The Shapleigh and Acton Agricultural Society was organized on June 16, 1866. The first fair and cattle show was held on October 16-17 at Acton Corner. At a meeting June 1, 1867 it was voted to hold the fair in Shapleigh that year and that the members of the Society in Shapleigh prepare a track for testing the speed of horses at their own expense. At a meeting on November 16, 1867 a committee reported on two possible places for a permanent place for the fairgrounds. One piece of land of James H. Hurd on the road leading between the ponds, near the town line dividing Shapleigh from Acton contained about 30 acres which could be bought for $150. The other lot in Acton owned by David Dame containing 15 acres which he would sell for $150.
On August 27, 1868 the committee was authorized to contract to build a trotting course with suitable buildings for holding the fair in Acton for the present year and members to have the same privileges of building in Shapleigh for next year and alternately each town for the next 10 years, with the Society having the right to purchase said trait and buildings at any time the Society may vote to purchase same. The fair was held in Acton on October 20-22, 1868. It was held at Shapleigh Corner October 19-21, 1869 and again in 1871. On November 2, 1871 a meeting was held at the Baptist Church in Emery Mills in regard to buying up Shapleigh and Acton lots and purchasing a Central lot. The David Dame land at Rogers Corner was examined - 1/2 tract without grading and 1/2 with grading, west side, $150. There was a great diversity of feeling with the owners of the two parks. The 8th Annual Fair was held in Shapleigh on October 14-16, 1873 and the 9th in Acton on October 13-15, 1874. The records are missing from 1874 to 1889.
Thats all that I have found - my only concern is that when I read the description of the James Hurd land, I'm not positive it is what we now call Shapleigh Corner. It appears that it might have been where the intersection of Routes 11 and 109 meet at the foot of Mousam. Click to see a Google Maps aerial view of this track's location. In the woods, you will see the faint outline of a 1/2 mile track. An authorized race was held on this track in 1875.
Courtesy of the Acton Shapleigh Historical Society -- Debbie Peterson
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