History

Food, fun, family, friends and entertainment are the winning combination for the Sandusky County Fair, located at Fremont.

The annual event is a celebration marking the end of summer. It is a feast of sight, sound and aroma that combine to give the exciting elixir found only at the county fair.

The first fair was held in 1852 and included livestock, mechanical exhibits, and homemaker arts.

For the past 150 years, fairgoers have been treated to the best the county has had to offer from field and factory. Add to that a wonderful mix of food concessions and an interesting commercial display from a wide variety of businesses. Don’t forget the amusement rides and the grandstand entertainment.

The Sandusky County Junior Fair became an integral portion of the county fair after the turn of the century when the various youth organizations were begun. Junior Fair exhibits include livestock and projects from 4-H, FFA, Scouting and Campfire organizations.

Amusement concessions have become bigger, faster, and louder through the years. Young children enjoy the kiddie park while older children and adults obtain thrills on the wilder mechanical rides.

Bright colored flashing lights, the sound of generators mixed with midway music, the shrieks of fright followed by relieved laughter, and the smell of freshly fried food, popcorn or cotton candy compete with the senses.

Throughout the fairgrounds are people: fairgoers of all ages, vendors, concessionaires, volunteers, employees, and fairboard directors.

The present fairgrounds are located at the north edge of Fremont and are easily accessible from U.S. Rt. 20, State Route 53, and U.S. Route 6. In addition, the Ohio Turnpike offers an exit just north of the fairgrounds.

Prior to settling in this permanent location, the county fair was held at different locations within Fremont and in Clyde.

The banks of the Sandusky River provided a natural gathering point for residents in the mid 1800s. The two growing communities of Croghansville on the east bank and Lower Sandusky on the west bank became the city of Fremont in 1849.

The first fair was conducted on October 13, 1852, on the east side of the Sandusky River. Exhibits included horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, field crops, fruit, dairy products, and manufactured articles. The two-day 1853 fair was also held on the east side of the river, but in the third ward.

Clyde hosted the Sept. 26-27 fair in 1854. By then the board was considering a permanent home for the fair and, in 1855, purchased land bordering the west side of the Sandusky River, "good location affording shade and access to the Sandusky River for water." About 7 acres were purchased for $691.89, with the deed awarded to the board in 1861 for $1,053. In 1861, the minutes mention the first structure, Floral Hall, and fences on the grounds.

The Civil War postponed the Oct. 1-3 fair in 1862, since the draft was being held on these days. In 1866, the Sandusky River flooded, sweeping away the structures and buildings on the grounds, and no fair was held. This caused the board to begin looking for another location, and, in 1867, the fair was moved to the Fremont Driving Park located on a hill to the east of the river. The Fremont Driving Association had been formed for trotting and running of horses. The two groups agreed on a 9-year lease for $75 and Floral Hall was moved to the new location.

In 1869, the board sold the land along the Sandusky River for over $1,600 and started looking for a permanent site. About 27 acres of the current site was purchased for $7,000 in 1870 and the three-day 1871 fair was held at the new location, which is west of the Sandusky River and situated on a hill. Various buildings were moved to this new site, including Floral Hall. Although the site was much larger than previous locations, the fair continued to grow and additional land was acquired west of the grounds.

In the mid 1950s, the board acquired land north of the fairgrounds, which more than doubled the size of the site. The main grounds houses all of the buildings, with the exception of the Junior Fair Horse Building. That building is located in the north street lot, which includes the campgrounds and parking area.

The Society went about the tract in 1870 selected the trees they wanted left standing. It proved foresight on their part, because the grounds were considered very attractive, "a picturesque showcase." Because of this, the Sandusky County Fairgrounds was selected for location shots in the 1943 Hollywood move, "Home In Indiana," which was filmed during the county fair.

The racetrack, grandstand, and barns were prominently featured in the film, but one can also see the trees and portions of other buildings in the background.

Over the years the native trees have succumbed to age and weather. Recently, the Society has established a reforestation plan that involves surveying the existing trees to determine their variety, age, location and condition. This survey will help the Society maintain existing trees and plan for future trees.

A horse racetrack for trotting and pacing was an integral portion of the early fairgrounds. With it were various horse barns. An amphitheater or grandstand was constructed in 1874 to provide "shelter from rain and shade from wind."

In 1877, a new Floral Hall was constructed at a cost of $1659 after fire consumed the original Floral Hall. A building housing the president, secretary and treasurer was constructed at the entrance to the fairgrounds in 1878. This building has been renovated, but is still used as the Secretary’s Office. It was recently repainted from ‘fairgrounds white’ to its original Victorian colors.

