History of the Butler County Fair
Since its official establishment in 1851, the Butler County Fair has run every year, rain or shine. For the first time in 170 years, the fair was canceled due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. The financial effects will be felt all throughout the county, with thousands of dollars in revenue lost and hundreds of jobs no longer available. The week-long fair will return in 2021.
While the official ‘start’ of the Butler County Fair is said to be in 1851, the fair-like concept began many years prior. The first official Butler County Fair was held in 1831. Hamilton residents would gather around the old courthouse and showcase things such as farming equipment, livestock, and produce. This continued until the Butler County Fair was officially organized in 1851 by the Butler County Agricultural Society.
The first fairs in Butler County looked vastly different than they do now. There were no carnival rides and no funnel cakes as is commonly seen today. Fairs got their name from the French word “foire”, which means market place. The market place was usually held in the public square of the county seat. For two days, farm products were placed on display using wagons and the eastern side of High Street was used as a race track for horseraces.
The fair has called Hamilton home since as far back as the very first ‘fair’ in 1831, but the precise location has changed several times over the past 170 years. Originally beginning around the courthouse, the fair moved to a lot on Fourth and Dayton Streets owned by Jacob Hittle in 1843. After the organization of the fair committee in 1851, the fair was moved to an oak grove near the Miami-Erie Canal. A year later, it moved again to Bigham Grove, now known as the eastern side of the Greenwood Cemetery. In 1856, the fair was finally moved to 39 acres at its current location on Fairgrove Avenue.
The current grandstand located at the fairgrounds has been standing for over a hundred years, but it is not the original grandstand of the Butler County Fair. The first grandstand was wooden, and in 1913 it was destroyed by a fire. A new grandstand was then constructed, housing 3,000 seats with a $33,000 price tag. This grandstand was made entirely of concrete, and it is thought to be the first of its kind to be built in the United States.
The fair has been mostly organized by the Butler County Agricultural Society through the years, except for a brief period in 1896. A few years prior, the Agricultural Society purchased an additional 13 acres of land from August Hutzelman for $5000 to allow for expansion. This later led to some financial strain resulting in the appointment of a receiver named Robert Elliott. It didn’t take long for the fair to find its way back into the hands of the Agricultural Society where it then became one of the most respected fairs in the state.
Many time, the fair has been disrupted by inclement weather, most recently last year. The 2019 fair got off to a rough start when a storm hit suddenly. Luckily, the fair had not yet begun, but workers were actively setting up for the event when the storm struck. The high winds and heavy rains caused uprooted trees, ticket booths, and even knocked over some of the fair rides. The fair board worked quickly to replace damaged tents and clean up the grounds, and the fair was able to continue on without further incident.
Each year, between 80,000 and 100,000 people visit the Butler County Fair, coming from all over the state. The fair is a large revenue source for over 100 various vendors, generating almost a million dollars in sales. In addition, the money earned at the fair is used to maintain the fairgrounds year-round and keep a staff employed.
The Butler County Fair was the first in the state to give awards for farm exhibitions. Even as far back as the first ‘fair’ in 1831, the Agricultural Society president appointed a committee whose sole responsibility was awarding those premiums to those individuals who proved best in show with produce, animals, and other goods. These days, many young teens earn a pretty penny by selling the animals they raise for the county fair.
The original fairgrounds located on Fairgrove Avenue began with 39.8 acres. The Butler County Agricultural Society bought the land in 1856 for $3,700. In 1871, they purchased 13.86 acres more from August Hutzelman for $5,000. By 1876, a racetrack was set to be constructed that was 714 feet long and 380 feet wide. Several bids were placed to perform the work, but Henry Frechtling & Company won and the track was built for a sum of $560.
References: Centenniel History of Butler County; Memoirs of the Miami Valley Vol. II