Let's try the fair again....and again....and again

In early 1905, the Arizona Legislature created the Arizona Territorial Fair Commission. The purpose of the Commission was to find a city that would establish a fair site and rent it to the Commission for one week per year. The Legislature also appropriated $15,000 for fair buildings and $7,500 a year for maintenance of the fair. The fair Commission was composed of 3 members appointed by the Governor. No one volunteered for the fair for several months. Finally, J. C. Adams gathered a group of prominent citizens at the Hotel Adams and put up $1,000 to organize a company to start the Territorial Fair. People from Phoenix and around the Territory quickly contributed $40,000 ($865,000 when it is converted to the present day) to capitalize the company. An 80 acre tract was purchased at what would become 19th Avenue and McDowell which was a very rural area northwest of Phoenix. The site was surrounded by a high board fence. A grandstand with seating for 3,500 was built overlooking race tracks of 1 mile and ½ mile. Looking east from the grandstand, the view was described as “…here and there the trees surround a thousand happy farm homes that dot the plain for a dozen miles. Next rises gray old Camelback…to the right of Camelback are the red sand hills made famous by the Hole in the Rock, while between the two rock ranges in the back ground a hundred miles to the east, rise the snow capped summits of the Four Peaks.” Before the fair began, a special trolley line was built along Grand Avenue from downtown Phoenix to the gates of the fairground. The trolley ran every few minutes and cost a nickel ($1.08 in current dollars). Special trains with special rates were scheduled to bring passengers from all parts of the Territory. The daily running of the fair was divided into three divisions. The mining division highlighted the mining industry. This included the construction of a mining building on the fairground site so tourists in Phoenix and visitors to the Capitol could see how mining affects Arizona. It was noted that highlighting mining “…will give the industry confidence in itself and promote co-operation rather than selfishness, boosting rather than knocking…” The second division was the racing division which promoted daily horse races at the fair. For the first fair, more than $12,000 was guaranteed for purses. The races were successful, but it was noted “we are displeased to learn that an outburst of profanity greeted the termination of each race much to the disgust of the ladies who had seats in the grandstand.” The final division was the general exhibits that included all the wonders of the fair that people still flock to see such as paintings, homemaking practices, bee keeping, furniture building and curios. Among the curios was an autographed letter from George Washington at Mount Vernon in 1797. There was also an Eskimo rain coat made of walrus gut. Also included in the curios was a set of toy chairs made in France during the time of Louis XVI. Of course, there was a dairy, creamery department and livestock. A livestock parade was held during the fair and it was more than ½ mile long. One dairy cow produced 9 gallons of milk a day. Another cow at the fair produced 21 pounds of butter in 7 days. What is now called the midway was know as the Hassayamp. The name was considered suggestive and distinctly Arizonan. The Hassayamp included confections, refreshments, tobaccos, games of chance with cash prizes, parachute jumping, captive balloon rides, side shows, gymnasts, freak features, vaudeville, panoramas, and exhibits of skill. One skill that was showcased was rifle shooting demonstrations which occurred several times a day on the midway. Several special days were reserved throughout the fair for groups. One day included a military tournament with competitive drills and trophies. A Gatling gun demonstration was popular with fair goers. There was a mining day that included drilling contests. The person with the best prospectors outfit got a special prize. Hassayampa Day gave recognition to Arizona pioneers. Prizes were given to couples married the longest, oldest native born son and daughter, the prettiest baby boy and girl under 2 years of age, and the ugliest man. Finally, one day gave free admission to “Aborigines” or Native Americans that came to the fair. More than 3,000 Indians attended the fair. There were several Indian foot races including one mile and two mile relay races, a quarter mile foot race, and an Indian wagon race. Upon its completion, the first Territorial Fair was declared a grand success. Its traditions, food and exhibits carry on today at the Arizona State Fair.

Arizona State Fair

By the 1880’s the Territory of Arizona was the Wild West. With a total population of around 60,000, the Territory was just starting to get organized through the 13th Legislature which became known as the “Bloody Thirteenth” or “Thieving Thirteenth” because of its spending habits. At one point, acting Governor H. M. Van Arman stated “…the territory is quite poor in purse although rich in mineral wealth. All the citizens have a holy horror of being assessed, or paying taxes…” The “Bloody Thirteenth” gave out many of the institutions that still thrive in Arizona today. They kept the capital in Prescott for the time being. The Legislature left the prison in Yuma. Even though it only cost $6 per week to send patients to California, the Legislature authorized $100,000 ($2.1 million in current dollars) to built an insane asylum near Phoenix. Tempe received $5,000 to start a teacher’s college. Tucson was granted $25,000 to start the University of Arizona. One reason for the smaller allocation for the University was “…who ever heard of a professor buying a drink?” Yet, Territorial Governor Frederick Tritle was concerned about several other issues. Cowboy lawlessness was a big concern for the Governor. One editorial writer indicated “…a lot of loose, marauding thieves are scouring the country killing good, industrious citizens for plunder. The officials are out in every direction, but nothing is accomplished.” Governor Tritle was also worried about the Indian situation. He felt that the San Carlos Reservation was being used as a terrorist training ground. Indians there were clothed, fed, and drilled on tactics. They used their knowledge to leave the reservation and murder citizens before the military could restrain them. At the 1885 Arizona Industrial Exposition in Phoenix, Governor Tritle stated, “I have urged repeatedly that these Indians should be removed from our Territory and their lands opened to occupation…the life of one industrious white settler…is of infinitely more value than the lives of all the non-producing Apache vagabonds in our Territory.” The Industrial Exposition of 1884 and 1885 was the precursor to the modern Arizona State Fair which sprang to life in 1905. It was hoped that the Exposition would showcase the products of the Territory. However, early editorials pointed out “…the total lack of an agricultural exhibit…will convey the idea that the valley has nothing in this line worthy of exhibit.” The Territory was experiencing a business depression during these years. Getting to the fair was a daunting commitment of time and resources for everyone that lived outside the confines of the City of Phoenix with a population of less than 3,000. Plus, there was that question of the Cowboys and Indians. Governor Tritle spoke at the Exposition. He praised the fair as a way to “…promote knowledge, stimulate industry, develop resources and increase commerce.” The Governor also looked into the future of Arizona. He could see “…a major proportion of our Territorial area can be only used for grazing purposes…” and “…mining will for many years remain one of the chief industries of Arizona…” Governor Tritle tried to encourage the expansion of the railroads in Arizona. He felt that easier access to and from the mines would make Arizona ore more valuable to industry. More railroads would also encourage farmers and ranchers to market their products to the mining industry. The Governor naively predicted “…the miner would work as readily for three dollars per day as for four now providing his cost of living were proportionately less.” Governor Tritle even spoke of the need for money to expand the infrastructure of the Territory. He said “…the people are often afraid of taxation, but it does not necessarily follow that because the rate of taxation is high that financial interests are depressed…or that there has been useless and reckless expenditures of either private or public moneys.” The two year run of the Territorial Fair was not considered a success. The Exposition was abandoned after 1885 with little fanfare for 20 years until the Arizona Territorial Fair was revived in 1905.