In 1878, the Fremont Driving Association began using the racetrack at the fairgrounds. This use continued until 1955.

A new dining hall was constructed for $1290 in 1884. It is one of three original buildings remaining on the grounds. A bandstand was constructed for under $300 in 1885.

The Agricultural & Products Hall was constructed before the turn of the century. A two-story structure, it housed exhibits on the first floor and a new dining hall on the second level. Patrons climbed wide interior or exterior stairways to enjoy hearty, home-cooked meals. Increased numbers of commercial concessions and stringent health regulations led to the demise of the dining hall and this structure is currently called the Commercial Exhibitors’ Building.

Following World War II, affordable automobiles arrived and horse racing decreased in popularity. The Society entertained a plan to redesign the fairgrounds and even employed a specialist to design a new layout, which would place the main entrance along Rawson Avenue, but lack of funds prevented implementation of the plan.

Changes to the grounds in the mid1950s included the removal of a portion of the old race track, and construction an exhibitor building and a church sponsored dining hall.

The newer buildings today house the Flowers, Needlework & Crafts, and Baked Goods departments; the Junior Fair Girls, and model displays departments; the Poultry and Rabbit departments; and the Farm Products and FFA displays. No longer church sponsored, different groups serve meals today from the Country Kitchen.

In 1960, volunteers enclosed the sheep and hog barn to create a covered show arena. The next year, the Society constructed a steer pole barn. A new building, to be used for Flowers and Fine Art, was erected for $7500 in 1967 west of the grandstand and east of the Floral Hall. The Poultry and Rabbit building was constructed in 1968 for $14,172. It was located 30 feet north of the Junior Fair Girls’ Building.

A 60x84-foot steer show arena was constructed for $6,000 in 1969. This included bleachers. A 50x120-foot building was constructed next to the Dairy Barn for the county Granges and FFA boys’ projects in 1971. While Granges are no longer active in the county, the building houses farm products and miscellaneous 4-H and FFA projects. The county Ditch Maintenance Service rents office space in the building.

In 1974, the 84x120 foot Junior Fair Horse Barn was constructed in North Street lot.

During the 1980s, improvements were made to the hog, sheep, and steer barns, and a horse show ring and new campsites were added to the grounds.

A reconstructed historic log cabin was rebuilt in 1982 in what has become the Log Cabin Compound and now also boasts a barn, blacksmith shop, store, smokehouse, and privy. Each of these structures was removed to the fairgrounds and includes documented history.

In 1986, a milking parlor was added to the dairy barn to afford fairgoers a view of the milking procedure. Within the last decade, the Society adopted pay-one-price admission to the annual fair, added track seating to the grandstand entertainment, constructed a large horse barn which is rented off-season by the county highway department, and renovated a restroom to become ADA compliant.

In 2000, the new Junior Fair Office complex was completed in time for the annual fair. Funds for construction came from donations and a state reimbursement grant. Many of the livestock barns and exhibit buildings are being covered with vinyl siding.

Stockcar racing gained a following in the middle of the century and the fairgrounds’ clay track was used by the Fremont Speedway until the mid 1990s. The New Fremont Speedway has been operating since 1999. Off-season rentals include monthly flea markets that provide year-round income. Antique shows, automotive swap meets, and building rental for meetings, receptions, auctions, and storage also provide additional income.

Dr. LaQuinio Rawson, "Father of the Fair," was instrumental in organizing the Sandusky County Agricultural Society in 1852. He served on the board for several years and helped acquire the permanent fairgrounds.

Over the years there were many people who served as directors, including Rutherford B. Hayes, who resigned his position when he entered national politics. He served as President of the United States from 1877 to 1881.

Early boards were supported by interested men, but eventually the Society established 14 director’s seats—one from each township in Sandusky County, one at-large and one from the city of Fremont. Later, two additional at-large seats were included and, in 1981, five more at-large seats were added.

The current board has 21 directors: one representing the city of Fremont, one from each of the 12 townships, and 8 at-large. Each director serves a three-year term in staggered elections.

While early boards consisted only of men, women were also instrumental in the success of the Society and the county fair. Later boards added positions specifically for women, but the current directorships are not gender-biased.

The Society gratefully acknowledges the millions of volunteers who have helped present each annual fair and those who will assist with future fairs. It would be impossible to name each individual and contribution, so it is necessary to leave all with a simple thank you.

Progress will continue, and the Society will continue to offer Sandusky County residents an annual event at which they may view improvements in crops, livestock, equipment, home economics, and commercial businesses.