Origins and History of the Santa Clara County Fair Throughout - TopicsExpress



          

Origins and History of the Santa Clara County Fair Throughout history, fairs have been held to exhibit, sell and buy local goods. Fairs are also used to promote the surrounding community and its assets to the greater region. Community agricultural displays have been held throughout history and are significant undertakings for society. In his book Fairground Architecture, Architectural Historian David Braithwaite observed that the earliest documented fairs date to Roman times.Large trading fairs were held throughout Europe during medieval times, and were important for promoting commerce and provided entertainment. One record of cash returns for a fair in England shows receipts for side shows as early as 1827.The earliest fairs in Santa Clara County were held by the Santa Clara County Agricultural Society to exhibit the extraordinary produce that local growers were harvesting. Pears that weighed over a pound were common, and local farmers showed them proudly. The Santa Clara County Fair Association claims its forebears as the two agricultural societies formed in Santa Clara County in the early 1850s. The first was named the Pioneer Horticultural Society. Louis Prevost, Louis Pellier, J. B. Bontemps, B. S. Fox and E. W. Case organized the Pioneer Horticultural Society in 1853. The purpose of the group was to meet monthly and consult with each other regarding their respective enterprises. In 1854, the second group was formed, known as the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Society. All of the men involved played important roles in introducing and developing the agricultural industry in the Santa Clara Valley. By 1857, the two groups were merged and consolidated under the name of the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Society. When the California State Agricultural Fair was held in San José in 1856, the city was crowded to overflowing. Fortunately, hospitable citizens opened their doors to the many guests that overwhelmed the community. It was felt that the enterprise was such a tremendous success that a county fair should be held. The first local fair was organized in 1857, and fairs were held annually thereafter. Subsidized by the State of California,fairs were shown to be important and profitable events; they highlighted the community and promoted its products. In 1859 the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Society was incorporated under state laws, and acquired 76 acres on The Alameda between the cities of San José and Santa Clara near Race Street to use as permanent fairgrounds. Fairs were held there annually until state aid ceased in 1880 Until 1880, the local agricultural society received an appropriation of $2,000 from the State to hold the fair. In 1880, the legislature reorganized the state into agricultural districts and Santa Clara County was combined with San Mateo County to form District 5. The financing was not adequate to continue to hold the local annual fairs. The timing of this law was unfortunate, since a new grandstand and other fairground improvements had just been completed in 1878. After 1880, several fairs were held, but attendance and income was less than satisfactory. Regular local fairs were discontinued in 1885 A few were held again in the early 1900s, but 1912 was the last show for many years. Two privately financed horse shows were held in 1934 and 1935. Establishment of a New County Fair Association According to San José Mercury News columnist Dick Barrett, the present day Santa Clara County Fair was born on May 13, 1937. While attending a San José Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Russell E.Pettit, Chamber Manager, proposed that a county fair be supported, pointing out that state funds were available to help finance such an under taking. In 1933, the State of California passed legislation that allowed the local counties a share of income from racetracks. The State measure passed the legislature by almost 2 to 1, and provided that four revenue to go to the State Fairs and Expositions Fund. This potential income from horse racing was the motivation to organize a new local county fair association. In addition to Santa Clara County, several nearby counties began planning permanent fair facilities. The Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton is one local example of a fair association that was organized and built about the same time and by the same impetus. Santa Clara County had been a center for horse racing since the 1850s. Although other percent of racetrack revenue to go to the State Fairs and Expositions Fund. This potential income from horse racing was the motivation After several years of negotiation, the local county fair association secured the Macomber property in October of 1940. Operations of the farm were in the hands of tenants and the heir, Kirk Macomber, who was willing to sell the parcel substantially below market price in order to secure the sale. The Mira Monte farm provided 97 acres of what is now the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. After securing the Macomber acreage, the fair directors quickly began to acquire the adjacent parcels that make up the nearly 200 acres, which now compose the present fairgrounds site on Tully Road. Buying the Mira Monte farm as the home for the county fair in 1940 proved to be well timed. The Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island had closed and much of its equipment was for sale. The Santa Clara County Fair Association purchased 15 turnstile gates, 250 outdoor benches,9 exit gates and 15 sets of bleachers for $3,400. The fair board went ahead with plans to completely develop the grounds in order to hold the first fair at the site in 1941. County Engineer Robert Chandler prepared a map, and San José architect Ernest N. Curtis laid out a plot plan and obtained cost estimates to install a sewer and electrical system. Fair directors asked the State of California for $125,000 as a loan to finance the improvements. Much to their disappointment, the first grant was for only $35,000, just covering the cost of acquisition of Mira Monte. Because of the lack of funding, there was some concern about holding a fair in 1941, but the directors decided to move forward. They acquired another $40,000 grant from the State to build 40 horse stalls and buy a tent later that year to buy a tent. The first fair was held in October 1941, with tents covering the exhibits and temporary bleachers serving as a grandstand. Local enthusiasm and optimism ran high for construction of permanent facilities, despite the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. Funding for a long list of facilities, including a permanent grandstand and exhibition buildings, was submitted to the State of California. Since the subsequent war effort curtailed the WPA funding programs and other public works, further efforts to build permanent buildings and to hold an annual exposition were halted until after World War II. Although construction was halted, planning went on. Meeting in 1943, the Board of Directors felt that preparations should be made for the time when the war was over and funds would