Flos Agriculture Society History

Hillsdale, being situated on the Penetang Road, was an important stop on the stage route, and the business and social centre of the entire area of Medonte and Flos Townships. The first agriculture fair was held at Hamilton Inn and Lot 60, Conc. 1, Flos Township (in Hillsdale) under the combined efforts of the settlers of Medonte and Flos, in 1860. It is recorded that the first fair was well attended with great merry-making. Thereafter, it became an annual event, but, after the tavern licence of the Hamilton Inn, taken out in 1839, had been cancelled, in 1860, the site of the fair was moved to new locations, in and around the Village of Hillsdale. From a historical standpoint, the most important document to be preserved in respect to the fair is a list of officers and subscribers to the Medonte and Flos Agriculture Society for 1870. It reads as follows: President, John Johnston; Vice-president, Arthur Craig; Secretary, William Harvey; Treasurer, John Craig; Directors, James Small, John Fitzgerald, William Johnston, John Ritchie, James Greenlaw, William May, and James Johnston. At a meeting held on July 26, 1870, it was agreed that the fair be held on Oct. 14, 1870. In the 1870's, fairs were held at Hillsdale along Gloucester Road, on the lot where Jos. Lea's house now stands. Rows of pens for sheep, pigs, and calves were situated along the roadside. Other livestock was displayed on the lot. Hillsdale, at that time was a thriving community, and provided every accommodation required by Fair visitors. In the early 1880's, the fair was held on the land south of the Presbyterian Cemetery. A long shed was there for the purpose of exhibiting produce, and horses were shown in John Faragher's barn. A race track was in the field, and horses were shown along the road. In 1881 the first fair was held in the Village of Elmvale, the locale being changed from Hillsdale at that date. The following officers were chosen to form the Agriculture Society for 1891; President R. Graham; Vice-president Wm. Mills; Directors, John Anderson, Thos. D. Cooper, Thos. Ritchie, W. Quantz, W. Spring, J. Rowat, Harvey Maquire, Harvey Henry, Geo. Hickling; Secretary, R. Hm Middleton; Treasurer, W.A. Sneath. (Taken from Elmvale Advocate of 1891). A notice to this effect appeared in the Chronicle and North Simcoe Advocate, now the Lance, issued in Elmvale on Aug. 17, 1893. The notice stated that, "The Flos Agriculture Society will hold its 12th Annual Exhibition in Driving Park (now Agriculture Park), Elmvale, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, October 10,11, and 12. The directors are putting forth every effort to make this the greatest exhibition ever held here. Prior to a permanent site being obtained, it was customary to have fairs in farmers' fields. At different times, fairs were held on the Paterson property, N 1/2 Lot 5, Con. 8, and on Thos. Ritchie's farm, near the site of the former public school. The building used to display exhibits is now used by Mr. Earl Drysdale as a garage. It was situated on the property owned by Mrs. R.A. Cooper, and occupied then by Mr. McCrimmon, a wheelwright. About 1885, the present fairgrounds was put in shape, and the same year a grant of $500 was received from the Simcoe County Council. Little is now known of the officers who guided the association through the early days, but it is certain that "Big John" Ritchie was then president. The first and only Agriculture Hall was finished in time for the fair in 1906. Wm. Rowley did the carpenter work and Albert Ganton put in the cement floor and foundation. This building, a large two-storey structure, was erected on the south-east corner of the Agriculture Park. It was a frame building which became weather-beaten with age. The east end was a long one-storey extension, with a stage and office along the east end. In this part there was enough room to seat 1000 persons, and 400 new chairs arrive in time for the concert, in 1906. In the winter the extension area was used for a curling rink. In the early 1900s, the concert on the closing night was an important feature of the fair. Entertainers were brought in from large centres, and they presented concerts of the highest calibre. On two occasions, the 48th Highlanders' Band rendered highly successful performances. The one of 1908, consisted of 17 