Did you know that the Chatham County Fair began in 1950 as the Chatham County Colored Agricultural Fair? And that the Fair continues to be a Black-run enterprise? There's a lot of Chatham County Black history associated with the Fair.
Ms. Anne McCrimmon, a former member and officer of the Fair Board captures the significance of the early fairs in her remembrance of attending as a child:
"One of the [segregated Horton] School’s activities for its students included a day to attend the Fair when it opened. Students could follow a path through the woods that led to a rickety little foot bridge across Robertson Creek to the fairgrounds. Even today I can remember the apprehension I would feel by the time we’d reach the creek. But I never fell in nor did I pass out from the fear that lay so heavy in my chest as my turn to cross over approached. Only the prospects of the Fair made it worth the effort to dash over. All kinds of handmade items would be on display. Hand-embroidered pillow cases, crocheted and knitted doilies for chairs, tables and anything else they could be placed on. Food, food, food would abound! Not just the luscious homegrown vegetables and fruit, and all kinds of canned goods, baked pies and cakes. This stuff was for looking at. The real food for fair goers would be outside the Exhibit Hall, hot dogs, candied apples, taffy, popcorn balls, candy, cookies, roasted peanuts in the shell and wonderful ice cream!. We never had enough money to sample all we wanted but if your buddies were true, you could get a little pinched share of many things. The Fair turned an ordinary school day into a grand holiday!"
Learn more on the CCHA website:
https://ccha.wildapricot.org/.../BriefHistoryofCCCAF2021.pdf
and on the Chatham County Agricultural and Industrial Fair Association website:
http://www.chathamcountyncfair.com/
Many thanks to the Chatham County Agricultural and Industrial Fair Association for helping with this article.
#ChathamNCHistory #ChathamCountyNC #ChathamHistory #ChathamNC #ChathamCountyAgriculturalandIndustrialFair #ChathamCountyColoredAgriculturalFair #CountyFair #BlackHistory #Blackleaders #AfricanAmericanHistory #PittsboroNC
