o w l e r , S r . o f f i c i a t e s a t t h e h o r s e s h o w - - o n e o f h i s many d u t i e s a t t h e C o u n t y F a i r .
L. t o R . P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s , B r i a n N e v a l a , S h a r o n Dunn; MaGuire M a t t i n g l y ; E l w o o d C u s i c ; T i n a W e l a n d e r, S w e d i s h foreign exchange student on the P u b l i c a t i o n s s t a f f ; a n d B i l l H o l l e y.
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Volunteers In Action L. C l y t h e n e H a l l i s presented a w i n n i n g r i b b o n by K a r i n e I n g e r s o l i n 1975. T o p . R . B e r n a r d Johnson, S p e e c h C o n t e s t Chairperson, o f f i c i a t e s the c o n t e s t e a c h y e a r.
Bottom L . t o R . B u c k B r i s c o e , J a m e s O w e n s (Fair B o a r d P r e s i d e n t 1 9 7 9 - 8 1 ) , a n d G l e n n Wood ( F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t 1 9 7 1 - 7 4 ) . Bottom R . J a m e s F o r r e s t ( V e t e r a n F a i r Board M e m b e r a n d P a s t P r e s i d e n t o f S t . Mary's County's B l a c k F a i r b e f o r e i n t e g r a t i o n .
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It's Friday And School's Out! Yipee, Let's Go To The Fair. Every f a i r F r i d a y d a t i n g a l l t h e w a y b a c k t o t h e f i r s t f a i r h e l d C a l v e r t i n 1947 i s " K i d ' s D a y. " S t u d e n t s w e r e a d m i t t e d f r e e o f c h a r g e f i r s t f a i r a l s o a c c o r d i n g t o The S t . M a r y ' s Beacon newspaper: " S t u d e n t s admitted f r e e o f charge o n F r i d a y. C h a r g e s f o r admission a f t e r t h a t w i l cents f o r t h o s e u n d e r t w e l v e a n d 5 0 c e n t s f o r a d u l t s . "
a t Camp at that w i l l be l be 25
Not o n l y d o t h e s t u d e n t s come t o t h e f a i r b u t t h e i r t e a c h e r s , p r i n c i p a l s , and t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f s c h o o l s . I n t h e l a s t f e w y e a r s , h o w e v e r , t e a c h e r s a r e not p e r m i t t e d t h e d a y o f f a s s t u d e n t s a r e . T h e y must r e p o r t t o w o r k a s u s u a l . For t h e s t u d e n t s , f a i r F r i d a y i s f i l l e d w i t h e x c i t i n g r i d s a n d t a s t y t r e a t s a s well as e x h i b i t s and animal a n t i c s .
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Impressions Of The Children by Tina Welander
Every y e a r , t h e p r i n c i p a l s o f S t . M a r y ' s elementary and s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s r e c e i v e a n invitation f o r t h e i r school t o e n t e r t h e County F a i r . The e x h i b i t s a r e d i v i d e d i n t o t w o d i v i s i o n s , elementary and s e c o n d a r y. E a c h d i v i s i o n has different categories w i t h s e v e r a l l e v e l s . Children i n p r e k i n d e r g a r t e n t o f i f t h g r a d e show t h e i r t a l e n t s i n s c i e n c e , s o c i a l s t u d i e s , language a r t s , m a t h e m a t i c s , m u s i c , a n d a r t . Sixth g r a d e s t u d e n t s t o high school seniors enter t h e i r w o r k i n a r t , h o m e e c o n o m i c s , horticulture, m e t a l shop, music, p r i n t i n g , science f a i r p r o j e c t s , s c u l p t u r e , woodshop, and c o m p u t e r p r i n t o u t s . The C o u n t y S u p e r v i s o r s a r e i n c h a r g e o f t h e exhibits, b u t each i n d i v i d u a l s c h o o l h a s t o take c a r e o f i t s own d i s p l a y s . T o f e a t u r e t h e various p r o g r a m s w i t h w h i c h t h e school has been i n v o l v e d , s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s c a n s e t u p a booth t h a t w i l l n o t b e j u d g e d . E v e r y p u b l i c school i n t h e c o u n t y a s w e l l a s p a r o c h i a l schools e n t e r t h e f a i r .
L. Dwight Chakales, Principal of Leonardtown High School and R. Linda Patton, Supervisor of Art and Music.
See previous page â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Top L . L e o n a r d t o w n M i d d l e S c h o o l P r i n c i p a l , George K i r b y ; T o p R t . , R e t i r e d p r i n c i p a l Francis Bodine ( L ) a n d P a s t S u p e r i n t e n d e n t of S c h o o l s , M a r v i n J o y ( R ) ; L e f t C e n t e r , Chopticon H i g h S c h o o l P r i n c i p a l , S t e v e O l z a k ; Bottom l e f t , L e o n a r d t o w n H i g h S c h o o l M e d i a Specialist B r u c e Perrygo and h i s w i f e Linda, who i s C h o p t i c o n H i g h S c h o o l ' s M e d i a Specialist; i n b o o t h , v o l u n t e e r s m a n n i n g booth; f a r r i g h t , Nathan Perrygo and f r i e n d . Bottom R . D r . S a l v a t o r e R a s p a , S u p e r v i s o r of I n s t r u c t i o n f o r Science, S t . M a r y ' s County P u b l i c S c h o o l s ( L ) We n d y S t i c k e l w i t h w i n n i n g Aberdeen A n g u s .
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Art, language a r t s , a n d science f a i r p r o j e c t s a r e the c a t e g o r i e s w i t h t h e most e n t r i e s . J u d g e s o f these e x h i b i t s i n c l u d e experts o n a r t a n d E n g l i s h a n d o f t e n members of t h e r e t i r e d t e a c h e r s association. F i r s t place i n each c a t e gory a t e a c h l e v e l g e t s a blue r i b b o n ; second p l a c e red; t h i r d p l a c e , w h i t e ; and a l l p a r t i c i p a n t s a r e given r e c o g n i t i o n .
To p . L e o n a r d t o w n H i g h School A r t i s t S h a r o n Dunn puts f i n i s h i n g t o u c h e s o n her d r a w i n g .
Bottom and o p p o s i t e p a g e : Students g e t a c h a n c e t o see t h e i r w o r k e x h i b i t e d at t h e f a i r .
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11CI N DE RGA T E NI
Students f r o m a l l g r a d e l e v e l s a r e encouraged t o e n t e r t h e i r work a t t h e f a i r .
LANGUAGE ARTS
LETTER C O M P O S I T I O N
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Shaky Knees And Butterflies In The Stomach (The Speech Contest) Imagine b e i n g i n a c r o w d e d a u d i t o r i u m o n a w a r m September a f t e r n o o n , s t a n d i n g o n a s t a g e , c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n r e c i t i n g a s e l f -composed s p e e c h . Experience t h e f l u t t e r i n g s t o m a c h , w o b b l y knees, a n d s h a k y v o i c e , a n d p i c t u r e being " t a c k l e d " d u r i n g y o u r speech as a young b o y , sneaks u p f r o m t h e audience and g r a b s y o u r k n e e s . T h i s a c t u a l l y d i d h a p p e n t o someone a c c o r d i n g t o M r . Bernard Johnson, C h a i r m a n o f t h e f a i r s ' s p e e c h c o n t e s t s i n c e t h e 5 0 ' s . In 1954, t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r Board decided t o h o l d an a n n u a l speech contest f o r s c h o o l age c h i l d r e n i n t h e upper grades. I n 1955, Bernard Johnson took o v e r a s Speech C o n t e s t C o o r d i n a t o r and has " r u n t h e s h o w " e v e r s i n c e . I n the f i r s t y e a r , t h e c o n t e s t was h e l d o u t d o o r s , a n d t h e o n l y t h i n g s e p a r a t i n g t h e s t a g e f r o m t h e a u d i e n c e w a s a r o p e . T h a t i s h o w t h e y o u n g man w a s a b l e t o r e a c h the s p e a k e r . M r. J o h n s o n i n s u r e d t h a t t h e r e w o u l d b e n o r e c u r r e n c e o f s u c h i n c i d e n t s b y having l o c a l h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s a c t a s guards d u r i n g t h e c o n t e s t . T h e r e have been n o m o r e s i m i l a r i n c i d e n t s i n t h e c o n t e s t s i n c e i t s o r i g i n . N o w t h e c o n t e s t i s h e l d i n a p r o f e s s i o n a l m a n n e r. "The s p e e c h c o n t e s t i s d i v i d e d i n t o t w o sections, t h e S e n i o r d i v i s i o n f o r high school students, and t h e J u n i o r d i v i s i o n f o r middle school s t u d e n t s , " s t a t e d J o h n s o n . " E a c h county s c h o o l s e l e c t s o n e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f o r the c o n t e s t , a n d awards a r e g i v e n t o t h e t h r e e top s c o r i n g s p e a k e r s i n b o t h d i v i s i o n s , a n d a n honorable m e n t i o n i s g i v e n t o t h e l a s t p e r s o n in the Senior d i v i s i o n s i n c e t h e r e a r e only four schools a n d therefore o n l y f o u r students on s t a g e f o r t h a t g r o u p . " H o n o r a b l e m e n t i o n , according t o M r . J o h n s o n , i s a commendation f o r t h e h a r d w o r k o f t h e s t u d e n t , a n d a way t o show t h e s t u d e n t t h a t h e / s h e h a s b e e n recognized f o r a c h i e v e m e n t a n d f o r s t a n d i n g alone o n t h a t s t a g e i n p a r t i c i p a t i o n . The S p e e c h C o n t e s t h a s a l m o s t a l w a y s b e e n an " o p e n t o p i c " e v e n t . S t u d e n t s h a v e presented o r a t i o n s o n s u b j e c t s v a r y i n g f r o m world e v e n t s a n d p o l i t i c s t o r e l i g i o n , personal e x p e r i e n c e s , i n t e g r a t i o n , a n d abortion. A c c o r d i n g t o M r . J o h n s o n , " t h e r e has n e v e r b e e n a p r o b l e m w i t h t h e s p e e c h e s given, t h e r e h a s never b e e n t o o s t r o n g o f a need f o r l o c a l t e a c h e r s t o c e n s o r t h e s t u d e n t ' s speeches a l t h o u g h i t i s suggested that teachers r e a d student speeches and give guidance when needed. I h a v e b e e n i m p r e s s e d by t h e s e n s i b i l i t y w i t h w h i c h s u c h d i f f i c u l t subject m a t t e r has been presented."
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L. B e r n a r d J o h n s o n l i s t e n s a s Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e , J e n n i f e r Kirby speaks t o t h e audience.
One p a r t i c u l a r y e a r , t h e s p e e c h e s w e r e t o b e g i v e n o n a n a s s i g n e d t o p i c f o r a s p e c i a l 3 5 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y s p e c i a l f o r t h e c o u n t y. M r . J o h n s o n s a i d , " e v e n though I p r e f e r t h e c o n t e s t t o b e a n o p e n t o p i c e v e n t i n o r d e r t o p r o m o t e o r i g i n a l i t y and t o s p a r k i n t e r e s t , I f e l t t h e 3 5 0 t h theme was a s u i t a b l e t r i b u t e to t h e c o u n t y a n d was p r o u d o f t h e s t u d e n t s f o r a l l o f t h e r e s e a r c h i n v o l v e d a n d the c r e a t i v i t y a n d i n d i v i d u a l i t y e a c h speech emanated.
Top R . B e r n a r d J o h n s o n o f f i c i a t e s a t a speech c o n t e s t ( i n t h e 7 0 ' s ) i n t h e auditorium o f t h e fairgrounds. Bottom: P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s A n g e l a Coblentz a n d L i s a G r e e r g e t t h e h i s t o r y behind t h e speech c o n t e s t .
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Speeches a r e j u d g e d o n t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n , d e l i v e r y , o r g a n i z a t i o n o f m a t e r i a l , knowledge o f t h e s u b j e c t , s u i t a b i l i t y o f t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r , a n d o n o r i g i n a l i t y . A l l speeches a r e w r i t t e n e n t i r e l y b y t h e s t u d e n t s , w i t h o n l y r e v i s i o n h e l p f r o m t h e i r s c h o o l i n s t r u c t o r s , a n d each speech i s between t h r e e and f i v e m i n u t e s i n length.
Below: T h e w i n n i n g 1 9 8 9 s p e e c h a s i t a p p e a r e d i n t h e E n t e r p r i s e n e w s p a p e r. M i c h a e l B o n d s w a s a s e n i o r a t L e o n a r d t o w n H i g h S c h o o l at t h e t i m e h i s speech was g i v e n .
Se/V, / 9 7 9
I
My Speech, Our Flag By J. MICHAEL BONDS This is my speech. This is my pen. These are my words. These are my ideas. This is my life...and I'm not afraid. I lie comfortably in bed listening to the hum of my little brother's fan in the next room. I am trying to think of how I can express myself to you, how I will give this speech, how you will react.. and I look out my window into the darkness knowing that after this speech no one will break in, punish me or kill me because of what I say. In this country I can use my ideas, in this country I can use my words, in t h i s c o u n t r y I c a n use m y thoughts. I can express myself to you in any way I feel. I can even burn the American flag.. .but I never would. My right to say this to you is in that flag, your right to hear this is in that flag, and our rights to talk about rights are i n that flag. I bet m y grandfather never fought in World War II so his grandson could stand up here at a county fair and talk about burning his flag. Thank you,
Grandpop, for giving me this freedom. My dad and I disagree on a lot of things. Once we were arguing over an issue. My dad said to me, " I f you don't like it, then get the hell out!" I bet that's what Hitler told the Jews. That's a great thing about this country; if Ite don't like what we're being told tnen we don't have to listen. They ,:an't burn flags in China. They dor 't have the right to disagree. L i July thousands of dead corpses of young men and women my age rotted around Tiananmen Square. Well thank God we can burn flags here! Have you noticed it's the fascist, terroristic, totalitarian nations that kill people for expressing their beliefs? Is that the fate of America--today a flag, which is a symbol; tomorrow books, which arewords; then maybe lives, for we speak the words which create the symbols. Two hundred thirteen years ago we burnt our flag, unashamed and openly we set our nation's flag on fire. It's a good thing ,Great Britain couldn't stop it or we'd still be a part of them. I wonder why they were fightingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; to protect their ideas or to allow us to have our own? I'm sure they didn't
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fight for me; my family didn't make it over on the boat until the 1800s. But why was everyone fighting for or immigrating to this land? Freedom, the freedom millions of American men and women died for to preserve, the men and women who saw World War I, who heard Hitler's words, who fought in Korea and still cry for Vietnam. I thank them for this freedom. For me, a 17-year-old boy in St. Mary's County to stand here and share my beliefs to you about burning flags. Not that it's right, not that it's wrong.. .but it's m y freedom, o u r freedom. Yours and mine. When I see the American flag I salute. Not because I'm forced to, but it's my choice to proudly do so. I know after this speech, tonight, when I'm lying in bed comfortably, listening to The hum o f m y little brother's fan, I'll look out into the darkness knowing that no one will break in and punish me or kill me because of my beliefs. Because this is America, people don't get killed for their beliefs. ..right? These are my ideas, these are my words, this is my pen, this is my speech...and this is our flag. (J. Michael Bonds is a 12th-grader at Leonardtown High School.)
Top: C h o p t i c o n H i g h School band d i r e c t o r , D a r w i n E n g l e , c o n d u c t s his s t u d e n t s i n t h e a u d i t o r i u m a t t h e f a i r . ( m i d - 1 9 6 0 ' s ) Bottom: G e r a l d C o n j e l k o , Esperanza M i d d l e School b a n d d i r e c t o r and h i s s t u d e n t s have a n a t t e n t i v e audience a t t h e c o u n t y f a i r .
