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.