Fairgrounds - Port Royal
Click image to enlarge
This is an artists rendition of the first fairgrounds in an area commonly known as Moyer's Farm. The Tuscarora Creek can be seen behind the racetrack.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/22/09 - Image Year: 1877
JUNIATA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
The Juniata County Agricultural Society was organized in 1852. The second annual fair was held at Perrysville on the 12th, 13th, and 14th days of October, 1853. The attendance was large and premiums to the amount of $300 were awarded. The society, which numbered about two hundred members, purchased approximately eight acres of land along the Tuscarora Creek, on what is now (1950) the Moyer farm. On this they erected the necessary buildings for exhibition purposes, as well as, a half mile race track. The officers for that year were: Everard Oles, president; John Woodside, James Anderson, Dr. Joseph Kelly, John Watson, John P. Shitz, William Banks, Col. C. A. Thompson, and Hon. John Dunn, vice-presidents; J. A. Christy, secretary-treasurer; Lewis Burchfield, corresponding secretary; John Kepner, Daniel Seiber, and Gen. William Bell, managers. In 1854, 100 shares of stock were offered for sale.
Annual fairs were held on this tract until 1887 when the old grounds was sold and the present fairgrounds at the northwestern end of the borough was purchased from Smith Kepner. The following men met and planned the forward step in the affairs of the association: Noah Hertzler, Benjamin Jacobs, James Groninger.
The old fair grounds was sold to Dr. A. W. Shelley for $800, Floral Hall to W. T. McCulloch for $150, Agricultural Hall for $50, and the Band Stand for $7.50 to Dr. Shelley.
June 25, 1887 plans for a new Floral Hall, on the new grounds, were drawn up, the only specification recorded in the minutes was that it must have thirty-three windows.
July 16, 1887 the officers of the association met under an oak tree in the west end of the fairgrounds when contracts for buildings were awarded as follows: Floral Hall, Joseph Brindle $800; fence, William McCachren $617.50; track, Dr. Graham $704; the grandstand to be built by W. T. McCullough and operated by him for six years, and then turned over to the association.
The association was incorporated Dec. 10,1859. At the time of incorporation the officers were: president, Hugh Hamilton; vice-president, George McCulloch; Abram Harshbarger, Jerome N. Thompson; secretary, John R. Linn; executive committee, James Gilliford, George W. Jacobs, James North; treasurer, Lewis Burchfield; librarian. William Hench; corresponding secretary, Noah Hertzler; committee on laws, Joseph Rothrock. E. S. Doty, G. W. Strouse.
The first fair on the new grounds was held October 4, 5, 6, 7, 1887. It was in August of this year that wines were put on the premium list (there is no record as to when they were removed from the list) and the first merry-go-round made its appearance at this fair, the owner paid twenty-five dollars for the privilege of selling rides.
In 1888 it was discovered that the deed was clouded and one hundred dollars was paid to Joseph M. Kepner to get a clear title.
In 1889 Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show: was at the Fair and a riot between the actors and the town boys took place.
Fairs have been held on these two grounds for well over a century and the Juniata County Fair is famous throughout the Commonwealth.
(From a HISTORY OF PORT ROYAL & VICINITY by Class of 1950, Tuscarora Valley High School)
FAIR STOCK SALE: "The top price for two shares of Juniata County Fair stock was reached at Mrs. Jacob Groninger's sale last Saturday. The "Dutch Auctioneer" seemed in his glory when $46 was bid, at which price the hammer fell. This is the record price to date. Snyder is bound to make good his prediction, made a few years ago, that two shares of this stock will sell for $50." (From Sept 12, 1907 issue of the Port Royal Times)
If you copy the address below and paste it into your browser you can see a walking tour of the 2007 Juniata County Fair.
https://youtu.be/acN4IgqphFQ
If you copy the address below and paste it into your browser you can see an early stock car race at the fairgrounds racetrack. The race was recorded by John Leidy Sr and it was won by Dick Tobias in No 17.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulba4NVLHok
If you copy the address below and paste it into your browser you can see trotters racing on the track at the Juniata County Fairgrounds.
