This year's state fair reminded me that Arkansans have been flocking to a state fair for more than a century.
On Oct. 1, 1906, after massive promotion, a state fair opened in Hot Springs that was described by the Arkansas Democrat as "a blaze of glory." While state fairs were celebrated sporadically back to at least 1873, the fair of 1906 was the first of the modern events--which had statewide publicity, exhibits from over the state, and a truly impressive midway.
A major part of the success of the 1906 event was its location on the sumptuous grounds of Oaklawn Park, a racetrack owned by the Oaklawn Jockey Club. The Park was within an easy commute of Hot Springs' numerous hotels. Only three years earlier the Park had undergone a costly renovation, resulting in a sophisticated facility with over 100,000 square feet of covered space.
Americans were keen on fairs and expositions. Surprising numbers of Arkansans attended the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, and Arkansas even had an elegant building at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904. The Arkansas State Fair Association was reorganized about this same time, and shortly afterward the Association entered into an agreement with the Oaklawn Jockey Club to host the state fair.
By 1906 the city of Hot Springs, which numbered about 15,000 citizens, was home to a growing business class which could organize the state fair. At that time the state government was not involved in funding or managing the fair, so local business leaders were called upon to run it. A Hot Springs pharmacist, S. R. Jackson, served as president of the fair, while printing executive Ray Gill served as general manager. The fair organizers also named a "lady manager," Miss Carrie Price. A committee of local businessmen, professionals, and governmental leaders served an oversight role.
The organizers used a wide variety of strategies to market the fair. Bernie Babcock, a young widow who was raising her family by working as a freelance writer, promoted the fair lavishly in her Sketch Book magazine. She promised incredible sights, including daily races between the newfangled automobiles, the flight of an "air ship" from the midway, and even daily races "in which 'Black Diamond,' the famous trotting ostrich, will give some famous trotting horse the race of his life." Of course, the fair was to have large agricultural and industrial exhibits.
In another wise marketing decision, specific days were set aside to honor cities, regions, and the University of Arkansas. One day was to be Confederate Veterans Day, while another was set aside for "Red Men." Little Rock Day was expected to attract a large contingent, including the recently elected Gov. Jeff Davis.
The last week of September 1906 was wet and windy. Opening day found the skies still raining which, with a stiff wind, kept attendance down. Just before the fair opened, rumors surfaced that "the churches of the city would boycott the fair" due to horse races being held during the event. An Arkansas Democrat reporter noted, however, that "some uneasiness was felt until after the morning service in the churches Sunday. The ladies of a number of churches have booths at the fair and are serving most delightful lunches, etc. There is apparently no effort to boycott the fair."
One of the highlights of the opening day was to have been the flight of an "airship" known as the California Arrow. News reports sadly announced that due to "the fact that the wind blew a half-gale," the airship was unable to take off. Although later news articles promised that the flight would take place, I could find no evidence that it happened. Flight was still in its infancy in 1906, the Wright brothers having flown at Kitty Hawk less than three years earlier. Hot air balloon rides, however, were available to fair goers.
Undoubtedly part of the success of the fair of 1906 was the way it was presented to the public. Electric lights created a "great white way," lighting the night as most Arkansans had never seen. Nightly fireworks provided an "illumination of the midway." A high-dive performer amazed audiences. Automobiles raced about, while organ grinders strolled through the crowds. Bands played throughout the evening until closing time at midnight.
Not everyone attending the fair came for the spectacle. When the fair celebrated Little Rock Day, two original poems were read by Josie Frazee Cappleman, a prominent Little Rock poet and society woman. A large audience was reported to have reacted favorably to Cappleman's ode to "The City of Roses," as Little Rock was known then, and "A Song to Arkansas," which included a reference to "our proud and peerless state."
One of the more popular events during the fair was University of Arkansas Day, when more than 600 male cadets marched in precision before a cheering crowd. University President John N. Tillman used the occasion to give a remarkably forceful speech that went beyond mere rhetoric. He spoke of the need to educate the poor, that the university should "seek out and bring to her halls boys and girls of poverty and promise and clothe them with the bright robes of culture."
Even more forcefully, Tillman promised the university would "furnish equal educational opportunities to men and women ... carrying with it for her, equal rights, dignities, and privileges." Tillman even went out on a limb and said the university should "teach our children to discard superstition and to love pure religion, to reconcile science with Christianity and despise neither."
If you've never been to the state fair, rest easy--today you will not be expected to sit through a poetry reading or an educator's lecture.
Tom Dillard is a historian and retired archivist living in Hot Spring County. Email him at Arktopia.td@gmail.com. An earlier version of this column was published Oct. 1, 2006.
Editorial on 10/22/2017