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Babies, Babies And More Babies
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Ruffles And Smiles â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Baby Contest by Tina Welander (Swedish Foreign Exchange Student) A l i t t l e g i r l i n a white dress, t i r e d o f waiting f o r her turn r o l l s i n the d i r t o n t h e f l o o r . H e r mom p u l l s h e r u p , b r u s h e s t h e d i r t o f f h e r d r e s s a n d s h e gets j u d g e d . Another l i t t l e g i r l , h o l d i n g a h e l i u m b a l l o o n , l o s e s h e r g r i p o n i t and i t f l i e s u p t o t h e c e i l i n g , c a u s i n g a t r a n s f o r m e r t o b r e a k . A f t e r more t h a n a n h o u r of w a i t i n g i n t h e d a r k , t h e c o n t e s t c a n go o n . Ye s , y o u ' r e r i g h t . I ' m t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e b a b y s h o w. T h e b a b y s h o w i s presented o n Sundays i n t h e a u d i t o r i u m o n t h e F a i r g r o u n d s . T h e b a b i e s a r e j u d g e d on n e a t n e s s , b e a u t y , g e n e r a l a p p e a r a n c e , a n d p e r s o n a l i t y . A c c o r d i n g t o M r s . Nancy W o l f e , i n c h a r g e o f t h e s h o w , t h e i r p e r s o n a l i t y s h o w s i n " c u t e - a c t i n g " - like f l i r t i n g w i t h the judges.
Boys c o m p e t e a g a i n s t b o y s , a n d g i r l s against g i r l s , i n 6 d i f f e r e n t categories. 0-6 m o n t h s ; 6 m o n t h s - 1 y e a r ; 1 - 2 y e a r s ; 2-3 y e a r s ; 3 - 4 y e a r s ; a n d 4 - 5 y e a r s . Twins a r e i n a s e p a r a t e c a t e g o r y . Three t o f i v e j u d g e s c h o o s e t h e w i n n e r. T h e y m u s t c o m e f r o m o u t o f c o u n t y, s o t h e y a r e n o t l i k e l y t o k n o w the b a b i e s i n t h e c o n t e s t . T h e j o b i s v o l u n t a r y , b u t i f t h e y come a l o n g w a y they g e t a m i l e a g e reimbursement. The n e a t e s t , m o s t b e a u t i f u l b a b y with t h e b e s t p e r s o n a l i t y, gets a blue ribbon, $ 5 , and a t r o p h y . N u m b e r two gets a r e d r i b b o n a n d $ 3 , a n d number three g e t s a w h i t e r i b b o n a n d $ 2 . Beginning t h i s y e a r , a l l p a r t i c i p a n t s w i l l g e t an honorable mention. The V e n t u r e C l u b w a s t h e f i r s t sponsor o f t h e B a b y S h o w , t h e n t h e Catholic D a u g h t e r s t o o k o v e r --1982 was t h e i r l a s t y e a r . T h e F a i r Board t o o k o v e r i n 1 9 8 3 , t h a t y e a r t h e B a b y Show h a d Brandywine G r a n g e h a s 90 e n t r i e s . show s i n c e 1 9 8 5 . sponsored t h e made b y m a i l i n a d v a n c e , Registration i s The e n t r y f e e i s o n e or a t t h e F a i r . d o l l a r.
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Deciding w h i c h baby i s cutest i s n o t a l l t h a t easy w h e n t h e y ' r e " a l l " cute.
During t h e 1 9 8 8 f a i r , 3 2 0 e n t r i e s were r e g i s t e r e d , t h e most c o n t e s t a n t s e v e r. A b o u t 98% o f t h e b a b i e s a r e w h i t e b a b i e s . S a i d G l a d y s H i l l L o n g , a f o r m e r c o n t e s t a n t o f t h e 1 9 4 9 b a b y s h o w, " I r e m e m b e r g e t t i n g m y f i r s t n e w d r e s s b e c a u s e , coming f r o m a f a m i l y o f 1 4 , w e d i d n ' t g e t b e a u t i f u l , f r i l l y , n e w d r e s s e s v e r y o f t e n . " S h e r e m e m b e r e d , " . . . t h e y t o l d me t o s h o w my k n e e s a n d I d i d . F o r m e , being i n t h a t c o n t e s t was a b i g d e a l ! " A f t e r 4 1 y e a r s , a p e r s o n c a n s t i l l remember b e i n g a t h r e e - y e a r - o l d c o n t e s t a n t i n t h e i r f i r s t b e a u t i f y p a g e a n t . T h e baby s h o w i s a w o n d e r f u l o p p o r t u n i t y f o r b a b y - l o v e r s t o g o a n d c o o a t n e r v o u s c h i l d r e n o u t t o make a n i m p r e s s i o n a s t h e c u t e s t k i d i n t h e c o u n t y .
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Babies At The Fair by Tina Welander S m a l l human b e i n g s r u n n i n g a r o u n d To g e t h e r m a k i n g a l o u d h a p p y s o u n d . Mothers a n x i o u s l y l o o k i n g a t t h e c l o c k Only t o g e t a n u n p l e a s a n t s h o c k . Trying t o f i n d t h e i r dressed-up d a r l i n g s They l o o k a r o u n d u n t i l t h e b e l l c h i m e s Chaos a b a t e s a s m a n y l e a v e Some t o h a v e f u n , o t h e r s t o a c h i e v e . Many w i l l l o s e , o n l y o n e w i l l w i n , Honor a n d G l o r y , b l u e a n d g o l d o n a p i n .
Winners s h o w t h e i r s t u f f i n t h e f a i r ' s B a b y C o n t e s t .
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No m a t t e r w h a t t h e a g e , b a b i e s a r e a l w a y s a f a v o r i t e w h e t h e r t h e y w i n a ribbon o r not. T h e y ' r e a l l winners!
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A Time Capsule Unlocked â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Farm Museum â&#x20AC;&#x201D; by Clayton Hartley
A n c i e n t p l o w s , d e c a y e d m a c h i n e r y, a n d d u s t y b a b y d o l l s w i t h c r a c k e d b l u e eyes a r e a l l a r t i f a c t s t o b e f o u n d i n t h e " F a r m Museum". T h e museum i s f o u n d o n the c o u n t y f a i r g r o u n d s a n d h o l d s many m e m o r i e s f o r t h e r e s p e c t e d e l d e r s o f o u r area. M a n y , many p e o p l e e n t e r t h e b u i l d i n g a n d a r e t r a n s p o r t e d t o y e s t e r - y e a r when t h i n g s w e r e s i m p l e r a n d e a s i e r t o u n d e r s t a n d . T h e p a s t i s n i c e t o v i s i t a n d f u n t o remember f o r a l l o f u s .
The F a r m M u s e u m i s operated b y t h e S t . M a r y ' s Historical S o c i e t y. T h e collection o f a r t i f a c t s w a s o r i g i n a l l y brought t o g e t h e r by Aloysius F e n w i c k . W i t h t h e help and d e d i c a t i o n o f Norvey Greenwood a n d C o l . T h u r s t o n B a x t e r, w h o p i l f e r e d t h r o u g h many a b a r n i n Southern Maryland, t h e c o l l e c t i o n h a s grown t o b e w h a t i t i s t o d a y . The museum i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t t o everyone i n t h e c o u n t y, a f t e r a l l we a l l w a n t t o know where we came f r o m .
119
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Fair Catalog: Insight Into Events To Come "We w o u l d s i t f o r d a y s a d d r e s s i n g e n v e l o p e s ; m y l i v i n g r o o m w a s c o v e r e d w i t h books, e n v e l o p e s , e t c . W e u s e d t o m a i l t h e m t o p e o p l e i n t h o s e d a y s a f t e r t h e y were p r i n t e d . W e w o u l d p r e - s o r t t h e m a c c o r d i n g t o w h a t a r e a i n t h e c o u n t y t h e y would g o t o , t h e n t i e t h e m i n t o b u n d l e s a n d t a k e t h e m t o t h e p o s t o f f i c e i n b o x e s t o m a i l , " s a i d S u z a n n e H e n d e r s o n , v e t e r a n f a i r b o a r d member. " T h e c a t a l o g s h a d to b e o u t t o t h e p u b l i c s i x weeks p r i o r t o t h e f a i r . " "Each y e a r a g r o u p o r o r g a n i z a t i o n w o u l d t a k e c h a r g e o f t h e c a t a l o g . T h e y would b e i n c h a r g e o f s o l i c i t i n g a d s f r o m l o c a l b u s i n e s s e s a n d t h a t was t h e i r only r e s p o n s i b i l i t y. V a r i o u s p r i n t e r s would t h e n b i d o n t h e j o b . D o i n g t h e catalog became a n i m p o s s i b l e t a s k w h i c h w a s e v e n t u a l l y t a k e n o v e r b y t h e E n t e r p r i s e . T h e y s o l i c i t t h e a d s , make i t u p , a n d p r i n t i t a t n o c o s t t o t h e f a i r b o a r d . T h e y h a v e b e e n d o i n g t h e c a t a l o g f o r a b o u t f i v e y e a r s n o w. I d i d the f a i r b o o k ( c a t a l o g ) f o r 1 0 - 1 2 y e a r s f r o m t h e m i d - 1 9 5 0 ' s t o t h e m i d - 1 9 6 0 ' s . We w o u l d t h e n p u t t h e m i n g r o c e r y s t o r e s , b a n k s , a n d o t h e r p l a c e s w h e r e p e o p l e were l i k e l y t o v i s i t o f t e n . T h e y w e r e s t i l l m a i l e d t o s t a t e o f f i c i a l s , a n d 4 - H leaders w o u l d d i s t r i b u t e t h e m t o 4 - H g r o u p s . A t o n e t i m e anyone who e n t e r e d a f a i r e x h i b i t would g e t a c a t a l o g ; t h a t ' s how w e g o t o u r m a i l i n g l i s t , " s t a t e d Henderson. "A man o n t h e E a s t e r n S h o r e i n D e n t o n , M a r y l a n d , n a m e d C h a r l e s ' D o c ' B a k e r printed t h e book f o r years, never m i s s i n g a d e a d l i n e . I h a v e s e e n my f a t h e r , B a r n a r d S m i t h , f l y o v e r , p r o o f t h e b o o k , t h e n f l y b a c k . F r a n k Guy p r i n t e d t h e f a i r b o o k b a c k i n t h e e a r l y 5 0 ' s . H e t y p e s e t i t b y h a n d a n d d i d some o f t h e freehand w o r k . I t e v e n t u a l l y g o t t o o b i g f o r h i m . W h e n we s t a r t e d g e t t i n g 2 , 5 0 0 copies, i t was t o o l a r g e a n o r d e r f o r h i m , " r e m i n i s c e d H e n d e r s o n . S h e a l s o remarked t h a t t h e c o v e r d e s i g n i s s e l e c t e d f r o m a r t w o r k s u b m i t t e d b y t h e a r e a schools. T h e f i r s t p l a c e w i n n i n g e n t r y goes o n t h e c o v e r , second p l a c e goes o n t h e f l y e r a n d u s u a l l y t h e t h i r d p l a c e e n t r y g o e s i n t h e b o o k somewhere. "People have t a k e n t u r n s s i n c e Henderson s t o p p e d d o i n g t h e c a t a l o g i n t h e mid- 6 0 ' s , " s a i d R a y e t t a M c W i l l i a m s , c u r r e n t f a i r b o a r d R e c o r d i n g S e c r e t a r y . " I d i d i t a t o n e t i m e w i t h Te r e s a S t e r l i n g a n d L i b H o f f a n d s e v e r a l o t h e r f a i r b o a r d members h a v e t a k e n t u r n s d o i n g t h e c a t a l o g . " A c c o r d i n g t o A n n R i c h a r d s w h o s e husband i s t h e c u r r e n t f a i r b o a r d P r e s i d e n t a n d w h o i s n o w i n c h a r g e o f t h e c a t a l o g s " s i n c e t h e E n t e r p r i s e d o e s t h e c a t a l o g f o r u s , a l l we d o i s s e n d i n a n y changes t h a t a r e t o b e m a d e i n t h e v a r i o u s c a t e g o r i e s . I c h e c k w i t h t h e committee c h a i r p e o p l e t o s e e w h a t a d d i t i o n s o r d e l e t i o n s m u s t b e m a d e , p r o o f t h e f i n a l , a n d a p p r o v e f o r p r i n t i n g . " T h e same p r o c e s s w a s u s e d i n t h e m i d - 1 9 7 0 ' s according t o S h i r l e y C o l l e a r y, who c h a i r e d t h e c a t a l o g i n 1974 o r 5 t h r o u g h 1978. "The c a t a l o g a t t h a t t i m e w a s 5 " x 8 " , s a i d C o l l e a r y . "A f e w p e o p l e i n t h e c o u n t y h a v e c o m p l e t e s e t s o f f a i r c a t a l o g s . S e n a t o r Henry F o w l e r , S r . h a d a c o m p l e t e s e t , a s d o e s E l w o o d C u s i c , " s a i d H e n d e r s o n . "Rayetta McWilliams h a s a complete s e t except f o r t h e y e a r 1963. S h e would v e r y much l i k e t o c o m p l e t e t h e s e t . P e r h a p s s o m e o n e o u t t h e r e r e a d i n g t h i s w i l l contact h e r.
The following pages contain copies of a complete set of fair catalog covers supplied to us by Henry Fowler, Jr. and catalog covers from the Black Fair before integration belonging to James Forrest, current fair board member.
121
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The Black Fair was held on the fairgrounds one week after the white fair until integration in 60s. The Black Fair was first held on the grounds of the Cardinal Gibbons High School then it was moved to Loveville and eventually to the current fairgrounds. (See article pages 66 - 70) Fair catalog covers courtesy James Forrest, fair board member.
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Quilting: A n Ancient Art by Kim Miner The homemaker o f y e s t e r y e a r h a d t o b e a v e r y r e s o u r c e f u l p e r s o n . H e r d u t i e s included r a i s i n g c h i l d r e n , g r o w i n g a garden, c a n n i n g f o o d , c l e a n i n g house and cooking meals. S h e a l s o had t o h e l p h e r husband o n t h e f a r m , s e w t h e f a m i l y ' s clothing, curtains, and f u r n i t u r e covers. Winters c o u l d be b i t t e r i n Southern M a r y l a n d , s o q u i l t s were m a d e t o h o l d the w a r m t h o n c o l d w i n t e r n i g h t s . Q u i l t i n g bees we re h e l d o f t e n t o g a t h e r neighboring farm wives t o g e t h e r so t h a t t h e tiresome t a s k might go f a s t e r. T h i s was a t i m e o f s o c i a l i z a t i o n a s w e l l a s a t i m e f o r w o r k f o r women c o u l d c a t c h u p on t h e l a t e s t n e w s d u r i n g t h e s e g a t h e r i n g s . Louise Dean, H o m e A r t s C o m m i t t e e C h a i r m a n , i s i n c h a r g e o f t h e F a i r b u i l d i n g . T h i s h a r b o r s t h e needlework, s e w i n g , a n d baked and canned goods.
"Baked g o o d s a n d some c a n n e d g o o d s s u c h a s p i c k l e s a r e tasted. P i c k l e s f o r example m u s t be f i r m and c r i s p . Canned g o o d s a r e j u d g e d o n l o o k s , u n i f o r m i t y , c o l o r , h o w the p i e c e s a r e c u t ( r i g h t s i z e ) , w h e t h e r t h e j a r i s f i l l e d t o t h e r i g h t a m o u n t , t h e q u a l i t y o f t h e produce t h a t w e n t i n t o t h e j a r , e t c . , " s a i d M r s . D e a n Home A r t s Committee C h a i r p e r s o n .
