The Mount Morris Fair and Agricultural Association sponsored its first exhibition October 3-6, 1905, on a fairground site bought for $4,000 the preceding February from D.L. Donley. The new fair association was chartered a month earlier with a capital stock of $12,000. There were 120 “subscribers” (Stockholders) in the initial offering.
The first board of directors included Robert Shear, L.L. Long, J.N. Headley, J.E. Donley, H.M Hatfield, William Pomeroy, and C.N. Fox of Mt. Morris; Jesse Ross of Waynesburg; and L.L. Thomas of Blacksville. Shear was the first president of the board.
George Jenkins surveyed and supervised the construction of the racetrack that had been graded by Meek and Sprague of Waynesburg.
The first fair was a huge success, featuring an extensive racing program that offered a total purse of $1,800. The entertainment featured a tight wire performer, hot air balloon ascensions, and parachute leaps by the Famous Belmont Sisters. The Waynesburg Military Band provided several concerts.
According to contemporary sources, the fairgrounds became a lively gathering place filled with music, food stands, horse races, and demonstrations of modern farm equipment. Traveling entertainers and small carnival attractions added excitement, especially for children and young adults. For many residents, the fair was one of the year’s most anticipated events because it combined business, recreation, and community celebration in a single setting.
A 1906 advertisement in the Waynesburg Republican proclaimed to prospective visitors “Mt. Morris easy to get at – only 5 miles from steamboat landing at Maidsville, W. Va., fifteen miles from Waynesburg, and ten miles from Morgantown.” They also stated they had the “best 1/2 -mile track in Western Pennsylvania” and “straw furnished for free.”
In 1910, the Waynesburg Republican reported they had their biggest crowd to date after featuring a “two-mile automobile race.”
A year later, 2,000 people came through the gate on the opening Wednesday night. The big feature of the night was a baseball game between the famous Taylortown team and Kuhntown. The game went 13 innings as Taylortown delighted the crowd with a 2-1 victory. In addition to the always popular horse racing, “The halls were well filled with exhibits, and the stock show was the best in several years.”
However, no reason was listed in an April 2,1913 issue of the Republican, when the Mt. Morris fairgrounds were claimed at a sheriff’s sale as a result of a “suit by M.E. Rose.” The closing included “22 acres, a large grandstand, a large exhibit hall, and stables sufficient for the horses, cattle, sheep, and other livestock.”
Their financial situation could have been affected by the return of the Greene County Fair in Waynesburg, although GreeneScene Magazine found no details supporting that theory; or any further reports on what happened to the fair or fairgrounds.
By the 1930’s, the Mt. Morris Community Firemen were holding a carnival each fall to replace the fair. If any of our readers have information on the fair’s fate, we would be glad to hear from you.
*In 1932, Mt. Morris High School moved their football games from Downey Fox’s field to the “old fairgrounds.” They wore the old orange and black uniforms donated to the school by Waynesburg College.
The racetrack still existed in the 1970s. My family lived next to the MM Methodist church, and my sisters and I used to ride horses around it. The old, clay ball field was horrible when it rained. We had a pony that used to run away from home. lol At least once he ran to the ball field. My poor mom and neighbor lady came back after trying to catch him. Why, it’s a wonder that they made it out of there.