A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
CLINTON COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION, INC.
During 1971 and the early part of 1972, a small group of Clinton County residents
explored the feasibility of developing an annual event based on agricultural, 4-H
and commercial exhibits.
In August of 1972, this group, which had become known as the Clinton County Fair
Committee, held the first Clinton County Fair on a small plot of ground, which was
borrowed from a farmer in Pine Creek.
The following year, August 1973, this event was moved to a five-acre community park
in Mill Hall, Pa., where it remained until 1979. This site was more centrally located
in the county and had the advantage of sewage and water. At the completion of the
1979 fair, it was evident that the fair had outgrown the five acres and a search
was begun for a new, and hopefully, permanent site. However, the combination of
high prices and meager funds forced the Association to once again settle for a temporary
fairground.
The third move was to a 28-acre site located in Castanea Township, which was leased
on an annual basis for approximately $3500.00 per year. During the time the fair
was located in Castanea, the Fair Association conducted a diligent search for a permanent
site. This goal was reached in December 1983 when the Association, under the auspices
of the Clinton County Commissioners, purchased a 66-acre site in Lamar Township for
$75,000.
During the time the fair was held on a temporary site, housing for the fair’s activities
were also temporary. By mid-July the Association’s Directors and other volunteers
would begin to ready the site for the annual event. Office and first aid trailers
were moved on the site, fences were built, water lines installed, temporary pole
barns and tents were erected, display space and animal pens were built. By the end
of August, all traces of the Fair were removed. Trailers were returned to storage,
fences, water lines, animal pens, display areas and buildings were dismantled and
returned to storage areas.
Since the Association purchased a permanent site, some permanent construction has
been done. A roadway on the site was built; a track used for tractor and four-wheeled
drive vehicle pulls was constructed. A racetrack was build for all-terrain vehicles,
a permanent building was constructed to be used for registration for the pulls and
races and to house the announcer for those events.
Ten year long-range plans include building permanent sanitation, commercial, administrative
and show facilities.
The purpose of the Association is to conduct an annual County Fair which provides
all the activities normally associated with a county fair; competition for recognition
and premiums, entertainment, promotion and education of county agriculture, home
economics and animal husbandry. Future activities will be based on these components.
The members of the Clinton County Fair Association, Inc. are committed to the success
of this project.