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Sewing and Baking
"We t a s t e a l l t h e b a k e d g o o d s . T h e contestants can then t a k e t h e m home o r take 1 / 2 home. M a n y j u s t l e a v e t h e m there w h o l e , " a c c o r d i n g t o L o u i s e Dean, Home A r t s C o m m i t t e e C h a i r p e r s o n .
"Machine s e w i n g h a s s e e n a s h a r p d e c r e a s e . M o s t p e o p l e j u s t d o n ' t have t i m e t o sew any more. W e s e e more d o l l s and household i t e m s ( p i l l o w s , n a p k i n s , p l a c e m a t s , l i n e d b a s k e t s , e t c . ) - more c r a f t y t h i n g s , " s a i d M r s . Dean.
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Ms. D e a n s t a t e d t h a t a s f a r b a c k a s s h e r e m e m b e r s t h e r e h a v e a l w a y s b e e n q u i l t s entered i n t h e f a i r . " T h e r e a r e t h i r t y c a t e g o r i e s f o r q u i l t s and d i f f e r e n t t y p e s of p a t t e r n s ( e m b r o i d e r e d , a p p l i q u e d , e t c . ) . M a n y a r e h a n d s e w n o r a r e a combination o f hand sewn ( p i e c e d b y h a n d ) a n d m a c h i n e sewn, w i t h machine sewn q u i l t s p a y i n g l e s s e r premiums t h a n hand s e w n , " s a i d Dean. "There a r e a l s o s e v e r a l t y p e s o f q u i l t e d w o r k s sewn: q u i l t e d p i l l o w s , vests, w a l l hangings, s k i r t s , e t c . W e have a l s o had a n t i q u e q u i l t s displayed from t i m e t o t i m e --some u p t o 7 5 t h r o u g h 100 y e a r s o l d , " s t a t e d Dean. The o r i g i n o f q u i l t i n g g o e s b a c k much f a r t h e r t h a n m o s t o f u s w o u l d s u s p e c t . The a n c i e n t a r t o f q u i l t i n g b e g a n d u r i n g t h e r i s e o f E g y p t , C h i n a , a n d I n d i a a c c o r d i n g t o R a c h e l P e l l m a n a n d J o a n n e R a n c k who r e s e a r c h e d q u i l t i n g d u r i n g a study o f t h e Amish and Mennonites. T h e y also wrote t h e b o o k , Q u i l t s Among t h e P l a i n P e o p l e . T h e v a l u a b l e warmth o f three l a y e r s o f f a b r i c w a s l e a r n e d q u i c k l y a n d u s e d f r e q u e n t l y . I t came t o England a s q u i l t e d c l o t h i n g u n d e r t h e armor o f t h e C r u s a d e r s r e t u r n i n g f r o m t h e Middle E a s t . T h o u g h b o t h q u i l t i n g and patchwork were s e p a r a t e c r a f t s i n Europe, the j o i n i n g o f t h e t w o o c c u r r e d f i r s t i n America, i n t h e p a t c h w o r k q u i l t . W h e n t h e y came t o A m e r i c a , w o m e n w e r e f o r c e d to b e r e s o u r c e f u l w i t h imported f a b r i c . Patches o f o l d c l o t h e s w e r e s e w n t o g e t h e r t o make b e d c o v e r s a n d b l a n k e t s m a i n l y f o r warmth. W h e n f a b r i c s b e c a m e m o r e available, t h e o l d i d e a g r e w, and the c r a f t t o o k o n a more d e c o r a t i v e a i r . To d a y, m a n y d i f f e r e n t c o l o r s a n d designs a r e c o m b i n e d i n t h e a r t o f quilting. N o t only quilts are made, but wallhangings, d r a p e r i e s , t a b l e c l o t h s , and clothes a r e m a d e a l s o . Q u i l t i n g has become a s i m p l i s t i c s t a t e m e n t o f b e a u t y that c a n b e r e l a x i n g a s a h o b b y o r p r o f i t a b l e a s a m o n e y -making v e n t u r e . Quilts c a n b e s o l d f r o m $125.00 t o $800.00 o r m o r e a n d c a n t a k e m o n t h s o r years t o f i n i s h , d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e f r e e time o f t h e q u i l t e r . In t h e s e m o d e r n times, q u i l t i n g i s a l i v e a n d w e l l . I t i s covered b y S e c t i o n 11, u n d e r D e p a r t m e n t 0- - N e e d l e A r t , i n Fair g u i d e . T h e the S t . M a r y ' s County rules o r r e g u l a t i o n s concerning needle art are: a) A r t i c l e s s h o u l d b e c l e a n a n d i n new c o n d i t i o n ;
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b) P i c t u r e s s h o u l d b e f r a m e d a n d w i r e d f o r h a n g i n g ; c) E n t r i e s t h a t a r e p a r t o f a s e t s h o u l d b e p i n n e d o r a t t a c h e d t o p r e v e n t loss; d) E n t r i e s m u s t b e t h e w o r k o f t h e p e r s o n i n whose name i t i s e n t e r e d . Monetary p r i z e s a n d r i b b o n s a r e g i v e n a n d t h e j u d g i n g i s b a s e d o n appearance, w o r k m a n s h i p , a n d d e s i g n . " A s o f 1 9 8 8 a s e p a r a t e p r i z e i n n e e d l e w o r k i s g i v e n f o r q u i l t i n g , " a c c o r d i n g t o L o u i s e Dean. " T h e b e s t i n t h e show a l s o gets a b i g p u r p l e r i b b o n . Q u i l t i n g w i l l c e r t a i n l y remain one o f A m e r i c a ' s f a v o r i t e h o b b i e s , a n d w i l l no d o u b t l e a d t o t h e c r e a t i o n o f m a n y b e a u t i f u l , a s w e l l a s p r a c t i c a l w o r k s o f art.
"As f a r a s n e w c a t e g o r i e s i n o u r b u i l d i n g , w e n o w h a v e a d d e d , as o f l a s t y e a r ( 1 9 8 8 ) , h a n d s p u n y a r n s . M a n y r a i s e t h e i r o w n sheep ( f o r t h e w o o l ) , o r t h e y c a n b u y t h e w o o l ; t h e y d o t h e i r own c a r d i n g , s p i n n i n g , d y i n g , a n d t h e n m a k e t h e i r o w n c l o t h e s , " s a i d L o u i s e D e a n , Home A r t s C o m m i t t e e C h a i r m a n .
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Produce, Tobacco, Grains Staples In Southern Maryland Farm Life
Norris S h e p h e r d k e e p s track o f a w i d e a r r a y o f fruits a n d vegetables in the F a r m a n d G a r d e n exhibit.
Bottom. T o b a c c o f a r m i n g is a family t r a d i t i o n .
Tobacco h a s b e e n a s t a p l e o n S o u t h e r n M a r y l a n d f a r m s s i n c e t h e A r k a n d D o v e . Farmers t a k e g r e a t p r i d e i n t h e y e a r r o u n d c a s h c r o p t h a t consumes u n t o l d h o u r s of t h e f a r m e r ' s t i m e s i n c e e v e r y l e a f i s handled b y hand s e v e r a l t i m e s . I t is cut b y hand, s p e a r e d by h a n d , h u n g b y â&#x20AC;˘ h a n d , i n the a i r cured b a r n s t o d r y , and t h e n s t r i p p e d b y hand a n d p a c k e d i n t o bales f o r market.
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Some o f t h e many e x h i b i t s d i s p l a y e d a t t h e f a i r i n 1 9 6 0 .
B r i g h t , s h i n y apples and green l e a f y k a l e l i n e t h e shelves i n t h e Farm a n d G a r d e n b u i l d i n g i n 1 9 6 7 .
Bees, c h e s t n u t s , h a z e l n u t s , p e a n u t s , tobacco- - a l l a p a r t o f t h e f a i r .
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L. L o c a l f a r m e r s B o w l e s ( l e f t ) a n d Nelson h o l d a s t i c k o f q u a l i t y , a i r cured t o b a c c o . Middle: P a t r i c i a Shepherd ( l e f t ) , 10 y e a r s , a n d J e f f r e y S h e p h e r d 1 4 years, o f L e o n a r d t o w n , h o l d t h e winning 34 pound watermelon grown b y J e f f r e y.
Bottom: L . t o R t . N o r r i s S h e p h e r d ; Gene H i l l (who won f i r s t p r i z e f o r t h e l a r g e s t pumpkin); s i t t i n g o n pumpkin, G e n e ' s s o n B i l l y Joe H i l l , 1 3 m o n t h s ; a n d B i l l y ' s Grandfather D a l l i s H i l l .
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Suzanne H e n d e r s o n ( c e n t e r ) c h a t s w i t h v i s i t o r s t o t h e F l o w e r B u i l d i n g a s R o b e r t Thompson s t a n d s t o right.
Oh, The Beauty Of A Rose (or Petunia, or Marigold or Mum or . . .)
"The F l o w e r B u i l d i n g w a s n ' t a l w a y s the f l o w e r b u i l d i n g , " s a i d Suzanne Henderson w h o s e f a t h e r b u i l t t h e b u i l d i n g when t h e f a i r f i r s t o p e n e d on t h e c u r r e n t f a i r g r o u n d s . " I t w a s one o f t h e f i r s t t h r e e b u i l d i n g s t o be b u i l t o n t h e g r o u n d s , t h e f i r s t to have d r y w a l l s , t h e f i r s t t o have a cement f l o o r , " r e c a l l e d Henderson. "My f a t h e r h a d i t b u i l t r i g h t o u t o f h i s own p o c k e t â&#x20AC;&#x201D; d i d n ' t c o s t t h e f a i r board a c e n t . T h e b u i l d i n g h a s now been d e d i c a t e d t o h i m b y t h e f a i r b o a r d , " s t a t e d Henderson.
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Bottom. 1 9 8 7 P u b l i c a t i o n ' s s t u d e n t Shannon Rhodes examines James O w e n ' s w i n n i n g mum.
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Fading Beauty by Kim Kliner A whisper echoes, t h e b u i l d i n g bare is empty o f a l l b u t a ghost crowd once t h e r e . A s i n g l e f l o w e r o f a c l a s s unknown w i t h e r s a w a y, i t s c r e a t o r a t h o m e . The f l o w e r h a d o n c e p e r f o r m e d a g r e a t d u t y , by t a k i n g f i r s t p l a c e w i t h a w a r d - w i n n i n g b e a u t y . Now, m e r e l y a h i n t o f i t s p r e v i o u s s t a t e i s s e e n b y t h e p e o p l e who p a c k u p e a c h c r a t e . Slowly and p a i n f u l l y each p e t a l does f a l l , t h e moment o f g l o r y g o n e , a f t e r a l l .
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Outside Space â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Enough To Go Around Outside space i s r e n t e d t o groups a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s who s e t u p t h e i r w a r e s o n the f a i r g r o u n d s .
George C o p p a g e , k n o w n t o many c o u n t i a n s a s " M r . George" p r o m e n a d e s a s a lion throughout the f a i r grounds w i t h h i s l i t t l e dog.
Bottom: E v e r y o n e w a n t s t o be a c l o w n , e s p e c i a l l y t h e youngsters.
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Get y o u r h o t r o a s t e d p e a n u t s f r o m D o n S t i l l m a n , f r o m S e l m a , N o r t h C a r o l i n a . F o r the p a s t 4 4 y e a r s , h e h a s b e e n w o r k i n g f a i r s u p a n d d o w n t h e e a s t c o a s t . " I s t a r t t h e f a i r s e a s o n i n New J e r s e y , t h e n g o o n t o New Yo r k , t h e n b a c k t o N o r t h Carolina, and then on t o Maryland." F o r 1 8 years h e has b e e n the S t . Mary's County F a i r ' s " p e a n u t m a n " .
The 1 9 8 4 E x c a l i b u r , o w n e d b y D u k e H e n d e r s o n , h a s v i s i t e d t h e c o u n t y f a i r i n recent y e a r s . B u i l t i n Milwaukee, Wisconsin, i t i s #8 f r o m a s i g n a t u r e s e r i e s o f only 50 m a d e t h a t y e a r . T h e o r i g i n a l c o s t o f t h e v e h i c l e was e s t i m a t e d between 60 a n d 7 0 t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s . H e n d e r s o n i s p r o u d o f t h e f a c t t h a t i t i s a n original, not a k i t .
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Dotting t h e f a i r g r o u n d s a r e vendors w i t h t r i n k e t s f o r s a l e .
A p o t e n t i a l buyer hops i n t o t h e seat o f a H o v e r c r a f t .
139
ork
The c o m m e r c i a l b u i l d i n g i s a v a i l a b l e f o r b u s i n e s s e s t o s e t u p t h e i r d i s p l a y s . In y e a r s p a s t a c c o r d i n g t o T h e B e a c o n ( S e p t e m b e r 1 0 , 1 9 4 8 ) , o t h e r s p a c e w a s made available. I n 1948 two l a r g e Q u o n s e t t y p e b u i l d i n g s w e r e u s e d f o r c o m m e r c i a l buildings.
,
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Olivers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Restoration Of A Memory
A n t i q u e t r a c t o r s seem t o a t t r a c t t h e notice and a t t e n t i o n o f t h e l o c a l farmers a s w e l l a s t h e n o t - s o agrarian people o f t h e c o u n t y. T w o o f t h e m o s t f a m o u s e x h i b i t o r s who truck t h e i r a n t i q u e s i n t o t h e fairgrounds a r e R i c h a r d W a y n e P i l k e r t o n a n d Guy T i p p e t t . Pilkerton s t a r t e d h i s h o b b y o f collecting a n d r e s t o r i n g O l i v e r tractors i n 1974. H i s interest i n O l i v e r s b e g a n a s a y o u t h when h i s uncles used them on t h e f a m i l y f a r m in Clements, M a r y l a n d . H e h a s restored f i f t e e n O l i v e r t r a c t o r s with models r a n g i n g f r o m 1 9 3 8 t o 1953. " T h i s w a s q u i t e a t a s k considering m o s t o f t h e m w e r e 'buckets o f r u s t ' h a v i n g b e e n abandoned o f u s e y e a r s a g o , a n d w e r e
Guy T i p p e t t s i t s a t o p h i s antique O l i v e r t r a c t o r .
Guy T i p p e t t h a u l s h i s antique O l i v e r s t o t h e f a i r each y e a r.
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found i n m a s s i v e o v e r g r o w t h o f u n d e r b r u s h a n d h o n e y s u c k l e v i n e s , " s a i d P i l k e r t o n of h i s accomplishments. I n a d d i t i o n , h e a l s o c o l l e c t s 1 / 1 6 s c a l e m o d e l t o y tractors. P i l k e r t o n h a s w o n numerous a w a r d s a n d r i b b o n s f o r h i s antique tractors. Tippett a l s o s t a r t e d c o l l e c t i n g O l i v e r s i n 1 9 7 4 . H i s r a r e s t t r a c t o r i s a model " G T - 1 2 5 " , w h i c h t o o k h i m r o u g h l y t e n y e a r s t o f i n d . T h i r t e e n O l i v e r s h a v e been r e s t o r e d b y T i p p e t t , a n d s e v e n h a v e b e e n r e p a i n t e d . M u c h t i m e a n d e f f o r t has b e e n d e v o t e d t o t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f e a c h t r a c t o r . L o c a t i n g r e p a i r p a r t s i s frequently a major t a s k s i n c e m a n y p a r t s a r e n o l o n g e r a v a i l a b l e f o r the t r a c t o r s . " M a n y phone c a l l s and m a n y l e t t e r s a r e r e q u i r e d t o r e s t o r e one o f these t r a c t o r s b a c k t o i t s o r i g i n a l c o n d i t i o n . " T i p p e t t s a i d o f h i s h o b b y , " I f e e l l i k e I am k e e p i n g a n o l d p a r t o f U . S . H i s t o r y a l i v e , a n d I ' m p r o u d o f t h i s fact." As o f t h i s w r i t i n g , T i p p e t t h a s j u s t p u r c h a s e d t w o n e w O l i v e r s w h i c h w i l l b e on d i s p l a y a t t h e 1 9 9 0 f a i r .
