Despite 95-degree and very humid weather today, we tromped through the Fayette County Free Fair today. This was the first free county fair in the country, established in 1903. And if you read one of the early chapters in the series here about Brad’s Gambling Life, you might remember that this fair in his hometown of Connersville, IN, was a high point in Brad’s summers for many of his childhood and youth years.
The animal barns had not changed, Brad said. Pig, and goats, and chickens, and rabbits, and horses, and cows – they never change. However, the rest of the fair was much smaller. Not as many rides or food stands – people have more entertainment options now than they did in the 40’s. And there were no midway games at all. Maybe the town cracked down on all the carnival crookedness – or people are more knowledgeable about this sort of thing these days. I’m not sure.
But Brad wasn’t disappointed. And it was fun to drive around town with Brad pointing out all the haunts of his youth.
And, by the way, for you who have written that you are getting tired of waiting, there are two more installments in the series about Brad’s life. They will be put here in a couple of weeks, when we get back from our road trip.
It is so nice to hear about you going to the Fayette County Free Fair, as I was born and raised in Connersville. The fair was a big thing that everyone looked forward to each year, because there just isn’t alot to do in a small town. Myself and my family went to the fair each year, and miss those things since I have move to NC.