Hamburg High School - Echoes Yearbook (Hamburg, NY)

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Salute to the ummertime is a busy and excit- S ing time for most of us. Many Hamburg students work summer jobs while others go on vacation or enjoy the summer fun at home. After school ends in June, we go our separate ways until we meet again in September. However, there is one time during the sum- mer when we meet our friends - at the Erie County Fair. Hordes of students obtain jobs at the games or stands, work at the gates or pick up trash. Still more students walk around to view the Spirit of Youth Show and partake of the culinary delights. Amid the ac- tivity, fair-goers view interesting ex- hibits, dare thrilling rides and lucky winners go home for the night with a teddy bear. For ten days and nights Ham- burg literally comes alive. Since the fair is a big part of summer, and is such a thrilling event in town, we on the ECHOES editorial staff decid- ed to salute the Erie County Fair. The Erie County Fair has been in existence since 1850, and in Ham- burg since 1868. Prior to being in Hamburg, it was held in Buffalo and various other sites in Erie County. A Hamburg resident, Mr. Erie County Fair Luther Titus, offered his harness race track for use by the county. When the Erie County Agricultural Society held its annual meeting on January 9, 1868, Hamburg was chosen by a margin of one vote after a lively debate between Ham- burg and Springville. The Erie County Fair has been in Hamburg for the last one hundred and six- teen years. Maria and Naomi Clark of Clark Street sold twelve acres and George M. Pierce sold twelve and one-half acres to the Agricultural Society in 1880 which paid ap- proximately one hundred dollars per acre. Since that initial pur- chase, the Society has continued to purchase land and now has an area of nearly one hundred and for- ty acres. As the land was pro- cured, many buildings such as the Bazaar Building, Junior Exhibit Hall and the Education Building were erected. The Grandstand was completed in 1962. Originally the Erie County Fair lasted for three days, from Septem- ber 30 to October 2, and continued that way until a fourth day was add- ed in 1900, and a fifth in 1920. The fairgrounds was equipped with W electricity in 1927 which made it pos- sible to keep everything open after dark. Prior to World War ll, the number of days was increased to six and in- creased to eight in 1956. Presently, the fair lasts for ten days and nights. Buffalo Sunshine Trolley Cars were an important means of transportation to the fairgrounds from 1901 to 1931. Trolleys left Buffalo and Hamburg ev- ery half hour during fair days, the trol- ley station was located near the pre- sent McKinley Gate. Throughout the years, the coming of the Fair Train has been a much- anticipated event in Hamburg. Many livestock exhibitors would transport their animals on the train and then herd them to the fairgrounds by way of the Hamburg streets. The towns- people, young and old, were fascinat- ed as they watched cows, sheep, goats and horses being walked past their front porches on their way to the fair. Hamburg students are always a part of the Erie County Fair. Many stu- dents work at the fair while others par- ticipate in this stimulating experience. Since it moved here in 1868, many things have changed to meet the times yet the fair has remained a unique experience. Modernization has increased the glamour and ex- citement of this splendid event as colorful lights and spectacular fire- works light the fairgrounds at the close of each day. El By Colleen Howe Echoes!5

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