P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s B r i a n N e v a l a ( l e f t ) , T i n a Welander ( c e n t e r ) , f o r e i g n e x c h a n g e s t u d e n t f r o m Sweden, a n d S h a r o n Dunn ( r t . ) m u g f o r t h e c a m e r a o n G u y T i p p e t t ' s a n t i q u e Oliver t r a c t o r. 142
The Fair Has Never Been Lacking For Dignitaries! "We've a l w a y s h a d d i g n i t a r i e s a t t h e f a i r , " s a i d E l w o o d C u s i c . " O n e y e a r a h e l i c o p t e r b r i n g i n g G o v e r n o r Ta w e s l a n d e d i n t h e h o r s e r i n g . " C u s i c h a s s e e n d i g n i t a r i e s come a n d g o s i n c e t h e 1 9 4 7 f a i r a t Camp C a l v e r t . "Buck B r i s c o e u s e d t o g e t p e o p l e d o w n f r o m t h e W h i t e H o u s e , " s a i d Suzanne Henderson. " T h e r e w e r e s e n a t o r s a n d c o n g r e s s m e n , a d m i r a l s a n d s u c h . " P o l i t i c i a n s seem t o f r e q u e n t t h e f a i r a s p a r t o f t h e i r campaign t r a i l .
L . t o R t . R o b e r t Thompson ( F a i r B o a r d P r e s i d e n t f r o m 1 9 6 1 - 6 6 ) ; G o v e r n o r ' s b o d y g u a r d s ; t h e Q u e e n o f T o l e r a n c e ; G o v e r n o r Ta w e s a n d B u c k B r i s c o e , M r . S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y. T h e h e l i c o p t e r l a n d e d i n t h e h o r s e r i n g . ( 1 9 6 0 )
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Maryland S t a t e C o m p t r o l l e r, L o u i s G o l d s t e i n r i d e s i n t h e b a c k o f a F o r d Model T t o u r i n g c a r i n 1 9 6 0 .
Louise Gore campaigns f o r g o v e r n o r.
Governor M a r v i n M a n d e l c h a t t i n g with f a i r g o e r s holding up h i s favorite pipe.
L. t o R . B u c k B r i s c o e , M r . S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y ; 2 n d f r o m l e f t , f o r m e r County C o m m i s s i o n e r, L a r r y M i l l i s o n , M i s s M a r y l a n d ( 1 9 7 3 ) , t h e 1 9 7 3 Queen o f To l e r a n c e a n d J u d g e J o h n H a n s o n B r i s c o e .
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Ik' 'ffht:1/!,4e0C/g4.316k4rIstYtiVolkoor S'' IIPPeP4' roGeptek 4-4 e r r e k sr. MARY' S .l.Aq._ ROY DYSON km, smiPsofii a c e e weltuel .POICs'IfoLoGeS "...IONA/ SZPOE ""k WE (MCC P / 4 16,11 P f r r i r A v a l e mosan WAITER DORSEY Z O O S e t e s w, FA; ;ve. .5:94,841,4,sâ&#x20AC;¢ i m k V $E(C P m PATT,PGLY Raffecor JARBOE 4 ' o A m 4 017141,5'04, 7/4141 PhOnteh, E D 8 A / L E V J O N I / 4CPEY p r 4 k A i P P A W N C O / C P. 5 W C A W WI CARPER #4110n00,5/70 JOHN W O O D 0 0 R O T N Y P.41fy j o i t * p i e , ; i e
DMI NEADM GRA OPEh
MONDA Si Il
Congressman R o y D y s o n w e a r i n g h i s f a m o u s "boot" p i n o n h i s l a p e l . T h e b o o t was a symbol h e u s e d t o i n d i c a t e h i s g r a s s roots a p p r o a c h t o campaigning t o work h a r d a n d g e t o u t t h e r e among t h e p e o p l e .
Democratics a n d R e p u b l i can's e x h i b i t l a t e s t information. P e o p l e c a n always r e g i s t e r t o v o t e at t h e f a i r .
P o l i t i c i a n s abound a t t h e c o u n t y f a i r .
REPUBLICAN WOMAN'S CLUB
John L a n c a s t e r , R e t i r e d C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n Agent d u r i n g i n t e g r a t i o n ( w o r k e d w i t h 4 - H ) and c u r r e n t C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n e r. 146
Beauty In Motion by Sara Jenkins With elegance, b e a u t y, s t y l e , a n d g r a c e , With r i p p l i n g muscles, t h e wind he d i d r a c e . H i s e b o n y mane a n d f l o w i n g b l a c k t a i l f l y through the a i r l i k e a boat s e t f o r s a i l .
With p o w e r f u l s t r i d e s h e s e t s f o r t h e s u n - The w i n d i s n o m a t c h , t h e s t a l l i o n h a s w o n . H i s p o w e r f u l b o d y, h i s e y e s b l a c k a s c o a l R e f l e c t i n g a beauty s e t deep i n h i s s o u l .
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Horses and Riders: Strutting Their Stuff by Sara Jenkins (Publications Student and Horse Show Participant) "One o f t h e many i n t e r e s t i n g a t t r a c t i o n s a t t h e C o u n t y F a i r i s t h e h o r s e show w h i c h h a s b e e n g o i n g o n s i n c e t h e e a r l y f i f t i e s , " s a i d B e t t y T a y l o r . M a n y people e n j o y w a t c h i n g t h e h o r s e s a n d r i d e r s p e r f o r m and t h r o u g h a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h B e t t y T a y l o r , M a r y Wood, a n d A n n D r u r y , w e g a i n e d a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f w h a t goes o n . A l l t h r e e w o m e n h a v e b e e n c h a i r m e n o f t h e h o r s e s h o w s - - a t v a r i o u s times. Mary Wood, c u r r e n t h o r s e s h o w c h a i r p e r s o n , g o t h e r f i r s t h o r s e w h e n s h e w a s seven y e a r s o l d . " I s t a r t e d s h o w i n g i n t h e e a r l y s i x t i e s , t h e f a i r b e i n g m y f i r s t s h o w. B a c k t h e n , t h e r e w e r e h a r d l y a n y i n s t r u c t o r s o r p l a c e s w h e r e y o u could even l e a r n t o r i d e . "
Mary Wood, c u r r e n t H o r s e Show C h a i r p e r s o n i s p r e s e n t e d a winning t r o p h y i n 1960.
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Mary Wood, H o r s e Show C h a i r p e r s o n , i s i n t e r v i e w e d i n h e r Leonardtown L i b r a r y O f f i c e b y P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t , M a r y Clark. Ann D r u r y a n d B e t t y T a y l o r a l s o u s e d t o r i d e a n d s h o w. " A n n u s e d t o s h o w i n the e a r l y 5 0 ' s , " s a i d h e r s i s t e r , Ta y l o r . T a y l o r a l s o s t a r t e d d r i v i n g ( h o r s e a n d c a r t ) i n 1 9 7 8 . " W e were b o t h chairmen o f t h e h o r s e shows a t v a r i o u s t i m e s . W e were a l s o s e c r e t a r i e s w h e r e w e r e c e i v e d e n t r i e s , t o o k c a r e o f e n t r i e s a n d c l a s s e s before t h e s h o w , a n d g o t a r e g i s t e r e d j u d g e , u s u a l l y f r o m o u t o f t h e c o u n t y. I can remember w h e n G e n e r a l D u k e w a s t h e o n l y j u d g e , " s a i d T a y l o r . The s h o w s a r e d i v i d e d i n t o d i v i s i o n s a n d t h e n f u r t h e r d i v i d e d i n t o c l a s s e s . There a r e b a s i c a l l y t h r e e d i v i s i o n s i n a n E n g l i s h h o r s e s h o w. T h e s e a r e t h e H u n t e r, P l e a s u r e , a n d E q u i t a t i o n d i v i s i o n s . E a c h o f t h e s e d i v i s i o n s i s j u d g e d based o n d i f f e r e n t r e q u i r e m e n t s . I n t h e h u n t e r d i v i s i o n , t h e h o r s e s h o u l d h a v e a b o l d , b u t c o n t r o l l e d pace a n d s h o u l d b e a good j u m p e r.
Karine I n g e r s o l presents a f i r s t p l a c e t r o p h y t o C l y t h e n e H a l l f o r t h e Hunter Class i n 1 9 7 5 . 149
I n t h i s d i v i s i o n , t h e jumps a r e u s u a l l y h i g h e r and t h e c o u r s e i s more d i f f i c u l t . The p l e a s u r e d i v i s i o n a s k s t h e h o r s e a n d r i d e r t o c r e a t e t h e i d e a t h a t a n y o n e could g e t u p o n t h a t h o r s e a n d r i d e i t w i t h o u t any problem. T h e h o r s e s h o u l d have a n i c e , e a s y , a n d c o m f o r t a b l e p a c e a n d s h o u l d n e v e r r u n o f f o r b u c k . L a s t l y, e q u i t a t i o n m e a n s t h e r i d e r ' s p o s i t i o n w h i l e mounted o n t h e h o r s e . I n this d i v i s i o n , t h e r i d e r ' s p o s i t i o n i s j u d g e d a s w e l l a s h o w w e l l he/she communicates w i t h t h e h o r s e . In each d i v i s i o n , t h e r e a r e u s u a l l y t h r e e o r f o u r classes. T h e r e a r e t h r e e types o f c l a s s e s : o v e r f e n c e , f l a t , a n d t r a i l .
The o v e r f e n c e s c l a s s c o n s i s t s of a c o u r s e o f j u m p s t h a t t h e r i d e r must j u m p . I n t h e f l a t classes, everyone p a r t i c i p a t i n g i s i n t h e r i n g a t t h e same t i m e and t h e y a r e t o p e r f o r m commands t h a t t h e j u d g e c a l l s out s u c h a s w a l k , t r o t , o r c a n t e r. L a s t l y , t h e t r a i l class i s a l w a y s a p a r t o f t h e pleasure d i v i s i o n and t h i s asks the h o r s e a n d r i d e r t o negotiate a s e r i e s o f obstacles. E a c h o f these classes i s j u d g e d w i t h r e s p e c t to t h e d i v i s i o n , b u t t h e r e a r e other t h i n g s t h a t t h e j u d g e w i l l look f o r . I n the jumping classes, t h e j u d g e w i l l l o o k for a consistent pace, how w e l l the h o r s e j u m p s , a n d h o w w e l l the r i d e r m a n e u v e r s a r o u n d t h e turns and approaches t h e jump.
Sara J e n k i n s r i d i n g H i g h l i g h t i n a flat class.
The f l a t c l a s s e s a r e j u d g e d o n h o w f a s t a n d c o r r e c t l y t h e r i d e r c a n p e r f o r m t h e commands. T h e h o r s e ' s o b e d i e n c e i s t h e m a i n c r i t e r i a f o r t h e t r a i l c l a s s .
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Tommy L i s k a o n S p a r k l e P l e n t y i n t h e J u m p i n g C l a s s .
Judging t h e s e c l a s s e s g e t s more p r e c i s e and t h e r e a r e t h r e e main t h i n g s t h a t the j u d g e s l o o k f o r : m a n n e r s , w a y o f g o i n g , a n d s u i t a b i l i t y . M a n n e r s a r e h o w responsive t h e h o r s e i s t o i t s r i d e r and h o w w e l l t h e r i d e r communicates w i t h his/her horse. W a y o f going refers t o t h e horse's g a i t . A horse w i t h a long graceful s t r i d e would p l a c e above one w i t h a s h o r t choppy s t r i d e . S u i t a b i l i t y i s how w e l l t h e h o r s e a n d r i d e r l o o k t o g e t h e r . Y o u w o u l d n ' t w a n t a s m a l l c h i l d r i d i n g a b i g t h o r o u g h b r e d o r a l a r g e r p e r s o n r i d i n g a p o n y.
The w a l k t r o t c l a s s i s o n l y o p e n t o c h i l d r e n u n d e r 1 0 y e a r s o l d .
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Each c l a s s i s p l a c e d a n d t h e r i d e r s w i n r i b b o n s f o r f i r s t t h r o u g h s i x t h place. W i t h f i r s t p r i z e u s u a l l y c o m e s a t r o p h y and f o r each r i b b o n won, t h e rider earns a c e r t a i n number o f p o i n t s : h i g h e r points f o r the higher places. The r i d e r w i t h m o s t p o i n t s i n t h e i r d i v i s i o n w i n s t h e c h a m p i o n r i b b o n f o r t h a t d i v i s i o n . T h e r e a r e s p e c i a l a w a r d s o f f e r e d a l s o a t t h e s h o w. T h e b e s t c h i l d r i d e r w i n s t h e Agnes T . Duncan Award w h i c h h a s t o b e r e t u r n e d t h e n e x t y e a r .
Karen C o a t e s ( t h e f i r s t winner o f t h e A g n e s T . Duncan A w a r d ) p r e s e n t s Clythene H a l l ( G u y ) t h e award f o r t h e b e s t c h i l d r i d e r. R i d e r s k e e p t h e award f o r o n e y e a r a n d then pass t h e award o n t o the n e x t w i n n e r . A replica i s t h e n given t o the p a s t w i n n e r.
Frank Lantham was a n e a r l y h o r s e s h o w e n t h u s i a s t i n t h e c o u n t y a n d t h e F r a n k Latham M e m o r i a l T r o p h y i s g i v e n f o r t h e b e s t h o r s e a n d r i d e r c o m b i n a t i o n . T h e J . L . McNey M e m o r i a l T r o p h y i s g i v e n t o t h e b e s t p o n y a n d r i d e r c o m b i n a t i o n .
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Ann D r u r y ( R t . ) p a s t C h a i r m a n o f t h e H o r s e S h o w, p r e s e n t s Scotty C o f l i n a f i r s t p l a c e t r o p h y i n t h e Pony H u n t e r Division.
I n c l u d e d i n t h e s h o w a r e some W e s t e r n a n d d r i v i n g c l a s s e s . " B a c k w h e n I w a s showing, w e h a d a We s t e r n s h o w , " s a i d M a r y W o o d . T h e W e s t e r n c l a s s e s a r e generally p l e a s u r e a n d t r a i l c l a s s e s , b u t t h e r e i s a big difference i n the Western h o r s e ' s w a y o f g o i n g c o m p a r e d t o t h e E n g l i s h h o r s e s . T h e y a r e g e n e r a l l y kept o n a v e r y l o n g r e i n a n d a r e much more e a s y - g o i n g a n d g e n t l e . "They u s e d t o h a v e b a r r e l r a c i n g a t t h e f a i r a l s o , " s a i d Wood. " T h i s i s a n event f o r t h e w e s t e r n r i d e r s a n d t h e o b j e c t i v e i s t o g e t a r o u n d s e v e r a l o b s t a c l e s (barrels) i n t h e s h o r t e s t t i m e . " T h e r e a r e t w o d r i v i n g classes which are pleasure a n d a n o b s t a c l e c l a s s where t h e d r i v e r maneuvers h o r s e a n d c a r t t h r o u g h o b s t a c l e s s u c h a s b r i d g e s a n d o t h e r t h i n g s t h a t m i g h t b e r u n i n t o o n a Sunday drive.
"Is i t our turn yet?" Both h o r s e a n d r i d e r are u s e d t o t h e w a i t i n g game.
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B e t t y Ta y l o r l o o k s h e r v e r y Sunday B e s t a s s h e p r e p a r e s f o r the D r i v i n g D i v i s i o n .
