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A
bird's eye view of the rides during 1991 fair.
Every year the streets of New Holland close to
traffic and the center of town transforms into a celebration of farm and
community. The crisp autumn
air is sweetened with funnel cake, hot cinnamon rolls, and cotton candy. Laughter rings out and dazzling lights shine on the midway
filled with thrilling rides and games of chance.
The 4-day event kicks off with the Spectacle of Bands Parade
Wednesday evening at 7 pm where excitement and attendance is at its peak.
The entire 2-mile route is flooded with spectators and is quite a
sight to see. There is
something for everyone throughout the week including an FFA tractor
driving contest and a swine and sheep show and sale at the New Holland
Sales Stables. The tug of war
and pedal power take place on Franklin Street.
A bake sale and kid’s day are held in the ambulance parking lot.
Saturday starts off with a horseshoe-pitching contest at the park
and continues with a pet parade and baby parade on Main Street.
In addition, there are a whole host of exhibits to enjoy.
The New Holland Farmers Fair, known to many as “Farm Show”, has
been around for over 75 years and has a very rich and colorful history.
A gorgeous afternoon on the midway at the 1951 fair. The
view is from the movie theater looking East down Main Street.
It was August 1927 when a team of 5 people met to
acquire information to start a Farmer’s Day Association for New Holland.
H. Earle Wright, E.L. Knecht, L.M. Storb Sr., Eli M. Hess, and
Harry E. Ressler were chosen for this event to be held in October.
The business people of New Holland were studying the successes of
Farmer’s Day Exhibits in the neighboring towns of Lititz, Manheim and
Ephrata. A meeting was held
August 22 and the initial steps toward a Farmer’s Day Exhibit were
underway. On August 31 a
public meeting was held to organize an association that would sponsor the
production of this 3-day fair. The
election of officers included Charles S. Zwally, President, Issac W.
Cauller, Secretary, and Paul F. Esbenshade, Treasurer.
A financial planning committee was comprised of Wm. E. Davis, L. M.
Storb Sr., Eli Hess, H. Earle Wright, and C. M. Diller.
On September 10, another meeting was held with a special invitation
to every farmer and businessman in Earl, East Earl, West Earl, Salisbury,
Caernarvon, Leacock, and Upper Leacock Townships. Families and friends were also encouraged to attend this very
important public meeting. Spirits
ran high, as the first annual Farmer’s Day Show was set for October 21
and 22, 1927.
President Zwally appointed chairmen to the following
categories: general overseer, publicity & printing, exhibit
concessions, lighting, canned goods, fancy work, school exhibits, grain,
tobacco & potatoes, fruit & vegetables, livestock, commission
cattle, poultry, eggs, flowers, dogs, and educational moving pictures. First prize money and first through third place ribbons were
awarded in each of the above groupings.
Virtually every business in the center of town donated the use of
its windows for displaying exhibits.
In addition, the then high school auditorium was obtained for corn,
potatoes, tobacco, and vegetables. The
flower show was displayed in the dining room of the New Holland House and
the Stauffer Sales Company housed the poultry, livestock, and dogs.
Council approved the closing of North and South Roberts Avenue,
where 68 spaces were laid out for the displaying of automobiles,
machinery, and household appliances of all kinds.
The entire length of the street was equipped for the night with 100
candlepower lamps strung every 4’.
In addition, the state approved the closing of Main Street between
Custer and Railroad Avenues. There were refreshment stands and entertainment both days
courtesy of the City Band of Lancaster.
Attendance was estimated between 15,000 and 18,000, well above what
anyone could’ve imagined. The
event was deemed the biggest, cleanest, and most elaborate affair ever
held in the borough.
With a grand success under their belt and a balance
of $217.29 from the first show, next year’s fair was to be held for 3
days, October 18, 19, and 20. The
year was 1928 and it was New Holland’s 200th anniversary.
An additional street was added, Franklin from Roberts to Railroad.
Changes were also made to some of the exhibits.
New categories included honey and bantams & pigeons. Windows and antiques were added to the fancy work category.
Fruit & vegetables became separate categories as did grain from
tobacco & potatoes. Rules for the exhibits were established.
There were 100 outside spaces marked off along North and South
Roberts Avenue and East Franklin Street for displaying commercial exhibits
including farm machinery and household goods and automobiles.
Unique displays included Wright’s Bakery’s doughnut-making
machine and Overly & Good’s gas engine that ran a cream separator, a
wash machine pump, and rocked a baby.
The attendance nearly doubled that of the prior year.
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The decade of the 1930’s
saw many modifications and
additions to the fair, despite the Great Depression. By 1930, second and third prize money was awarded and a new
category for horses and mules was added.