numbers. Admission; 75 cents, 50 cents and 35 cents. At fair time, special trains ran from Barrie to Elmvale, stopping at all intermediate stations, carrying visitors to the fair. Such train service was offered in the early 1900's before the arrival of the automobile. The attendance was great; it was stated that 5,000 had attended on the final day. The year 1952 saw the Elmvale Memorial Area first used as a display area for the fair exhibits. The old two-storey building was cut down to one-storey, and moved north to a new location, where it became a shed for livestock, and the other part was dismantled and the lumber used for sheds. A grandstand was built in 1901 near the southwest corner of the fairgrounds. Many patrons, protected from sun and rain, watched the horse races from it. In the 1920's the grandstand was burned. Incidentally, a stable for the race horses was located under the grandstand. Before the arena was built, the race track was a half-mile circular one; the fair buildings were outside the track. Livestock was led across to be judged, and midway attractions were inside the race course as well. In 1948, the Junior School Fair was formed to encourage the pupils to take an interest in bettering farm and garden produce. Mr Stewart Page, Barrie, gave much advice and encouragement to the School Fair, and the junior exhibitors. This fair was successful and was later an important segment of the Fall Fair. In 1956, the Elmvale Curling Club was given permission to erect a curling rink, joined to the west of the arena. At fair time, it is used to display baking, needlework, Women's Institute exhibits, and industrial arts displays by the high school students. In 1959, the Elmvale Fair celebrated its 100th anniversary. To commemmorate this important occasion, new entrance gates were erected. The following is printed on the gate plaques; "Flos Agriculture Society 1859-1959; presented by Ontario Department of Agriculture in Recognition of 100 years service, Tuesday September 22, 1959", and "Flos Agriculture Society 1859-1959; To Honour the Pioneers of this Community and all those who during the Past 100 Years, have served the agriculture community." The Ontario coat-of-arms is shown on both plaques. In Centennial Year, the fair was a great success with a very large attendance. A special centennial parade consisted of many articles common 100 years ago; a surrey 'with a fringe on top' with occupants dressed as they did in days gone by; horse and buggies, a "dog" churn belonging to Mr. F. Bumstead, a steam engine elegant with a new coat of paint and brass shined up, a hand-fed thresher, the old and the new fire engines, and gasoline delivery trucks, the old horse-drawn type. Mrs. Clarence Ritchie, the Centennial Queen, rode in a buggy with her nephew Jack Fleming. The queen, appropriately, dressed in a gold-coloured taffeta bridal gown of Mrs. Caston, Hillsdale, which was at least 100 years old. She wore high-laced boots and an old-fashioned black bonnet, worn many years ago by Mrs. Jon Houden Sr. To complete her outfit, Mrs. Ritchie wore her own wedding gloves, which matched her dress in colour. Her companion was dressed in tails and a black topper. For many years the school parade on the second day of the fair has been described by many as the best in Simcoe County. The floats have been outstanding, depicting national, seasonal, current history, nursery rhymes, and many other topics. A great deal of planning and work go into obtaining costumes and decorating floats, such that pupils and teachers are to be commended for their efforts. I, personally, was involved in these parades for nearly 40 years, first as a pupil and then as a teacher. The following is a list of the Flos Agriculture Fair presidents, and it may not be complete: John Johnston (farmer), John Ritchie (farmer), Robert Peters (hardware merchant), Pichard Graham (farmer, councilor), Walter Rowley (farmer), George Fleming (farmer), Stanley Tipping (creamery operator), Thomas Smith (farmer, township clerk), Walter Middleton (farmer, township reeve. warden of Simcoe County), Reginald Bertram (farmer), Cecil French (teacher), Earl Elliott (farmer), Don Bertram (farmer), Lloyd Dunlop (furniture dealer). Owing to the fire in the arena, there was no place to display exhibits, and for the first time in 115 years, Elmvale held no fair, in 1975.