The h o r s e s h o w s a t t r a c t p e o p l e n o t o n l y f r o m t h i s c o u n t y , b u t f r o m C a l v e r t and C h a r l e s a s w e l l . T h i s i s a l s o a t i m e w h e n p e o p l e w h o w a n t t o s e l l t h e i r horses c a n s h o w t h e m o f f . " S o m e t i m e s i f s o m e o n e l i k e s t h e way y o u r h o r s e performs, t h e y m i g h t o f f e r t o b u y i t , " n o t e d B e t t y Ta y l o r . T h e o n l y r e q u i r e m e n t s are t h a t t h e r i d e r m u s t w e a r t h e i r p r o p e r a t t i r e . T h i s i s m o s t p r e v a l e n t i n t h e English classes where t h e r i d e r has t o wear b r i t c h e s , b o o t s , a c o a t , a n d a hard hat. T h e r e i s n o age l i m i t a t i o n e x c e p t i n t h e 4 - H show where t h e r i d e r must b e under e i g h t e e n . M o s t o f a l l , t h e m o s t b a s i c r e q u i r e m e n t i s t h a t y o u h a v e f u n .
A bond develops between h o r s e a n d h a n d l e r.
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Jolly Gents Add Spice To Life by Amy Quinlan Helping t h e c o m m u n i t y was t h e b a s i s f o r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e J o l l y Gents, a service o r g a n i z a t i o n dedicated t o h e l p i n g S t . M a r y ' s countians i n need. A l o n g w i t h t h e i r g e n e r o s i t y , t h e J o l l y Gents d i s h o u t o n e o f t h e c o u n t y f a i r ' s most delectable concessions. T e d Newkirk, a former president o f t h e c l u b r e l a t e s t h e story o f t h e J o l l y Gents. "When w e f i r s t s t a r t e d , t h e r e w a s n o b u i l d i n g , t h e n t h e f a i r b o a r d s u p p l i e d the m a t e r i a l s a n d t h e J o l l y G e n t s c o n s t r u c t e d t h e b u i l d i n g a t t h e f a i r . S i n c e then t h e f a i r b o a r d h a s t a k e n o v e r a n y c o n s t r u c t i o n . W e s t a r t e d s e r v i n g barbeque a t t h e f a i r a r o u n d 1 9 6 6 a s a f u n d r a i s e r . O u r o r g a n i z a t i o n r a i s e s money s o w e c a n help t h e c o m m u n i t y m a i n l y i n e m e r g e n c y s i t u a t i o n s , f u e l i n w i n t e r s , h e l p f o r young p e o p l e f o r c o l l e g e , e t c . "
Boy, t h a t b a r b e q u e s m e l l s g o o d ! Ted N e w k i r k g i v i n g J o l l y G e n t s barbeque t h a t s p e c i a l t o u c h .
"I b e l i e v e t h e g r o u p was organized b a c k i n 1958, a n d I joined i n 1959. I s e r v e d as vice-president t o George Fenwick, t h e f i r s t p r e s i d e n t o f t h e J o l l y G e n t s , t h e n I became the s e c o n d p r e s i d e n t , " s t a t e d Newkirk. "We g e t o u r m e a t f r o m w h o l e s a l e d i s t r i b u t o r s a n d we u s e a s l o w cooking p r o c e s s t o c o o k t h e meat. W e u s e d t o u s e o a k wood but n o w w e u s e g a s , " s a i d Newkirk.
Newkirk t a k e s a b r e a k f r o m c o o k i n g t h e d e l i c i o u s barbeque s o l d b y t h e J o l l y Gents e a c h y e a r a t t h e f a i r .
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Ted N e w k i r k t a l k s w i t h Leonardtown H i g h S c h o o l students about J o l l y Gents.
When a s k e d a b o u t t h e b a r b e q u e s a u c e recipe, h e smiled then stated t h a t " i t i s made b y t h e J o l l y G e n t s a n d o n l y t h e y know t h e i n g r e d i e n t s . " W h e t h e r w e k n o w how t h e t a n t a l i z i n g f l a v o r c o m e s a b o u t o r not, f a i r g o e r s c o m e back year a f t e r y e a r for another " t a s t e o f the f a i r " .
Rescue Vehicles
_ Rescue S q u a d s h a v e a l w a y s b e e n o n h a n d a t the f a i r g r o u n d s t o a s s i s t w h e n e v e r needed. T h e i r p r e s e n c e l e n d s a f e e l i n g of s e c u r i t y t o a l l f a i r g o e r s , young and old.
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Maryland's Jousting Song Jousting's the sport, Marylander's claim And w e p r o u d l y b o a s t o f i t s H a l l o f Fame, Our m a i d s a n d k n i g h t s a r e s t a n d i n g b y A s t r i d e t h e i r mounts i n s t i r r u p s h i g h . Our p a g e a n t r y a s d a y s o f o l d Our c o l o r s a r e b r i g h t , s o m e r e d , s o m e g o l d , And a s w e w a i t t h e b u g l e ' s c r y , Three c h e e r s f o r y o u a s y o u r i d e b y . Henry's t h e k i n g we a d o r e , A l i c e t h e Queen f o r e v e r m o r e . The f r i e n d s w e ' v e made b o t h f a r a n d n e a r , No o t h e r s p o r t c o u l d e r e c o m p a r e . Charge o n ! C h a r g e o n ! F a i r m a i d s a n d k n i g h t s Just spear those r i n g s w i t h a l l y o u r m i g h t . We ' r e p r o u d t o r e p r e s e n t o u r S t a t e , Oh! M a r y l a n d w e t h i n k y o u ' r e g r e a t ! Yes, M a r y l a n d ' s t h e " J o u s t i n g S t a t e " !
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Jotlithig- n e raws 5,000atSt.MarysFair SpecialDispatchtoTheStar
• LEONARDTOWN, M d . , S e p t . 25.—A c r o w d o f 5,000 shrugged off a c h i l l i n g w i n d a t :the A l m s House grounds yesterday to watch a jousting tournament w h i c h ended t h e t h r e e - d a y S t . M a r y s County F a i r. Joseph B r a d y o f B a l t i m o r e County w o n i n t h e professional class, w h i l e H o w a r d G a t e s a n d his b r o t h e r L a w r e n c e o f P r i n c e Georges County t o o k second a n d third places. Bernard C l a r k o f Hollywood, Md.,- speared o u t a w i n i n • the amateur c l a s s o v e r H e n r y J . Fowler, p r e s i d e n t o f t h e f a i r board, w h e n , the t w o r o d e t h e course f o r t h e seventh . time t o break —a- tie...-. George p i t m a n o f Westminster was third. • - •
Jousting T h e Maryland Sport by Karen Raley
Top R t . H e n r y F o w l e r d a n c e s w i t h his L a d y E d w i n a d u r i n g t h e jousting tournament on the f a i r grounds i n 1 9 7 5 .
"Somewhere i n B a l t i m o r e C o u n t y, M a r y L o u Bartram found a L a n d a u s t y l e d c a r r i a g e . Dad f e l l i n l o v e w i t h i t , " s a y s H e n r y F o w l e r, J r . , t h e s o n o f t h e l a t e S e n a t o r Henry F o w l e r . " H e u s e d h i s g i f t o f g a b to h e l p t h e f a i r i n m a n y w a y s . " T h i s t a l e n t was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r o b t a i n i n g t h e c a r r i a g e , made a r o u n d 1 7 1 0 , a s w e l l a s f o u n d i n g t h e M a r y l a n d J o u s t i n g To u r n a m e n t Association. H e n r y S r. s p e n t t i m e i n t h e Maryland G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y, s e r v i n g S t . Mary's County f o r s i x t e e n y e a r s .
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Are t h e d a y s o f c h i v a l r y , s p l e n d o r , p a g e a n t r y , a n d t r a d i t i o n l o s t i n t h e ever c h a n g i n g m o m e n t s o f t i m e ? D o m e n l i v e w i t h o u t t h e m y s t i q u e t h e i r f o r e f a t h e r s once o b t a i n e d t h r o u g h t h e i r horsemanship and s k i l l f u l accuracy w i t h a lance? T o d a y , j o u s t i n g i s l o s t i n t h e t r e m e n d o u s a d v e r t i s e m e n t o f more p o p u l a r sports, y e t , S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y i s u n i q u e i n i t s i n v o l v e m e n t i n t h e distinguishable sport.
Jousting i s nothing l i k e t h e f a m i l i a r p i c t u r e w e i m a g i n e o f t w o knights c h a r g i n g a t e a c h o t h e r i n a b l o o d - t h i r s t y m a n n e r. T h e g o a l o f t h e s p o r t i s f o r the r i d e r t o b e a b l e t o s p e a r t h r e e r i n g s o n e a c h r i d e i n a t o t a l o f n i n e seconds. T h e r i d e r m u s t r i d e a t o t a l o f e i g h t y y a r d s t o s p e a r a l l t h r e e r i n g s . Each k n i g h t i s g i v e n t h r e e c h a r g e s f o r t h e i r f i r s t c l a s s . A f t e r t h e i r f i r s t three r i d e s , t h e r i d e r w i l l t h e n go t o t h e n e x t s m a l l e s t s i z e i n r i n g s which a r e reduced a q u a r t e r o f a n i n c h a t a t i m e . R i n g s r a n g e i n s i z e f r o m one a n d t h r e e quarters o f a n i n c h t o one h a l f o f a n i n c h , and on occasion one q u a r t e r o f a n inch s i z e r i n g w i l l be used. There i s m u c h m o r e t o t h e s p o r t t h a n j u s t a b i d i n g b y t h e r u l e s . T h e r i d e r s must a l s o m a i n t a i n t h e i r e q u i p m e n t a n d e v e n c o n s t r u c t t h e i r o w n l a n c e s . A k n i g h t ' s l a n c e i s a l w a y s homemade s i m p l y b e c a u s e t h e r e i s n o p l a c e t o b u y o n e .
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The l a n c e s r a n g e i n s i z e f r o m f i v e t o s e v e n f e e t i n l e n g t h a n d u s u a l l y w e i g h between o n e a n d f i f t e e n p o u n d s . T h e p o i n t o f t h e l a n c e i s m a d e o f e i t h e r aluminum o r s t a i n l e s s s t e e l , a n d a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f c o n s t r u c t i n g a l a n c e i s t o establish a balancing p o i n t . F i n a l l y , a k n i g h t must l e a r n t o use h i s / h e r lance e f f e c t i v e l y. A r i d e r ' s s k i l l l a r g e l y depends o n h i s h o r s e a s w e l l a s l e a r n i n g t o use h i s l a n c e . H e m u s t e f f e c t i v e l y l e a r n h o w t o t r a i n h i s h o r s e t o r e s p o n d t o his voice. A knight can j o u s t very w e l l but h i s horse can j u s t as e a s i l y decide between a w i n o r a l o s s f o r t h e t e a m . T h e h o r s e h a s t o b e a b l e t o k e e p a s t e a d y pace w i t h o u t b o u n c i n g t h e r i d e r . S o m e t i m e s i t c a n t a k e u p t o t h r e e y e a r s t o t r a i n a h o r s e t o become a c c u s t o m e d t o t h e r i d i n g p a t t e r n . A k n i g h t l o o k s f o r a horse t h a t i s n o t s k i t t i s h o r t e m p e r a m e n t a l . T h e h o r s e m u s t n o t s h y a t a n y t h i n g during t h e r i d e , s o t h e r i d e r s t r a i n them t o g e t u s e d t o a n y d i s t r a c t i o n . N o breed o f h o r s e i s c o n s i d e r e d b e t t e r t h a n a n o t h e r, j u s t a s l o n g a s i t i s w e l l trained.
(Top R . ) P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t A n d y S t o n e ( L ) a n d B r i a n N e v a l a ( R ) p o s t w i t h P h i l C l a r k e , K n i g h t o f t h e L i t t l e R e d Wagon, a m i d a w a l l f u l l o f t r o p h i e s . C l a r k e d i s p l a y s a mounted b r o a d s w o r d w h i c h i s the t r a d i t i o n a l p r i z e awarded t o t h e n a t i o n a l j o u s t i n g champion. He w o n t h e p r i z e i n 1 9 7 0 . ( B o t t o m R . ) P h i l C l a r k e a t home w i t h h i s t r u s t y s t e e d .
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State and National Jousting Champion, Phillip A. Clark Famous M a r y l a n d j o u s t e r a n d r e s i d e n t o f S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y, P h i l l i p C l a r k , who h a s b e e n j o u s t i n g f o r some 5 0 y e a r s s a y s o f h i s c h i l d h o o d , " I l i v e d o n a f a r m and w e a l w a y s h a d h o r s e s . " C l a r k t o l d u s d u r i n g o u r i n t e r v i e w , " I n t h e o l d d a y s , they used t o have j o u s t i n g tournaments a t a l l t h e churches i n t h e c o u n t y . T h e y had b i g c h u r c h s u p p e r s f o l l o w e d b y a d a n c e . N o w m o s t p e o p l e l i v e s o f a r a w a y that t h e y c a n ' t s t a y f o r a dance. S t . J o s e p h ' s , S t . J o h n ' s , H o l y A n g e l ' s , and f i r e departments would have them. T h e y used t o have a charge, f o r c h a r i t y. " M r . C l a r k r e m e m b e r s , " T h e y u s e d t o t e l l m e , t h a t ' s h o w some o f t h e m o n u m e n t s i n S t . M a r y ' s C i t y w e r e p a i d f o r . " M r . C l a r k h a s a l w a y s e n j o y e d j o u s t i n g m o r e t h a n some o t h e r h o r s e c o m p e t i t i o n s . " W i t h j o u s t i n g , i f y o u made t h e t i m e a n d s p e a r e d t h e r i n g s , t h e r e was n o q u e s t i o n . " Some p e o p l e m i g h t r e m e m b e r P h i l l i p C l a r k a s t h e K n i g h t o f t h e L i t t l e R e d Wagon, h i s j o u s t i n g t i t l e . H e c l a i m s t h a t t h e name s t a r t e d o u t a s a j o k e b u t that i t j u s t s t u c k w i t h him. " I b u i l t t h i s horse t r a i l e r and painted i t r e d , s o I d e c i d e d t o u s e t h e K n i g h t o f t h e L i t t l e R e d Wagon a s m y t i t l e . " Tr o p h i e s c o v e r o n e w h o l e w a l l o f M r . C l a r k ' s l i v i n g r o o m . G l a s s c a s e s a r e f i l l e d w i t h s i l v e r t r o p h i e s a n d numerous a w a r d s . O n e , " F t . F r e d r i c k S t a t e P a r k 1988", h a d t o b e w o n t h r e e t i m e s i n o r d e r t o k e e p i t . A c c o r d i n g t o M r . C l a r k , t h e w i n n e r ' s n a m e i s p r i n t e d o n t h e t r o p h y f o r e a c h w i n u n t i l someone w i n s i t three t i m e s . H i s l a r g e c o l l e c t i o n a l s o i n c l u d e s a l a r g e number o f p l a q u e s w h i c h hang i n m o r e t h a n o n e r o o m . M r . C l a r k m e n t i o n e d t h a t h e h a d w o n a t l e a s t o n e hundred t r o p h i e s . " I t r y t o p r a c t i c e a b o u t h a l f a n h o u r , a c o u p l e o f t i m e s a week." "The h o r s e i s t h e b i g g e s t p a r t o f i t . P e o p l e p r e f e r d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f horses, s i z e , e t c . T h e r e a r e n o r e s t r i c t i o n s . " M r . C l a r k t o l d u s t h a t t h e y k e y was t o h a v e a h o r s e w i t h a v e r y s t e a d y g a i t , s o t h e j o u s t e r c o u l d c o n c e n t r a t e o n spearing t h e r i n g s . " M y l a s t h o r s e , Specks, l i v e d t o b e 36 y e a r s o l d , t h a t i s 144 i n human y e a r s . T h e n I h a d L a d y . " a f e w y e a r s b e f o r e 1 9 4 8 , t h e n I b u i l t a horse t r a i l e r and "I r o d e f o r competed a l l o v e r M a r y l a n d . " M r . C l a r k t o l d u s t h a t c o m p e t i t i o n s w e r e h e l d f r o m e a r l y Summer t o l a t e F a l l , t h e S t a t e a n d N a t i o n a l To u r n a m e n t s a r e u s u a l l y h e l d i n O c t o b e r. M r . C l a r k won t h e S t a t e C h a m p i o n s h i p t i t l e i n 1 9 6 8 , a n d i n 1 9 7 0 , t h e N a t i o n a l To u r n a m e n t w h e r e h i s p r i z e w a s a m o u n t e d b r o a d s w o r d . M r . C l a r k a n d h i s w i f e a r e b o t h i n t h e j o u s t i n g H a l l o f Fame i n t h e S e v e n C h i m n e y s S t a t e P a r k i n Mt. S a l o n , V i r g i n i a . H e h a s b e e n p u b l i s h e d i n T i m e W o r l d B o o k E n c y c l o p e d i a , under S t a t e S y m b o l s , P a r a d e m a g a z i n e , a n d h a s b e e n o n t h e M i k e D o u g l a s s h o w. His w i f e , M a r y E t h e l C l a r k , w a s a l s o v e r y i n v o l v e d i n M a r y l a n d j o u s t i n g . " T h a t ' s h o w I m e t m y w i f e , I c r o w n e d h e r Queen o f a j o u s t i n g t o u r n a m e n t a t S t . Joseph's i n Morganza." C l a r k s a i d , " S h e n e v e r r o d e , b u t s h e helped k e e p s c o r e . She w a s v e r y m u c h i n v o l v e d i n w h a t I d i d . " M a r y C l a r k i s t h e a u t h o r o f t h e Maryland J o u s t i n g Song. S h e passed away i n 1986. M r . C l a r k m e n t i o n e d t h a t f o r every w i n , h e p i c k e d Mary a s h i s queen.
