Warren County Fair
About:
The Warren County Fair, in one form or another, has been in existence for over 100 years. It's been servicing local agriculture, business & industry, and resident talent with the sacrifice and dedication to be great. Warren County residents, past residents, business owners, vendors, farmers, and public fair goers gravitate every August to the best place in the County for an entire week to enjoy camping, equine, livestock, motorsports, amusements, and the rest of the best of Warren County.
History:
This then is the story of the present Warren County Fair located at Pittsfield, PA. First a prelude is in order. There have been other fairs in this county to be sure. Old newspapers on file in the library reveal some interesting tales concerning several of them. The first Agricultural Show in the county was a one day event in 1850 at Sugar Grove. There appeared to be no formal organization. The following year the "Warren County Agricultural Society" was formed, and nineteen annual fairs were held. There were three fairs missing during the Civil War years, and in 1871 the Society died from lack of interest and support. By 1874 the "Union Agricultural Society of Warren County" was formed in Sugar Grove, and that group operated a fair for the next thirteen years.. It came to a halt because the County Fair in Warren, composed of a new bunch of upstarts, proved to be too much competition.
In 1884 the Warren County Agricultural Fair Association was formed by the combination of the Warren Board of Trade and the Warren Farmers Club. The spearhead was a fellow named George Orr, who, according to the journal, was a zealous leader and businessman. There was $1,500 subscribed by businessmen of the borough to get the thing rolling. For five years they leased the spacious grounds across the river where the general hospital now stands. It was called Irvine Bottoms then. The rental amounted to $200 a year, and the toll bridge owners got $150 for the week to make free access to the grounds. According to the "Warren Mail" work started June 14, 1884. Grounds were tilled, the race course graded, sheds and fencing were built, and the fair was held September 9, 10, 11, and 12. It was a grand success with over 1,000 entries and $3,000 taken in at the gate.