once again be available. It was suggested that an architect be hired to prepare plans and sketches. Ernest N. Curtis prepared a master plan for the site as, well as preliminary drawings for improvements. It was hoped that the new facilities would be built using WPA funds, but Americas entry into World War II curtailed all government funding for any construction that was not related to the war effort. With funding not forthcoming, Curtis retired from the project. Director Walter L. Bachrodt was told to find someone suitable. Walter Bachrodt decided to use C. J. Ryland, anarchitect with whom he had worked with previously as Superintendent of the San José School District. Ryland was living and working in Monterey but had longtime connections with San José. By March 1944,Ryland had submitted a list of proposals and a cost estimate, as well as a large model of the fairgrounds that was 8 feet square. Total cost of improvements was estimated at $1,225,000.00. It was agreed that detailed construction plans should be prepared in order to be ready when the war ended. Plans were ready by the annual meeting in 1945, and a list of the needed buildings was presented in order of their priority. Construction of a grandstand was considered a top priority, followed by the stock barns, an exhibition building, an entrance building and parking area. Although substantial funding was received from the State, the money did not cover the estimated costs of all the improvements. The following year, the State allotted $291,000 to the fairgrounds project. Unfortunately, that amount did not begin to cover the costs of building a grandstand. By 1948, the grant had been raised to $500,000, an amount still below the estimated construction costs of the grandstand. Ryland’s original design was Early California style, and would have seated 5,280 people. When the design went out to bid, the costs were estimated at nearly $800,000. Ryland was asked to modify his design in order to bring the costs below $500,000. Plans for a reinforced concrete structure to replace the temporary bleachers were sent out to bid. The winning bidder was Robert L. Wilson of Oakland for $415, 242, and a contract was negotiated. Although it was hoped that the grandstand would be completed in time for the 1949 Fair, it was late summer in 1950 before it was complete. In his report to the Board of Directors in February 1950, Board President Mitchell noted that the new Sheep and Swine Building was also under construction. Dick Barretts 1968 publication, A Brief History of the Santa Clara County Fair related that there was a fire in September of 1950, a week before the annual fair was to open. He listed the dairy barn an four tents, used for 4-H exhibits, as destroyed, and the Fairview train, used to move fairgoers around the grounds, as scorched. No damage to the new Sheep and Swine, which was under construction, is mentioned. The County received $39,878 in insurance for the damaged buildings and quickly proceeded to replace the burned structures. After completion of the grandstand and the livestock buildings, the third permanent structure that appeared at the Fairgrounds was the Exhibition Hall. Funded in 1952, the hall was 400 feet long and 120 feet wide, with a large kitchen and restrooms at both ends. The new hall was open for displays during the 1953 Fair. Other permanent structures at the fair include the arch over the entry, which was completed in 1956.The grandstand roof was built in 1957, and a building devoted completely to womens exhibits, The Pavilion, was completed in 1960 for nearly $600,000. The 4-H clubs and Future Farmers of America had their own building by 1965, and an exhibition building for rabbits and poultry was constructed in 1966. The early structures housing the sheep and swine exhibits were built by the students at San José Technical High School. Superintendent Walter Bachrodt is credited with organizing students for this important task. Anecdotal information maintains that the permanent structure was also built using student labor from San José Technical High School, although the records are not clear in that regard. Dick Barrett noted in his history of the fairgrounds that students from San José Technical High School spent 6,550 hours in 1944 alone on building the Administration building and the horse and stock barns. He says, The students erected the Sheep and Swine barn and did carpentry, painting, plumbing and electric wiring as part of their class-work with the blessing of the unions.Since both laborand materials were in short supply due to wartime needs and post-war shortages, building any structures for the fairgrounds was a low priority in the county. A San José Mercury news headline in April of 1946 reads, County Fairs Building Hope Appears Slim - Veterans Housing takes Precedent over Expositions. The article discusses the need for veteran housing and the ongoing shortages in material and labor for building new homes. Use of student labor to help build the stock buildings at the fairgrounds was a response to labor shortages in the building trades. Barretts history also states In 1950, Cecil Hardesty, Superintendent of Schools, was moved to write the Association as follows: Apparently the boys from Tech High must be helpful to you folks since you encourage them so much. We, on the other hand, are grateful to you for the opportunity which you give the boys to have some real practical experience while they are in a training program. The year of 1950 was somewhat heartbreaking for the students. Just prior to the fair opening in September 1950, the recently completed horse barn caught fire and was destroyed. The newspaper reported on September 4, 1950 that a fire raced through the livestock section, destroying the $35,000 dairy barn as well as equipment and floats worth $7,000. The dairy barn had been erected during 1948-1949 by the San José Technical High School carpentry class. In addition, four pyramid tents, which had been erected to serve as dorms for 4-H Club members, were ignited by flying sparks. Architect C. J. Ryland prepared the design and the construction drawings for the new Sheep and Swine Building. A building permit was granted by the County of Santa Clara to the Fair Grounds Association [sic] as owner/contractor for the building on August 2, 1950 (Permit B17962). The single-story structure was designed as an implementation of the Streamline Moderne style. Louvered vents provided a distinctively horizontal element in the façade, and the building was outlined in softly glowing neon. The James Manufacturing Company, a company with plants in Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin, Elmira, New York and Los Angeles, California, fabricated the display pens. The pens at the fairgrounds were installed by Earl S. Ebert, Reliable James Wayman, who specialized in installations of farm equipment and whose business office was located in Oakland/ I could go on with this report and cover the landscaping and the many struggles that lay ahead. But it’s approaching Book Length. This gives some idea of the long struggle to achieve the fairgrounds
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 02:36:57 +0000

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