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Giants Of The Equine World by Karen Raley For c e n t u r i e s , d r a f t h o r s e s h a v e b e e n a s y m b o l o f g r e a t w i l l a n d s t r e n g t h . According t o N e a l Boyden, t e a m s o f C l y d e s d a l e s , B e l g i a n s , a n d Percherons were f r e q u e n t l y used f o r l o g g i n g a n d p l o w i n g a c r e s upon a c r e s . W i t h t h e advance i n farm m a c h i n e r y, t h e m i g h t y h o r s e s a r e m o r e o f t e n e n g a g e d i n s h o w s a n d competitions r a t h e r t h a n f o r e s t r y and a g r i c u l t u r e .
Leonardtown H i g h S c h o o l s t u d e n t , S h a u n C o n n o r, h a s b e e n subjected t o d r a f t horses a l l his l i f e . R i s i n g b e f o r e t h e sun, S h a u n h e a d s t o t h e b a r n t o feed, w a t e r, a n d groom " t h e b i g babies." A t night, Shaun returns t o t h e s t a b l e s where he works w i t h t h e g e n t l e creatures. " T h e y a r e s o f r i e n d l y ; t h e horses f o l l o w you around l i k e d o g s ! " C a r i n g f o r the h o r s e s does n o t t a k e a b a c k seat o n C h r i s t m a s m o r n i n g , when most f a m i l i e s a r e n e s t l e d i n t h e i r homes. F r o m t h e s t e a m y months o f J u l y a n d A u g u s t r i g h t through t h e b l u s t e r y c h i l l s o f J a n u a r y a n d F e b r u a r y, t r a i n e r s religiously practice with their horses. S h a u n s a i d he " w o u l d rather b e o u t s i d e w i t h t h e horses t h a n b e h i n d a d e s k , a n y d a y. "
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The t e a m s o f h o r s e s c o s t a n y w h e r e b e t w e e n $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 t o $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 . A s w i t h a n y investment, h o r s e buyers l o o k f o r s p e c i f i c q u a l i t i e s i n t h e horses. S h a u n does not l i k e h o r s e s w i t h l o n g b a c k s ; h e l e a n s t o w a r d t a l l , p o w e r f u l a n i m a l s , o r s h o r t and s t o c k y o n e s . D r a f t h o r s e s t h a t c a n s o m e t i m e s w e i g h a r o u n d 3 , 2 0 0 p o u n d s l u n c h on " h a y a n d s t r a i g h t o a t s m i x e d w i t h m o l a s s e s , n o t h i n g e x t r a , " s a i d S h a u n . T h e horses a r e know t o b e g e n t l e g i a n t s w i t h m i l d d i s p o s i t i o n s . A f t e r days and days o f strenuous work, t h e h o r s e s a r e w e i g h e d according t o Maryland l a w , t h e n h i t c h e d t o a s l e d f o r a p u l l i n g c o n t e s t . T h e t e a m has t h r e e t r i e s t o p u l l cement b l o c k s , a l s o known a s a " s l e d " o r a " b o a t " 2 7 f e e t 6 i n c h e s . "The h a n d l e r s , o n e t o d r i v e a n d o n e t o l e a d , a r e a l l o w e d t o t a l k t o t h e h o r s e s but d o n ' t have r e i g n s t o s t e e r , n o r c a n t h e y s l a p o r j e r k t h e h o r s e s . " E v e r y entry i n t h e c o n t e s t must please t h r e e t o f i v e l i n e j u d g e s . Not o n l y i s t h e r e r e w a r d i n t h e p r i z e s t h e t e a m s b r i n g h o m e , b u t t h e r e i s reward i n t h e l o v i n g a f f e c t i o n f r o m t h e h o r s e s a n d t h e f e e l i n g o f a c c o m p l i s h m e n t . According t o Robert L . Anderson, S r . o f Clements, Maryland, " T h e h o r s e p u l l i t s e l f i s n o t w h a t ' s h a r d o n t h e h o r s e s , i t ' s t h e months o f p r e p a r a t i o n ahead o f t i m e t h a t i s h a r d e s t o n t h e m . I w o r k my h o r s e s t w o t o t h r e e h o u r s m o s t d a y s . They n e e d t h i s p r a c t i c e t o d e v e l o p t h e p o w e r t h e y n e e d . T h e y l o v e t o p u l l b u t i n t h e summer t h e h e a t i s h a r d o n t h e m . I t t a k e s o n e y e a r o f w o r k t o m a k e a g o o d p u l l i n g h o r s e a n d y o u h a v e t o f e e d h i m a l l h e c a n e a t . I f e e d my h o r s e s a 1 0 quart bucket f u l l t h r e e t i m e s a day o f f e e d g r a i n c o n s i s t i n g o f s w e e t horse f e e d or o a t s o r a m i x t u r e w i t h c o r n . M y b i g g e s t h o r s e weighs a r o u n d 2 , 2 0 0 l b s . " Each y e a r A n d e r s o n g o e s a r o u n d t o s L a t e f a i r s a n d c o u n t y f a i r s t o e n t e r h i s P e r c h e r o n a n d B e l g i a n t e a m s a n d o f t e n comes home a w i n n e r .
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To The Arena by Julie Miles
Taken t o t h e A r e n a Connected w i t h a r o p e o f c h a i n s To a b l o c k o f c i n d e r . As t h e w h i s t l e b l o w s The w h i p c r a c k s h a r d o n t h e s p i n e A piece o f hide breaks loose. The w h i p s t h r u s t h a r d a g a i n , The w o u n d i s d e e p e r . Gravity snaps t h e i r necks a s t h e team p u l l s h a r d . The g r a s s t r a i l i s m a t t e d b y t h e immense w e i g h t , The d i r t i s c l u s t e r e d i n l a r g e m a s s e s Inscribed b y t h e hooves o f t h e o v e r s i z e d work horses. Another heave a n d t h e team s t o p s . They b r e a t h e h a s t i l y k n o w i n g o n c e t h e w e i g h t i s a d j u s t e d , T h e y ' l l s t a r t a g a i n , when a t once, The w h i s t l e b l o w s , The w h i p c r a c k s h a r d o n t h e s p i n e .
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Bridging The Generations by Andrew Stone A c h i l d s t a n d s by t h e dusty r o a d , next t o an o l d , faded b l u e Ford. H e g r a s p s t h e h a n d h e l d o u t t o h i m b y a man w h o s e f a c e i s a g e d w i t h d e e p l i n e s l i k e rivers from his eyes, t h e seas. They w a l k t o w a r d a g a t e c o v e r e d w i t h i v y g r o w i n g t h r o u g h t h e l i n k s . T h e soft breeze l i g h t l y s t i r s t h e leaves exposing rusted j o i n t s . The o l d man g i v e s t h e k e e p e r o f t h e g a t e t h e p a y m e n t f o r t h e i r e n t r y a n d they p r o c e e d . T h e b o y ' s stomach c h u r n s a s h e w a l k s a l o n g t h e t h o r o u g h f a r e : h i s heart races and h i s f e e t a r e t o o s m a l l t o proceed a t t h e p a c e necessary t o t a k e i n a l l o f t h e s i g h t s o f t h i s e x t r a v a g a n z a . H i s mind i s overwhelmed b y h i s feelings as sounds o f games, r i d e s , s h o w s , and a n i m a l s f l o w t h r o u g h the a i r. Huge, m o v i n g , m e t a l m o n s t e r s o r c h e s t r a t e s o u n d s o f c a l l i o p e m u s i c w h i c h m i n g l e w i t h r o a r i n g m a c h i n e r y. F u r t h e r a l o n g t h e p a t h t h e c r a c k o f a s h o t a n d t h e r i n g of a b e l l sound o u t , f o l l o w e d b y shouts o f g l e e . The c h i l d ' s m i n d a n d s e n s e s a r e o v e r w h e l m e d b y t h e s c e n t s o f c a n d y, h o t d o g s and p o p c o r n , b l e n d i n g w i t h t h e s m e l l o f c o w s a n d h o r s e s . O c c a s i o n a l l y c h i l d r e n saunter b y w i t h c o t t o n c a n d y s t i c k i n g t o t h e i r f a c e s o r i c e c r e a m d r i p p i n g down their chins. The b o y ' s g r a n d f a t h e r h a n d s h i m a t i c k e t a n d t h e y w a l k t o w a r d a m a s s i v e w h e e l t h a t seems t o s t r e t c h upward to t h e c l o u d s and f i l l t h e s k y. H e hands t h e a t t e n d a n t h i s t i c k e t a n d t h e y b o a r d t o g e t h e r . A moment l a t e r t h e y are d r a w n b a c k a n d t h e n l i f t e d , s u s p e n d e d o v e r t h e m a s s of scrambling f i g u r e s t h a t were once people b u t a r e now mere i n s e c t s . T h e w i n d w h i p s t h r o u g h t h e b o y ' s h a i r a n d gives h i m a n i n s e c u r e f e e l i n g a s h e l o o k s t o h i s companion f o r r e a s s u r a n c e . The s l o w r o c k i n g o f t h e i r c a r , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e vibration o f t h e engine c a u s e t h e b o y ' s heart t o race and h i s m i n d t o s i n g w i t h a n t i c i p a t i o n o f e a c h n e w moment. H e c l u t c h e s t h e s a f e t y b a r i n e x c i t e d g l e e . H e peers o v e r , s t r e t c h i n g h i s n e c k t o s e e t h e s p o t s t h a t move t o a n d f r o , i n a n e n d l e s s maze o f t e n t s a n d r i d e s u n t i l , f i n a l l y , t h i s a r r a y o f motions d i e s , along w i t h the s t r a n g e t i n g l i n g ; a n d t h e companions d i s e m b a r k . Once a g a i n t h e y s t r o l l a l o n g t h e t h o r o u g h f a r e a s the b o y ' s m i n d r e v e l s a t t h e e m o t i o n s t h a t f l o w o v e r him l i k e a h u g e w a v e . T h e m a r v e l s t h e g a m e s a n d a t t r a c t i o n s seem t o c a l l t o h i m a l l a t o n c e . H i s grandfather buys him a h o t d o g a n d t h e y p r o c e e d through t h e haze, i n t o t h e e v e r l a s t i n g c o m m o t i o n o f the c o u n t y f a i r , s o
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L i o n Ed R u s s e l l t a k e s time out f r o m manning t h e main gate t o w a t c h h i s grandn o n t h e merry-go-round.
To My Grandad by Clayton Hartley
My t h o u g h t s o f G r a n d a d were o f a s t e r n o l d m a n . He w o r k e d me r e a l h a r d with a cane i n h i s hand. He t a u g h t me t o d r e a m and s e e p i c t u r e s i n c l o u d s . Compared t o h i s s i l e n c e , I must seem q u i t e l o u d . I t h o u g h t h e was wrong; he k n e w h e w a s r i g h t . I j u s t wish I ' d listened to h i s r a m b l i n g i n t h e n i g h t . You s e e , m y g r a n d a d i s s i c k - Cancer s t r i k i n g h i m d o w n , but n o m a t t e r what - he s a i d , " N e v e r f r o w n " . Perhaps w h e n h e ' s g o n e , I w i l l s e e w i t h my e y e - I f I look r e a l hard- His c l o u d i n t h e s k y.
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All s i z e s , shapes, colors, a n d b r e e d s imaginable a r e welcome t o e n t e r t h e pet s h o w . P r o fessionals a r e n o t allowed. T h i s one i s for the kids!
