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You may be surprised to learn that the first annual Monroe County Fair was held over one hundred fifty years ago. Perhaps even more surprising is the fact that the fair didn't have a permanent location until one hundred years later. As a result, the fair has had a long and intersting nomadic history.
The first annual Monroe County Fair was held for two days, on October 10th and 11th in 1855, by the Monroe County Agricultural Society. The event was suspended during the Civil War, then resumed operations in 1868. From 1868 until the early 1880's, it was held on the land now known as Dunn Meadow on the Indiana University campus. In the early 1890's the fair was located in brick buildings at the site of the present Duke Energy, near West 2nd and Walker streets. For a number of years. around 1910, the fair was located at the corner of Vernal Pike and Curry Pike. People from town took the Monon train to the fair.
During the late 1920's and early 1930's the fair was held around the courthouse square, with the 4-H projects being housed in the public library. However, the space on the squre became unavailable, and the fair became an exhibit of 4-H projects only. During the middle 1930's these 4-H projects were exhibited in the old high school gym at the corner of West 2nd Street and College Avenue. During the late 1930’s and 1940’s, the 4-H projects were exhibited at the Ellettsville Fall Festival. The 4-H exhibits were moved back to the high school gym in the early 1940’s.
At long last, in 1946, The Bloomington Chamber of Commerce began the ten-year sponsorship of the Monroe County 4-H clubs by providing a site for the fair and funds for premiums. The fair was held in the Indiana University fieldhouse, located on East 7th Street, which was an experience best described as "interesting."
From the August 13, 1946 Indiana Daily Student:
In June of that year, Athletics Director Zora Clevenger was particularly unhappy with the IU football practice fields being used for livestock exhibits. He said "First, the danger to the boys playing on those fields; they might become infected with tetanus: Secondly, we do not want our fields torn up in any way immediately before the opening of fall practice."
His statements made little impact, and two months later, the August 13, 1946 Indiana Daily Student described to fieldhouse: “Walls have been made festive with orange curtains, and along the north wall, there is a stage for vaudeville acts and a 4-H Club style show. East of the Fieldhouse tents have been erected for the display of livestock and poultry. Displays will include automobiles, farm machinery, plumbing, furniture, jewelry, and groceries by local retail merchants and industries. There will be open class displays of canning and needlework…There will be several refreshment concession stands. Over 800 4-H Club members from Monroe County will contribute to the exhibitions.”
The Fair continued to enjoy the IU Campus as its home, and the Chamber of Commerce as its sponsor until 1954, when the Chamber said it could no longer sponsor the event. This led to the formation of the Monroe County Fair Association in 1955, and the fair has been held annually at the present site ever since.
Due to the fiscal responsibility of the The Fair Board, there have been each year, including the purchase of more than fifty acres of land adjacent to the present fairgrounds to allow for expansion. Through donations, a tax levy for a number of years, advertising during the fair, renting the building and grounds during the off seasons, and admission to the various fair-sponsored events, the Monroe County Fair appears to be in good health, and ready to face another hundred years.
The first annual Monroe County Fair was held for two days, on October 10th and 11th in 1855, by the Monroe County Agricultural Society. The event was suspended during the Civil War, then resumed operations in 1868. From 1868 until the early 1880's, it was held on the land now known as Dunn Meadow on the Indiana University campus. In the early 1890's the fair was located in brick buildings at the site of the present Duke Energy, near West 2nd and Walker streets. For a number of years. around 1910, the fair was located at the corner of Vernal Pike and Curry Pike. People from town took the Monon train to the fair.
During the late 1920's and early 1930's the fair was held around the courthouse square, with the 4-H projects being housed in the public library. However, the space on the squre became unavailable, and the fair became an exhibit of 4-H projects only. During the middle 1930's these 4-H projects were exhibited in the old high school gym at the corner of West 2nd Street and College Avenue. During the late 1930’s and 1940’s, the 4-H projects were exhibited at the Ellettsville Fall Festival. The 4-H exhibits were moved back to the high school gym in the early 1940’s.
At long last, in 1946, The Bloomington Chamber of Commerce began the ten-year sponsorship of the Monroe County 4-H clubs by providing a site for the fair and funds for premiums. The fair was held in the Indiana University fieldhouse, located on East 7th Street, which was an experience best described as "interesting."
From the August 13, 1946 Indiana Daily Student:
In June of that year, Athletics Director Zora Clevenger was particularly unhappy with the IU football practice fields being used for livestock exhibits. He said "First, the danger to the boys playing on those fields; they might become infected with tetanus: Secondly, we do not want our fields torn up in any way immediately before the opening of fall practice."
His statements made little impact, and two months later, the August 13, 1946 Indiana Daily Student described to fieldhouse: “Walls have been made festive with orange curtains, and along the north wall, there is a stage for vaudeville acts and a 4-H Club style show. East of the Fieldhouse tents have been erected for the display of livestock and poultry. Displays will include automobiles, farm machinery, plumbing, furniture, jewelry, and groceries by local retail merchants and industries. There will be open class displays of canning and needlework…There will be several refreshment concession stands. Over 800 4-H Club members from Monroe County will contribute to the exhibitions.”
The Fair continued to enjoy the IU Campus as its home, and the Chamber of Commerce as its sponsor until 1954, when the Chamber said it could no longer sponsor the event. This led to the formation of the Monroe County Fair Association in 1955, and the fair has been held annually at the present site ever since.
Due to the fiscal responsibility of the The Fair Board, there have been each year, including the purchase of more than fifty acres of land adjacent to the present fairgrounds to allow for expansion. Through donations, a tax levy for a number of years, advertising during the fair, renting the building and grounds during the off seasons, and admission to the various fair-sponsored events, the Monroe County Fair appears to be in good health, and ready to face another hundred years.