The New Holland Farmer’s Day Association became chartered and
incorporated May 5, 1933. The
attendance at that year’s show was estimated at 20,000.
Some great firsts at the 1934 show included a Mummer’s Parade
with $40.00 in prize money, a Baby Parade with 60 children partaking, and
an “Industrial Parade”, which was held on Tuesday evening.
There was a quoits-pitching contest and bicycle races were held on
the high school property. Due to bad weather on Saturday that year, the fair was
actually continued on Monday and Tuesday evenings with the consent of the
concessionaires! 1935 saw the
second annual horse show that was the first year held in conjunction with
the Farm Show. The horse show
remained a great attraction at the fair for many years.
It was also the first year for women to enter the corn-husking
contest. In 1936, the
Industrial parade was moved to Thursday evening and the Mummers Parade was
held on Friday evening. There
was a harmonica contest, which was judged on musical ability and applause. 1938 brought the first baby beef show and the following year
in 1939 the first pet parade was held.
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Although there were no fairs from 1941 to 1945 during
World War II, the 1940’s were still filled with many great fairs.
In 1946, the 15th annual New Holland Farm Show had
resumed and State Candidates of both major parties for Pennsylvania
visited the fair that year. It
was a time when the first photographs of the fair began to surface, many
of which are shown in the premium books.
The fancy work division added an art category in 1947 and in 1949
it became a separate department. 1947
was also the first year for the 4-H Pig Club, where all the pigs were
offered at public auction after being shown and judged.
New entertainment including Shorty Long and his Santa Fe Rangers,
The Ammon Family, and the New Holland Victory Band became popular.
Fairgoers rode exciting rides brought by Morris Hanum.
The decade was capped off when, in 1949, a fourth day was added to
the yearly event.
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A perfect fall afternoon at the 1974 fair.
The 1950’s and 1960’s saw continued growth of the
young fair. In 1951, the
entertainment of Red Skiles and His Happy Valley Boys and the Farmers Fair
German Band were seen performing in the streets of the fair for many
years. In 1952, the Spectacle of Bands Parade, comprised of both
Industrial and Mummer’s divisions, was moved to its current date of
Wednesday evening. The first
kid’s day was organized and held in 1953.
A milestone was reached in 1956 with the 25th
anniversary of the Farm Show. Several
individuals were recognized in the premium list that year for their
outstanding and devoted service.
In 1958, there was an adult hula-hoop contest held on South
Railroad Avenue. In 1960, a
Democratic Rally was held on Thursday evening and a Republican Rally on
Friday evening. The first
year for the safe tractors operation and maintenance contest was in 1961.
In 1963, the Garden Spot 4-H Sewing Club was established.
The model show started in 1965, as did the first tug of war among
local fire companies. The
original prizes were $50 for first place and $25 for second.
In 1969 the handcraft show was started.
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Can you feel the excitement during the 1973's fireman's
tug-of-war?
By 1970, the tug of war prizes had changed and rules
that are still used today were established.
A women’s tug of war was implemented, but only lasted 2 years due
to lack of team representation. Later,
a ladies bucket brigade was held for 5 years, but again, representation
was low and it was eventually cancelled.
1972 was the debut year for Henry T. Cole Show’s midway. They continue to bring bigger, awesome rides each year.
The Spectacle of Bands Parade route was moved from Main Street to
Broad Street in the early 1970s. This
was due to the growing number of concessions on Main Street.
By 1976 photography exhibits were added to the art show. Another goal was attained as 50 years of Farm
Shows were celebrated in 1981. This
was also the year for the first horseshoe-pitching contest where both male
and female participants try their luck at winning a trophy on Saturday.
In 1985, the first pedal power was held in which children ages 3
through 6 and 7 through 10 compete in a tractor pull contest.
The pet parade moved to Saturday afternoon in 1986 and with that
new classes and bigger prizes were awarded.
That same year a bake sale was started in the ambulance parking
lot.
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1990 marked the first year for the sheep and swine
show and sale. An FFA
tractor-driving contest for high school students began in 1995.
Throughout the 1990s and today, the tug of war continues to be a
huge draw at the fair with 16 teams battling for a record first place of
$600.00, a team trophy, and individual trophies.
Second wins $500.00, third wins $400.00, and fourth wins $300.00
plus a team trophy. If a team
wins first place three years in a row, they get to keep the 125’ long 2
½” hemp rope. Each
competing team gets a $50 consolation prize check just for being in the
competition. The tug of war
currently has 7 sponsoring banks and 3 commercial sponsors.
What began many years ago with just 5 short weeks of planning has
turned into a year round process. The
New Holland Farm Show continues to thrive thanks to the countless number
of hardworking volunteers over the years.
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