Crawford County Fair: horse racing, arson, and over 100 years of tradition…

This old photo from 100 years ago shows that the community  gathered to enjoy the fair parade, which was added to the festivities in 1909.

Cuba, MO: The fair board and a host of volunteers are ramping up their efforts to make the  Crawford County Fair a success. The full schedule is on the fair’s website.

Cubans coming together for the fair has been a tradition since the fair began in 1902. Here are a few highlights from the fair’s history as found in Celebrating 150 Years: A History of Cuba, MO, which is available for purchase at the Cuba History Museum on Smith Street.

*In 1902, the fair was held in the area now known as Cox Drive. Stock was sold to finance the fair. Old certificates show a share cost $3000.

*In 1905, the fair board purchased land south of Cuba’s city limits, and this became the fair grounds. The first harvest queen was Annie Burrows of Fanning.

*In 1909, the Grand Parade was added. It began at the train depot in east Cuba and ended at the fair grounds.

*More land was purchased in 1910 for $1200, and this land became the race track and ball diamond.

*In 1912, horse racing was added. It was a popular attraction.

*By the 1920s, an agricultural hall, barns, offices, and ticket booths had been added to the grounds.

 

This 1912 fair photo shows an area where the popular horse racing event might have occurred.

*In 1930, an arsonist destroyed the buildings at the fairgrounds.  No one was ever charged, but it was thought that someone upset with how prize money was awarded committed the dastardly deed.

* In 1931, after the buildings were destroyed in 1930, the Crawford County Fair Association disbanded the fair.

*In 1936, the city bought the fairgrounds for a City Park, but the fair was still held there. The land is now owned by the Crawford County R-II School.

*From 1936 to 1945, The Cuba Business Men’s Club hosted an annual Homecoming on the fairgrounds with a fish fry and games.  This is during the time that Harry Truman visited the fair.

This 1955 fair book comes from the days when the fair was known as the Cuba Community Fair. Notice that it was billed as the ninth.

*In 1946, the Cuba Civic Club and Auxiliary became the sponsors of the Cuba Community Fair.

*In 1953, a fair board was re-established with representatives from different organizations as members. The fair was still called the Cuba Community Fair.

*In 1972, the Fair Board incorporated and changed the name to the Crawford County Fair, hoping to draw more interest from towns other than Cuba.

*In 1995, Ernie Hood donated Hood Park (built as a racehorse training facility) to the City of Cuba, with the stipulation that the Crawford County Fair Board be allowed to hold the fair there each year. At first, many townspeople were reluctant to move from the old fairgrounds to the new.

*In 1996,  the first fair was held in Hood Park, which runs parallel to Route 66 and the railroad tracks on the east end of town. The buildings have been improved and expanded, and now there is more room available for events.

*In 2010, the fair at Hood Park boasts Merle Haggard as a headliner on Friday evening.

Those fairgoers from 1912 would have enjoyed the race track at the new Hood Park. Years of beautiful belles have added the fair queen designation to their name since Annie Burrows of Fanning became the first queen. There is always the question of who will be designated queen this year.

Hot sun, dust, sometimes rain and mud, a parade, corn dogs, fish sandwiches, carnival rides, 4-H kids with their projects: it’s all part of what we have come to expect of Crawford County Fair week.

For one week “Fair Time” takes over. Organizations cancel meetings, businesses may change their hours, and the area gravitates toward the fair grounds for  visiting, entertainment, and a good time.

See you at the fair.

To read how Harry S. Truman visited the Cuba Homecoming read last year’s fair blog here.

Truman’s visit to the Cuba Homecoming is commemorated in this Viva Cuba Mural. The 4-H organization was 100 years old when the mural was painted, so it was featured in the mural too.