Stratford fall fair firsts by Ellen Thomas Stratford-Perth Archives

The Stratford Beacon Herald covered all three days of the 1951 Stratford Fall Fair, which was known for many “firsts.”

Running September 17 to 19, the Fair began with a huge parade, to which hundreds flocked. There were nineteen school entries coming from all points of the County. The “children marched to an enthusiastic ovation.”

The Avonton Institute float won the $25 top award. Titled “Health for Health,” it depicted salads for health. Second prize went to the Athlone Women’s Institute for their” Horn of Plenty,” while third place went to S.S. No. 5 Community Club. Titled “Lazy Farmer,” the scene included “a sleeping farmer, a handy cider jug, the farmer’s wife tending a kitchen stove, chickens, calf, and a dog.”

Stratford- Perth Archives

For the first time ever, all the agricultural exhibits were in one building and industrial exhibits in another. Exhibits were described as “more attractively displayed than ever before.” New lighting, as well as new permanent booth and stalls were added.

This year saw the largest grandstand show ever presented. On the first two days of the Fair, visitors were presented with matinee and evening shows from a vaudeville troupe from Detroit, the “Showboat Follies.” On the last day, spectators were treated to a “thrilling daredevil auto show” with “Jimmy Lynch and his “Death Dodgers” plus the “White Horse Revue,” a trick-riding show. “Spectators [were] treated to two different types of Roman racing. One of the styles [was] performed with new 1951 model automobiles. The other, the real old-fashioned hell-for-leather kind presented with horses.” There were stock car crashes, motorcycles hurtling through space, and “a slide for life and flaming boardwall crash.” The horses presented were Albino thoroughbreds with one girl to two horses performing “intricate riding feats.”

For the first time ever, 1951 saw the addition of “The “Jaycee” Industrial and Trades Fair,” sponsored by the Stratford Junior Chamber of Commerce. The Mayor, A. David Simpson, cut the ribbon and the crowds swarmed in and “thronged about everything that was on display.” With 30 booths, like today’s Home Shows, represented were businesses from all over the County. Many selling appliances, cars, novelties, and household essentials. Also represented were many food producers selling everything, from honey, speciality imports, and the ever popular, ice cream.

Another first in 1951 was “Kiddie-Land,” which was erected for the little ones. “Feature attractions Monday night, and the ones that kept Mom or Dad digging into the purse or pocketbook for money for rides were a fire engine and a boat ride.” There were also, “the usual assortment of rides and sideshow attractions for the not-so-young “children.” The tilt-a-whirl, Ferris wheel, and other thrilling rides.” A pet monkey, in attendance at one of the rides, was looking for handouts. A little boy looks unimpressed, in the photo from the Beacon Herald Negative Collection at the Stratford-Perth Archives. Children were given a half-holiday from schools. It was reported that “only about a dozen children in all were lost during the afternoon and evening, and then only for a few minutes. Broadcasts over the public address system brought quick results and the youngsters were reunited with Mom, Dad, or big sister. One little tot toddled up to the “Jaycee” booth and announced “My Mommy is lost.” She was quickly found.”

The Fair boasted the largest “Black and White” County show ever held in Canada. The show was sponsored by the Perth County Holstein Breeders’ Association and saw over 200 entries. The big winner was E. J. Hooper, from St. Marys. All types of barnyard animal were judged, with entries from all over the County, and from as far away as Ottawa.

On the final evening “the skies over the exhibition grounds flared into a galaxy of colour with a final giant-size display of fireworks that drew hundreds of men, women, and child spectators. Rockets and fireworks of all descriptions soared into the night for a solid hour,” and so ended the one hundred and tenth Stratford Fall Fair, which had broken all previous attendance records.

There was one further story, the next day. The Kinsmen had a draw for a brand new, 1951, “Ford Car.” The winner was J. J. Walsh, of Stratford. “When a Beacon-Herald reporter and photographer arrived at the Walsh residence, “Jim” and his wife of three months were just about to turn in. Caught in pajamas, the couple were too excited to think of changing once they learned the household had another car. Mr. Walsh went to the refrigerator for a bracer and Mrs. Walsh went – Guess where? – to the telephone! “Yes dad. Jim did win it. Isn’t it wonderful?” (Sigh!) “Now I can have one and he can have one.”

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