https://youtu.be/pohCZ-HmUc0
The Juniata County Agricultural Society was organized in 1852. The second annual fair was held at Perrysville on the 12th, 13th, and 14th days of October, 1853. The attendance was large and premiums to the amount of $300 were awarded. The society, which numbered about two hundred members, purchased approximately eight acres of land along the Tuscarora Creek, on what is now (1950) the Moyer farm. On this they erected the necessary buildings for exhibition purposes, as well as, a half mile race track. The officers for that year were: Everard Oles, president; John Woodside, James Anderson, Dr. Joseph Kelly, John Watson, John P. Shitz, William Banks, Col. C. A. Thompson, and Hon. John Dunn, vice-presidents; J. A. Christy, secretary-treasurer; Lewis Burchfield, corresponding secretary; John Kepner, Daniel Seiber, and Gen. William Bell, managers. In 1854, 100 shares of stock were offered for sale.
Annual fairs were held on this tract until 1887 when the old grounds was sold and the present fairgrounds at the northwestern end of the borough was purchased from Smith Kepner. The following men met and planned the forward step in the affairs of the association: Noah Hertzler, Benjamin Jacobs, James Groninger.
The old fair grounds was sold to Dr. A. W. Shelley for $800, Floral Hall to W. T. McCulloch for $150, Agricultural Hall for $50, and the Band Stand for $7.50 to Dr. Shelley.
June 25, 1887 plans for a new Floral Hall, on the new grounds, were drawn up, the only specification recorded in the minutes was that it must have thirty-three windows.
July 16, 1887 the officers of the association met under an oak tree in the west end of the fairgrounds when contracts for buildings were awarded as follows: Floral Hall, Joseph Brindle $800; fence, William McCachren $617.50; track, Dr. Graham $704; the grandstand to be built by W. T. McCullough and operated by him for six years, and then turned over to the association.
The association was incorporated Dec. 10,1859. At the time of incorporation the officers were: president, Hugh Hamilton; vice-president, George McCulloch; Abram Harshbarger, Jerome N. Thompson; secretary, John R. Linn; executive committee, James Gilliford, George W. Jacobs, James North; treasurer, Lewis Burchfield; librarian. William Hench; corresponding secretary, Noah Hertzler; committee on laws, Joseph Rothrock. E. S. Doty, G. W. Strouse.
The first fair on the new grounds was held October 4, 5, 6, 7, 1887. It was in August of this year that wines were put on the premium list (there is no record as to when they were removed from the list) and the first merry-go-round made its appearance at this fair, the owner paid twenty-five dollars for the privilege of selling rides.
In 1888 it was discovered that the deed was clouded and one hundred dollars was paid to Joseph M. Kepner to get a clear title.
In 1889 Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show: was at the Fair and a riot between the actors and the town boys took place.
Fairs have been held on these two grounds for well over a century and the Juniata County Fair is famous throughout the Commonwealth.
(From a HISTORY OF PORT ROYAL & VICINITY by Class of 1950, Tuscarora Valley High School)
FAIR STOCK SALE: "The top price for two shares of Juniata County Fair stock was reached at Mrs. Jacob Groninger's sale last Saturday. The "Dutch Auctioneer" seemed in his glory when $46 was bid, at which price the hammer fell. This is the record price to date. Snyder is bound to make good his prediction, made a few years ago, that two shares of this stock will sell for $50." (From Sept 12, 1907 issue of the Port Royal Times)
If you copy the address below and paste it into your browser you can see a walking tour of the 2007 Juniata County Fair.
https://youtu.be/acN4IgqphFQ
If you copy the address below and paste it into your browser you can see an early stock car race at the fairgrounds racetrack. The race was recorded by John Leidy Sr and it was won by Dick Tobias in No 17.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulba4NVLHok
If you copy the address below and paste it into your browser you can see trotters racing on the track at the Juniata County Fairgrounds.
https://youtu.be/pohCZ-HmUc0
![BLEACHERS REPLACED: In 1972 the bleachers at the Port Royal Speedway were replaced. In the photo the plank bleachers were replaced with concrete ones. A new metal hub rail fence would be installed next. [Photo courtesy of the Juniata County Historical Society]](site/userfiles/image-4447-1m.jpg?u=1709062222)