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From Alligators To Dace The d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n a s p e c i a l i z e d , c o m p e t i t i v e p e t s h o w a n d t h e o n e h e l d at t h e S t . M a r y ' s County F a i r c a n be e x p l a i n e d w i t h o n e word: c h i l d r e n . " N o Adults" i s a phrase c h i l d r e n l o v e t o h e a r, a n d i t i s a r u l e s t r i c t l y enforced a t t h e c o u n t y f a i r ' s a n n u a l p e t s h o w. " O t h e r w i s e i t becomes t o o c o m p e t i t i v e , " s a y s pet show c h a i r m a n , J o e R i d g e l l . " P e o p l e u s e d t o b r i n g i n t h e i r p e d i g r e e a n i m a l s and e x p e c t t o c o m p e t e w i t h k i d s w h o h a d t u r t l e s . " The s h o w g i v e s c o u n t y c h i l d r e n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o b e i n t h e s p o t l i g h t a n d show o f f t h e i r f a v o r i t e p e t . A c c o r d i n g t o R i d g e l l , " t h e f a i r i t s e l f i s r u n f a i r l y s i m p l y. C h i l d r e n b r i n g i n t h e i r p e t s ( w h i c h range f r o m a l l i g a t o r s t o mice) t o b e j u d g e d . A l m o s t a n y k i n d o f a n i m a l i s a l l o w e d , b u t t o p r e v e n t t h e spread o f d i s e a s e , t h e S t . M a r y ' s H e a l t h Department o r d e r e d t h a t a l l a n i m a l s m u s t have u p d a t e d s h o t s . V o l u n t e e r s a r e t o b e s e l e c t e d f r o m t h e a u d i e n c e t o b e t h e judges; t h i s way t h e j u d g i n g process i s k e p t f a i r . W i n n i n g p e t s and t h e i r owners r e c e i v e r i b b o n s ; a l t h o u g h a t o n e t i m e t h e y r e c e i v e d b o t h money a n d r i b b o n s . "
" I have been involved Madsen became p r e s i d e n t o f R i d g e l l who t r a v e l s t o o t how t h e y d o t h e i r s . M a n y specialize.
i n t h e p e t show s i n c e b e f o r e Hazel the county f a i r i n 1 9 6 9 , " stated h e r s t a t e and county f a i r s " t o see d o n ' t d o e v e r y t h i n g we d o ; many
The S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r P e t Show p r o v i d e s a n e n t e r t a i n i n g , e d u c a t i o n a l , not- t o o - c o m p e t i t i v e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r c h i l d r e n t o show o f f t h e i r f a v o r i t e p e t . N o t to m e n t i o n t h e t h r i l l p a r e n t s g e t w a t c h i n g c h i l d r e n t r y i n g t o c o n t r o l t h e i r own c h i l d r e n . F o r , a s M r. R i d g e l l s a y s , " A n i m a l s a r e r e a l l y f u n n y y o u k n o w . T h e y always a c t u p a t t h e w r o n g t i m e . . . J u s t l i k e k i d s . "
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M r. J u l i u s J o h n s o n , C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n A g e n t ( s e c o n d f r o m l e f t ) , h i s wife, A n n a ( f a r l e f t ) , a n d W i l e y H a r t w e l l t a k e a l o o k a t young John B a r n a r d H e n d e r s o n ' s p e t m i c e t h a t h e e n t e r e d i n t h e f a i r ' s amateur p e t s h o w i n 1 9 5 6 . ( G i r l , r i g h t , u n i d e n t i f i e d ) "At one point the mouse ran up Hartwell's sleeve and we had a heck of a time getting him out, "said Suzanne Henderson, John's mom. 169
St. Michael's Manor â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Revisited (A Working Farm In The 1800s â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Today Bed And Breakfast) Many o l d m a n o r h o u s e s s t i l l s t a n d a s a c o n s t a n t r e m i n d e r o f t h e d a y s w h e n agriculture, o y s t e r i n g , f i s h i n g , a n d c r a b b i n g f l o u r i s h e d a s t h e m a i n source o f income i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y. T o d a y many o f t h e s e o l d homes a r e o n t h e h i s t o r i c a l s o c i e t y ' s l i s t o f b e a u t i f u l o l d homes t o v i s i t ; h o m e s w h i c h a r e a l o o k i n t o a past w h i c h n o l o n g e r e x i s t s . A p a s t when t o b a c c o was packed i n t o hogsheads a n d loaded o n t o b a r g e s d e s t i n e d f o r f o r e i g n a n d d o m e s t i c p o r t s . A p a s t w h e r e m u l e s t i l l e d t h e f i e l d s a n d s l a v e s w e r e n e c e s s a r y t o k e e p t h e economy s t a t u s q u o . A place where l i f e was s i m p l e and l e s s h a r r i e d a n d p e o p l e h a d t i m e t o v i s i t one a n o t h e r, e n j o y t h e f r u i t s o f t h e i r l a b o r s , a n d s p e n d t i m e w i t h t h e i r f a m i l i e s . Today l i f e i n S t . M a r y ' s i s s l o w l y j o i n i n g t h e h e c t i c p a c e o f o u r m e t r o p o l i t a n n e i g h b o r s i n Wa s h i n g t o n , D C , B a l t i m o r e , a n d A n n a p o l i s . T h e f a r m s have l e s s a n d l e s s a c r e a g e u n d e r c u l t i v a t i o n . M o s t f a r m e r s o r t h e i r w i v e s h a v e second j o b s t o s u p p l e m e n t t h e i r i n c o m e s a n d a r e f i n d i n g i t h a r d e r a n d h a r d e r t o make a l i v i n g b y f a r m i n g . Y e a r s a g o , h o w e v e r , f a r m s s u c h a s S t . M i c h a e l ' s M a n o r were s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t a n d m a i n t a i n e d a t r a n q u i l a i r o f p r o s p e r i t y .
P u b l i c a t i o n s S t u d e n t s A n g e l a C o b l e n t z ( L ) a n d S h a r o n Dunn stand w i t h Nancy D i c k ( R t . ) w h o a l o n g w i t h h e r h u s b a n d Joe h a v e t u r n e d S t . M i c h a e l ' s M a n o r i n t o a b e d a n d breakfast h a v e n w i t h v i n e y a r d s , sheep and a w a t e r f r o n t v i e w.
St. M i c h a e l ' s i s l o c a t e d o n e m i l e f r o m S c o t l a n d a n d a m i l e a n d a h a l f f r o m P o i n t L o o k o u t . I t i s c u r r e n t l y owned b y C a p t . J o s e p h L . D i c k a n d h i s w i f e , N a n c y, w h o are e n l a r g i n g t h e i r v i n e y a r d i n h o p e s o f p r o d u c i n g m o r e w i n e t h a n t h e y c u r r e n t l y produce. S h e e p a n d g o a t s r o a m t h e l u s h g r e e n l a w n a n d t h e b o r d e r i n g p a s t u r e .
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Leonardtown H i g h S c h o o l P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s A n g e l a C o b l e n t z ( L ) and S h a r o n D u n n ( R t . ) h e l p N a n c y D i c k ( c e n t e r ) , o w n e r o f S t . M i c h a e l ' s M a n o r, f e e d t w o b a b y g o a t s .
Ducks, d o g s a n d a n a s s o r t m e n t o f o t h e r a n i m a l s g i v e t h e o l d m a n o r h o u s e a f l a v o r o f t h e p a s t , b u t t h e o l d f a r m , l i k e many f a r m s i n t h e c o u n t y , h a s h a d s e c t i o n s sold o f f o v e r t h e y e a r s and no l o n g e r f u n c t i o n s a s a l a r g e s e l f - s u s t a i n i n g f a r m . Today t o u r i s t s f r o m a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y e n j o y t h e b e d a n d b r e a k f a s t h o s p i t a l i t y provided b y Captain and Mrs. D i c k . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e h i s t o r y o f S t . M i c h a e l ' s M a n o r, s u p p l i e d t o u s b y M r s . Dick, " t h e l a n d o f t h e o r i g i n a l e s t a t e was one o f t h e t h r e e manors s o u t h o f S m i t h Creek g r a n t e d t o G o v. L e o n a r d C a l v e r t i n 1 6 3 9 , " w i t h t h e r i g h t o f C o u r t B a r o n a n d Court L e e t . The m a n o r w a s p r o b a b l y b u i l t b y J a m e s R i c h a r d s o n a b o u t 1 8 0 5 . T h e r e i s a b r i c k i n t h e house, f o r m e r l y i n t h e cornerstone, t h a t says J . L . R . , 1805. T h e two- a n d - a - h a l f s t o r y h o u s e l i e s w i t h i n f i f t y f e e t o f t h e w a t e r i n a meadow a l m o s t l e v e l w i t h t h e c o v e . T r a d i t i o n h a s i t t h a t t h e b r i c k s i n t h i s h o u s e came f r o m England, a n d i t i s s a i d t h a t o n e c a n s e e t h e r e m a i n s o f t h e b o a t w h i c h c a r r i e d them, s u n k i n t h e c o v e . A u n t M a r y P i d g e o n , a n a g e d n e g r e s s l i v i n g n e a r t h e M a n o r and r e p u t e d t o b e o n e h u n d r e d a n d f i f t e e n y e a r s o l d , q u o t e s h e r g r a n d m o t h e r a s supporting t h i s s t o r y ( H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y ) .
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A v i n e y a r d now d o t s t h e landscape o n S t . M i c h a e l ' s Manor- - a f a r m n o w owned b y J o e a n d N a n c y D i c k . S h e e p g r a z e i n t h e a d j o i n i n g f i e l d s . P u b l i c a t i o n s s t u d e n t s T i n a Welander ( L . ) and A n g e l a C o b l e n t z p o s e w i t h N a n c y D i c k ( R t . )
Produce f r o m f a r m s s u c h a s S t . M i c h a e l ' s M a n o r w a s a g r e a t s o u r c e o f p r i d e f o r t h o s e who h a d a p a r t i n g r o w i n g i t . F a l l w a s a s p e c i a l t i m e f o r h a r v e s t i n g and c e l e b r a t i o n s . F a m i l i e s w o u l d o f t e n g e t t o g e t h e r f o r s q u a r e d a n c e s , q u i l t i n g bees, h o g k i l l i n g s a n d o t h e r s u c h a c t i v i t i e s e m a n a t i n g f r o m f a r m l i f e . T h e s e were o f t e n f a m i l y a f f a i r s a n d r e l a t i v e s w o u l d g a t h e r t o w o r k a n d t o c e l e b r a t e . Produce s u c h a s t h a t g r o w n a t S t . M i c h a e l ' s M a n o r w o u l d t h e n b e b r o u g h t t o the f a i r t o b e a d m i r e d b y f r i e n d s , n e i g h b o r s a n d r e l a t i v e s . H o u s e w i v e s w o u l d bring t h e i r j a r s o f f r e s h l y canned peaches, p e a r s , s t r i n g beans, p o r k t h e l i k e t o compare w i t h j a r s c a n n e d b y o t h e r l o c a l w i v e s . Such w a s t h e l i f e i n d a y s p a s t o n t h e f a r m s i n S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y - - a l i f e that i s s l o w l y being a b s o r b e d b y development, h i g h t e c h i n d u s t r y and a computer revolution.
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Animal Antics
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Stop! Is That Food I Smell? by Sharon Dunn and Clayton Hartley
My f e e t g o p i d d e r - p a d d e r , p i d d e r - p a d d e r , shuffling through the dust. A l l o f a s u d d e n my b r a i n s h o u t s " S t o p ! " , and m y l e g s q u i t m o v i n g . Wiggle, w i g g l e goes my n o s e , I s m e l l t h e s w e e t a r o m a o f c o t t o n c a n d y, the s p i c y s c e n t o f t h e barbeque, the s m e l l o f p o p c o r n , h o t d o g s , r o a s t e d p e a n u t s . My s t o m a c h g r o w l s , a s a r e m i n d e r o f t h e n e a r n e s s o f l u n c h t i m e I l i c k my l i p s i n a n t i c i p a t i o n o f s t r i n g s o f c h e e s e , s t r e t c h i n g t o my mouth f r o m a p e p p e r o n i p i z z a .
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Fair Food Junkie by Julie Miles Hunger s e t s i n , m y s t o m a c h g r o w l s l o u d l y From t h e f r u i t f u l a r o m a s t h a t w h i s p t h r o u g h t h e a i r . What t o e a t ? C o t t o n c a n d y, o y s t e r s , f u n n e l c a k e s Candy a p p l e s , f r e s h f r e n c h f r i e s , o r p o s s i b l y a Chewy c h o c o l a t e c h i p c o o k i e . The p e a n u t s s m e l l h e a v e n l y, t h e p i z z a d i v i n e , Newly r o a s t e d h o t d o g s , d r e n c h e d i n c h i l i . P l e a s e c a n I make t h e m a l l m i n e ? An u p s e t s t o m a c h ? S t r a n g e l y , I d o n ' t c a r e , For I k n o w i t ' s a l l b e c a u s e I s p e n t t h e d a y At t h e c o u n t y f a i r .
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Activities Year Round On The Grounds by Karen Raley
The S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r g r o u n d s a r e used f o r m a n y a c t i v i t i e s o t h e r t h a n the c o u n t y f a i r . O t h e r organizations sponsor competitions, c l i n i c s , a n d y e a r. festivals that t a k e place throughout the The Humane S o c i e t y s p o n s o r s a rabies c l i n i c , t h e S t . M a r y ' s Riding c l u b sponsors horse shows, and i n summers past t h e l o c a l y o u t h g a t h e r e d f o r r o c k c o n c e r t s o n Saturday n i g h t s sponsored b y A l l M u s i c ' s Yo u t h . M a n y o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s s p o n s o r a c t i v i t i e s o n t h e g r o u n d s a s well. A major extravaganza which t a k e s place a n n u a l l y on the fairgrounds i s t h e St. M a r y ' s County O y s t e r F e s t i v a l . T h e O y s t e r F e s t i v a l began i n 1967, w h e n t h e Rotary Club w a s s t i l l a young c l u b l o o k i n g f o r a p r o j e c t i n which t h e e n t i r e membership c o u l d i n v o l v e i t s e l f f o r t h e g o o d o f a l l c o n c e r n e d . S i n c e t h e n , t h e f a i r g r o u n d p r o p e r t y h a s b e e n t h e home o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y O y s t e r F e s t i v a l . A c c o r d i n g t o a r e c e n t summary i n t h e A p r i l 5 , 1 9 8 9 M e m o r a n d u m t o t h e S t . M a r y ' s County C o m m i s s i o n e r s , t h e f e s t i v a l a t t r a c t s a n a v e r a g e o f 2 2 , 0 0 0 v i s i t o r s ' e a c h y e a r.
Seventy t o e i g h t y p e r c e n t o f t h e v i s i t o r s come f r o m o u t s i d e t h e c o u n t y . S i x t e e n l o c a l n o n - p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o t a l e d $145,000 o f n e t proceeds i n t h e p a s t f i v e years, g r o s s r e c e i p t s t o t a l e d $485,000. T h i s i s a good example o f how o u r c o u n t y has g r o w n a n d c h a n g e d s i n c e t h e i n c e p t i o n o f t h e f i r s t c o u n t y f a i r .
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The N a t i o n a l O y s t e r S h u c k i n g C h a m p i o n s h i p C o n t e s t i s f e s t i v a l . C o n t e s t a n t s come f r o m a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y .
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M r. D a v i d S a y r e ( l o c a l w a t e r m a n a n d f o r m e r C o u n t y Commissioner) i s t h e o f f i c i a l j u d g e . H e t e l l s t h e amateur c o n t e s t a n t s t o " m a k e t h e m l o o k a s n i c e a s you c a n . I k n o w y o u c a n ' t m a k e t h e m l o o k a s n i c e as a p r o f e s s i o n a l , b u t m a k e t h e m l o o k n i c e e n o u g h t o s e r v e t o s o m e b o d y. "
Prizes o f $150 and $300 g o t o t h e f i n a l i s t s w h o shuck 24 o y s t e r s w i t h a n emphasis on " a p p e a r a n c e o v e r s h a d o w i n g r a w s p e e d " . T h e o v e r a l l w i n n e r becomes t h e N a t i o n a l Champion a n d g e t s a n a l l - e x p e n s e t r i p t o I r e l a n d t o r e p r e s e n t t h e U . S . i n t h e International Oyster S h u c k i n g Contest. A major a d d i t i o n t o t h e f e s t i v a l i s t h e O y s t e r C o o k - O f f t h a t b e g a n i n 1 9 7 9 w h e n L u c y W i n g , t h e n F o o d E d i t o r o f Good Housekeeping m a g a z i n e t o l d B u c k B r i s c o e o f t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y E c o n o m i c Development C o m m i s s i o n t h a t w e n e e d e d a n o y s t e r c o o k i n g c o n t e s t ( O y s t e r F e s t i v a l h i s t o r y b y E s l e y N. S c h w a r t z ) . I n a t y p i c a l y e a r 500 r e c i p e s f o r e n t r e e s ; soups and s t e w s , a n d h o r s d ' o e u v r e s a r e r e c e i v e d f r o m a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 0 s t a t e s . W i n n e r s receive p r i z e s w o r t h up t o $500. ( S e e r e c i p e n e x t page)
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Fiesta Oyster 'N' Corn Chowder Ole Shirley De Santis, E. Windsor, N.J.
