Maine Fairs 1907

This week I visited the Colby College Library to obtain copies of the obituaries of Charles Horace Nelson, Emma Nelson, and the horse Nelson. On September 10, 1907, the Central Maine Fair honored Nelson and his horse. Nelson Day as it was called was a huge success. In fact, Nelson Day made the front page headline for the September 11th Issue of the Waterville Sentiental. In addition, the September 11th issue provided a list of Maine Fairs. The list follows:

Aug. 15-17 -- Cornish Fair Association, Cornish; August 15-17 -- Waldo County Fair, Belfast; August 22-25 -- Easter Maine State Fair, Bangor; August 29-31 -- Orrington Fair Association, Orrington; August 29-31 -- Princeton Agricultural Association, Princeton; August 29 - Sept 1 -- Central Maine State Fair, Waterville; August 29-Sept 1 -- Houlton Fair, Houlton; Sept 4-7 -- Maine Agricultural Fair, Lewiston; Sept 5-7 -- North Penobscot Fair Association, Springfield; Sept 5-8 -- Northern Maine Fair Association, Presque Isle; Sept 14-14 -- Waldo and Penobscot Fair Associatoin, Monroe; Sept 12-14 -- West Washington Fair Association, Cherryfield; Sept 12-14 -- Oxford County Agricultural Association, South Paris; August 12-14 -- Aroostook County Fair Association, Caribou; Sept 12-14 Eden Town Fair, Eden; Sept 16 -- Embden Fair Association; Embden; Sept 19-25 -- Unity Park Association, Unity; Sept 15-21 -- Cumberland County Fair Association, Gorham; Sept 19-21 -- North Franklin Fair Association, Phillips; Sept 19-21 -- Androscoggin Valley Agricultural Association, Canton; Sept 19-21 -- Machias Valley Agricultural, Machias; Sept 26 -- Richmond Farmers' Club, Richmond; Sept 26-28 -- Lincoln County Agricultural Association, Damariscotia; Sept 26-28 -- North Knox Agricultural Association, Union; Sept 26-28 -- West Oxford Agricultural Association, Fryeburg; Sept 27 -- Cochmewagan Agricultural Association, Monmouth; Sept 27-28 -- Cumberland Farmers' Club, West Cumberland; Sept 27-28 -- Grangers' Fair Association, Saco; Sept 28-29 -- Northern Oxford Fair Association, Andover; Oct 3 -- Greene Town Fair Association, Greene; Oct 3-5 -- New Gloucester and Danville Fair Association, Upper Gloucester; Oct 3-5 -- Bristol Agricultural Association, Bristol; Oct 3-5 -- East Somerset Agricultural Association, Hartland; Oct 4 -- Tranquility Grange Agricultural Association, Lincolnville; Oct 10-12 -- Sagadahoc County Fair Association, Topsham; Oct 12-14 -- Four County Fair Association, Pittsfield; Nov 14-16 Maine State Pomological , Portland; Nov 22-24 -- Freeport Poultry Association, Freeport; Dec 3-6 -- Shapleigh and Acton Fair Association, Acton; Dec 5-7 -- York County Poultry Association, Sanford; Dec 12-15 -- Maine State Poultry, Portland; Jan 2-4 -- Western Maine Poultry Association, South Paris; Jan 17-19 -- Bangor Poultry Association, Bangor; No Dates Set -- Solon Fair Association, Solon -- Piscataquis County Fair Association, Foxcroft -- Somerset County Agricultural Association, Anson -- Calais Fair Association, Calais -- Berwick Poultry Association, Berwick -- North Ellsworth Farmers' Club, North Ellsworth -- Bridgton Agricultural Association, Bridgton -- Little Rigby Park Association, Casco -- South Kennebec Agricultural Association, Windsor.

These fairs represent an era in the State of Maine that may soon be forgotten. Within the next year, these communities will be contacted to see if we can gather any details or images that will show activities at these events. If you or someone you know can help us in this endeavor, please e-mail Stephen Thompon at lifework50@gmail.com or call 207-242-7774.