1 q u a r t ( 4 cups) m i l k 1 package ( 3 ounces) cream cheese, cubed 1 can (15 o r 16 ounces) cream- s t y l e c o r n 6 s t r i p s bacon, d i c e d 1 o n i o n , chopped 4 medium p o t a t o e s , c o o k e d , p e e l e d , d i c e d 1 c a n ( 4 ounces) chopped green c h i l i e s , d r a i n e d , d i v i d e d 1/2 t e a s p o o n s e a s o n e d s a l t 1/8 t e a s p o o n c a y e n n e p e p p e r 1 q u a r t Maryland s e l e c t o y s t e r s 1/2 c u p d a i r y s o u r c r e a m Place m i l k i n l a r g e s a u c e p a n a n d s l o w l y b r i n g t o a b o i l ; l o w e r h e a t . A d d cream c h e e s e c u b e s a n d c o r n . C o o k , s t i r r i n g o f t e n , o v e r l o w h e a t , u n t i l c r e a m cheese h a s m e l t e d . R e s e r v e . In s m a l l s k i l l e t cook bacon and o n i o n u n t i l bacon i s c r i s p ; d r a i n o f f excess bacon f a t a n d d i s c a r d . Add b a c o n , o n i o n a n d p o t a t o e s t o m i l k m i x t u r e . R e s e r v e 2 t o 3 t e a s p o o n s green c h i l i e s f o r t o p p i n g . A d d r e m a i n i n g g r e e n c h i l i e s t o m i l k m i x t u r e a l o n g w i t h seasoned s a l t a n d cayenne p e p p e r. H e a t t h r o u g h . T a s t e ; a d j u s t s e a s o n i n g s , i f n e c e s s a r y. Drain Maryland s e l e c t o y s t e r s ; a d d t o h o t soup and c o o k , j u s t u n t i l edge o f oysters c u r l . Ladle soup/chowder i n t o b o w l s . T o p e a c h s e r v i n g w i t h cream; s c a t t e r r e s e r v e d c h i l i e s o v e r s o u r c r e a m . E n j o y .
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Entertainment has continued t o bloom a t t h e f e s t i v a l as p u b l i c i t y increases. Local and s t a t e newspapers a l o n g w i t h t e l e v i s i o n programs h a v e h i g h l i g h t e d t h e c o n t e s t s a n d e x h i b i t s o n c e a g a i n p u t t i n g S t . M a r y ' s o n t h e map.
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Photography Credits:
Art Credits:
Tom B u r k e Elwood C u s i c Henry F o w l e r , J r . Suzanne H e n d e r s o n James a n d H a r r i e t F o r r e s t A l Gough, J r . Claude J a r b o e Robert J a r b o e Sue N a v a l a Myra R a s p a John a n d A n n R i c h a r d s St. M a r y ' s County F a i r Board
Sharon D u n n Brian Nevala Karen R a l e y
Board of Directors (1990) John R i c h a r d s , P r e s i d e n t J. Elwood C u s i c , V i c e P r e s i d e n t J. MaGuire M a t t i n g l y, J r . , T r e a s u r e r Rayetta McWilliams, Recording S e c r e t a r y Mary M . P f e i f f , F a i r S e c r e t a r y Agnes B i r c h Tom C l a r k James F o r r e s t W i l l y Goddard Suzanne H e n d e r s o n W i l l i a m G. H o l l e y Charles S a s s c e r, J r . N o r r i s Shepherd James R . Owens Philip Scriber Theresa S t e r l i n g Robert Lee Tr o s s b a c h Lloyd Cusic (Honorary) Franklin Hewitt (Honorary) John S l a d e I I I ( F a i r A t t o r n e y )
183
Past Presidents Of St. Mary's County Fair And Dates Served Major General H. C . D a v i d s o n Henry J . F o w l e r J. S . M a t t i n g l y Lester M a t t i n g l y Richard L . S t o u t C. L . L e e John S . M a t t i n g l y Robert H . Thompson Anna S . J o h n s o n Hazel Madsen Glenn W. Wo o d , J r . J. R i c h a r d M a t t i n g l y Howard A . L a n c a s t e r James R . Owens Franklin Hewitt John L. Richards
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1947-1948 1949-1951 1952-1954 1955 1956 1957-1958 1959-1960 1961-1966 1967-1968 1969-1970 1971-1974 1975-1976 1977-1978 1979-1981 1982-1983 1984-
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1947 -48 Board of Directors (First Board of Directors of Current Fair) Howard C . D a v i d s o n Susan P. G r e e n w e l l Heath S t e e l e Frank D. Hayden Roland B . D u k e , S r . John H . B r i s c o e Compton Swann Daniel H. Davis John F . G a r d i n e r Lela C. S t r i c k l a n d Julia Cuniberti L e t t y M. D e n t Joseph M . M a t t i n g l y Leon G r e e n w e l l Henry J . F o w l e r , S r .
184
Fair Committee 1990 AGRICULTURE
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i s Shepherd Betty Shepherd Bill Bartlett ART N a n c y Glenn BABY SHOW N a n c y Wolfe BEER STAND ( C h a i r ) To m C l a r k Tim Wa t h e n BIKE RODEO J a m e s Farrell CATALOG A n n Richards CATTLE E l w o o d Cusic Frank Tr o s s b a c h CERAMICS B a r b a r a Allston CRAFTS J e a n Frost DRAFT HORSE PULLING R o y Guy Robert Tr o s s b a c h Jennings Anderson FARM MUSEUM A l Dillow B i l l Clements FLOWER SHOW M r s . R o b e r t Thompson 4-H CLUBS & F FA J e a n C. Dean GATES L i o n s Club GENERAL MANAGER J a m e s Owens B i l l Holley GOATS J e a n i e Rowell HOBBIES B e t h Fedasz HOGS R o b e r t Tr o s s b a c h HOME ARTS L o u i s e Dean HORSE SHOWS M a r y Wood Bobby L i n d s l e y INSIDE SPACE R a y e t t a M c W i l l i a m s
JOUSTING
H e n r y
J . F o w l e r, J r . Phil Clark LAMBS R o b e r t Tr o s s b a c h LIVESTOCK E l w o o d Cusic LIVESTOCK SALES E l w o o d C u s i c Neal Boyden John R i c h a r d s Tommy B i g g s Tim Wa t h e n Larry L u t t r e l l Eddie B o w l i n g MAINTENANCE ( C h a i r ) P h i l i p S c r i b e r & GROUNDS N o r r i s Shepherd R i c h a r d Owens Tim Wa t h e n Franklin Hewitt OUTSIDE SPACE A g n e s Birch PARADE ( C h a i r ) S u z a n n e H e n d e r s o n PERSONNEL J a m e s Owens PET SHOW J o e Ridgell POULTRY J o h n Campbell PUBLICITY ( C h a i r ) R a y e t t a M c W i l l i a m s /PROGRAM Elwood C u s i c QUEEN OF TOLERANCE PAGEANT ( C h a i r ) Theresa S t e r l i n g Marion S t e r l i n g SCHOOLS Linda P a t t o n SPEECH CONTEST Bernard Johnson TROPHIES Rayetta McWilliams
Maryland Agricultural Fair Board (1990) P h i l i p Brendel, Chairman Joseph F r e e , V i c e C h a i r m a n Wa l t e r Buck I I I , S e c r e t a r y F r a n k Downey John B a r t o n Edna W h i t e Joy G . S c h w a b John R i c h a r d s Chrine M. B l o o m , E x e c u t i v e S e c r e t a r y
185
Acknowledgements We owe o u r t h a n k s t o m a n y, m a n y p e o p l e f o r h e l p i n g t o make t h i s s p e c i a l project a success.
I t
before w e c o u l d g o
has taken u n t o l d h o u r s , d a y s , a n d m o n t h s o f research t o
press.
W e
w o u l d l i k e t o t h a n k M r. D w i g h t C h a k a l e s ,
p r i n c i p a l o f Leonardtown High School f o r a l l o w i n g t h e s t a f f and s p o n s o r t h e t i m e necessary t o complete s u c h a n u n d e r t a k i n g . M u c h o f t h e w o r k f o r t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n took p l a c e o u t o f t h e c l a s s r o o m . S t u d e n t s a n d s p o n s o r, b y n e c e s s i t y, m e t w i t h people a l l o v e r S t . M a r y ' s , C a l v e r t a n d C h a r l e s C o u n t i e s t o r e s e a r c h o r a l h i s t o r y never b e f o r e r e c o r d e d . O u r t h a n k s t o a l l t h o s e w o n d e r f u l v o l u n t e e r s who g a v e o f t h e i r t i m e t o spend hours w i t h us g o i n g o v e r f a c t s and i n f o r m a t i o n . Our s p e c i a l t h a n k s a r e e x t e n d e d t o J o h n a n d A n n R i c h a r d s ( J o h n h a s b e e n F a i r Board P r e s i d e n t f o r s e v e n y e a r s a n d i s
s t i l l s e r v i n g i n t h a t capacity a t
this
w r i t i n g ) whose p h o n e was c o n s t a n t l y r i n g i n g due t o t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n . T h e y were gracious and never s a i d t h e y w e r e t o o b u s y
t o
help
u s
i n
our quest for
information. There a r e o t h e r s w h o a l s o d e s e r v e s p e c i a l r e c o g n i t i o n f o r t h e i r d e d i c a t i o n to o u r cause. E l w o o d C u s i c h a s s p e n t h o u r s and d a y s w i t h u s i d e n t i f y i n g p e o p l e i n p h o t o g r a p h s a n d r e - l i v i n g t h e f a i r h i s t o r y f o r u s ( E l w o o d remembers t h e f a i r f r o m i t s e a r l y b e g i n n i n g s i n 1 9 4 7 - - e v e n b u i l t t h e f i r s t l o a d i n g c h u t e a t Camp Calvert). W e are deeply indebted t o him. Without Suzanne H e n d e r s o n ' s p a t i e n c e a n d w i l l i n g n e s s t o h e l p u s s e e k o u t t h e f a c t s a n d t r a c k down i n f o r m a t i o n a n d p h o t o g r a p h s , t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n w o u l d n o t b e as c o m p r e h e n s i v e . H e r p h o t o g r a p h s a n d a c c u r a t e a c c o u n t s o f d a y s p a s t h a v e b e e n i n v a l u a b l e t o u s . O t h e r s who m a d e o u r l i v e s e a s i e r w e r e B i l l H o l l e y , MaGuire M a t t i n g l y , R a y e t t a M c W i l l i a m s , J a m e s Owens, B e r n a r d J o h n s o n , H e a t h S t e e l e ( w h o s e h a n d w r i t t e n l e t t e r s u p p l i e d u s w i t h much n e e d e d h i s t o r y s u r r o u n d i n g t h e o r i g i n o f the c u r r e n t f a i r ) , C l a u d e a n d R o b e r t J a r b o e , H e n r y F o w l e r , J r . ( w h o w a s e v e r s o
186
h e l p f u l w i t h h i s t o r i c a l f a c t s a n d c a t a l o g u e s ) , N e a l Boyden, A n n D r u r y, B e t t y Ta y l o r , M a r y W o o d ( h o r s e s h o w c h a i r p e r s o n ) , J o h n L a n c a s t e r , J a m e s a n d H a r r i e t F o r r e s t , a n d Te r e s a S t e r l i n g ( Q u e e n o f To l e r a n c e C h a i r p e r s o n ) . S p e c i a l t h a n k s a l s o t o A l Gough, J r . w h o l e d u s t o t h e L e o n a r d H a l l t i e s t o the 1912 f a i r a n d t o J o s e p h M a t t i n g l y , J r . ( a n d R e t i r e d J u d g e J o s e p h M a t t i n g l y , S r . ) w h o s e g r a n d f a t h e r w a s a p a r t i c i p a n t a n d w i n n e r many t i m e s o v e r i n t h e 1 9 1 2 1914 f a i r s a t L e o n a r d H a l l . A v e r y s p e c i a l t h a n k s t o George K l e a r o f The P r i n t i n g P r e s s f o r h i s p a t i e n c e and h i s w i l l i n g n e s s t o w o r k w i t h u s a n d o u r d e a d l i n e s a s w e p l u n g e d d e e p e r a n d deeper i n t o o u r r e s e a r c h a n d t o o k m o r e a n d m o r e o f h i s t i m e . T h a n k s
also to
Mary A n n C h a s e n who t y p e d t h e f i n a l d r a f t f o r u s a n d w h o a l l o w e d u s t o i n t e r r u p t her l i f e d a y a n d n i g h t f o r t w o weeks a s we s t r o v e f o r p e r f e c t i o n . A s p e c i a l t h a n k s t o D r . S a l v a t o r e Raspa f o r h i s p a t i e n c e a s h i s w i f e , M y r a (The P u b l i c a t i o n s s p o n s o r / t e a c h e r
i n
charge
o f
t h i s project) spent countless
weekends, h o l i d a y s , a n d t w o s u m m e r s w o r k i n g o n
t h e publication instead of
spending t h a t t i m e w i t h h e r f a m i l y . Thanks a l s o g o o u t t o t h e S t . M a r y ' s C o u n t y F a i r B o a r d f o r h e l p i n g u s f u n d the p r o j e c t . W e s i n c e r e l y hope t h e y a r e p l e a s e d w i t h
our efforts and will
c h e r i s h t h e memories we have p r e s e r v e d f o r a l l t i m e . Words c a n n o t b e g i n t o e x p r e s s o u r g r a t i t u d e t o t h e c o u n t l e s s v o l u n t e e r s w h o not o n l y h e l p e d u s w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n f o r t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n , b u t who f o r y e a r s h a v e trudged t h r o u g h t h e mud, w o r k e d t i r e l e s s l y , g i v e n c o m p l e t e l y o f t h e m s e l v e s a n d s a c r i f i c e d - - o f t e n - - t h e i r p r i v a t e l i v e s t o make o u r c o u n t y f a i r t h e s u c c e s s t h a t i t i s t o d a y.
W e h a v e t r u l y come f u l l t e r m w i t h v o l u n t e e r i s m i n t h e " L a n d o f
Pleasant L i v i n g " .
187
Fair Daze by Beth Alton
I move t h r o u g h t h e g a t e , g l a n c e a r o u n d , Ready t o s t a r t m y t o u r . I ' m w a l k i n g i n t h e f o o t s t e p s made Several y e a r s b e f o r e . The a n i m a l s s t i l l l o o k t h e s a m e . They're making noises t o o . Clucking chickens, p i g s t h a t s q u e a l , And c o w s , o h h o w t h e y m o o . Displays o f a r t s and c r a f t s and such, Are l o o k e d u p o n b y a l l . Canned g o o d s a n d p u m p k i n s i g n i f y That s o o n t o come i s f a l l . Rich aromas f i l l t h e a i r , My s t o m a c h s t a r t s t o g r o w l . I sure would l i k e a f u n n e l cake And r o a s t e d p e a n u t s n o w. Suddenly b e f o r e me s t a n d s A carnival of fun. This new p a r t o f t h e c o u n t y f a i r Is d i f f i c u l t t o shun. Children w i t h great s m i l i n g faces Ride t h e c a r o u s e l . "Mom a n d D a d , l o o k a t m e ! " How g a i l y t h e y d o y e l l . I t u r n a r o u n d , r e t r a c e my s t e p s ; I pause t o s t o p and s t a r e . Until next year farewell t o thee- St. M a r y ' s County F a i r .
188
Matthew Olson
Sara Jenkins Clayton Hartley Elizabeth Alton
Amy Quinlan
Andrew Stone Karen Raley
Contributing - Publications Class of 1988 - 1989 Angela Coblentz
Brian Nevala
Sharon Dunn
Karen Raley
Kimberly Kliner
Andrew Stone
Julie Miles
Christina Welander Sponsor/Teacher - Myra Raspa
Photo courtesy of Al Gough, Jr. From Left to Right: Dr. Charles Hayden (Leonardtown dentist); Father b o o k s and also was one of the originators of the Cardinal Gibbons High School Lawrence Kelly, S.J.; unidentified; Mattingly Swann. Foreground: Father i n Ridge, MD; three boys (unidentified); and boy (far right) last name is Love. John La Farge (sitting), author of America, The Manor is Ordinary and other O x cart entry at St. Mary's County Fair (1913- 1914) held at Leonard Hall.
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