Honor Lewis County Fair Bicentennial

Senate Resolution No. 2891 BY: Senator GRIFFO COMMEMORATING the 200th Anniversary of the Lewis County Fair WHEREAS, Fairs and festivals empower communities to attract new visitors while capitalizing on local commercial and cultural value; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and support events of significance which contribute to the entertainment and vitality of the communities they serve and which exemplify the history and development of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Lewis County Fair to be celebrated during its Opening Day Ceremony on Tuesday, July 21, 2020; and WHEREAS, The Lewis County Agricultural Society was organized in

1820, and the first County Fair was held at the Lowville Academy on October 3-4, 1821; and WHEREAS, On the morning of the third day, the members of the society convened at the inn of Jared House and the cattle on exhibition were driven to the pens on grounds now occupied by the Methodist Church; and WHEREAS, Lewis County's first judge, The Honorable Silas Stow, held the distinction of being the Fair's first President; his oratory added inspirational dignity to the local agricultural aims of the people, and were prophetic of an excellence that was yet to come; and WHEREAS, After 1821, the Lewis County Fair was held in many different locations and was essentially devoted to the improvement of horses and cattle; between 1841 and 1855 fairs were held annually in Lowville, Martinsburg, Denmark, Constableville, or wherever grounds were available; and WHEREAS, In 1857, available land was acquired and purchased west of the Village of Turin with another fairground purchased southeast of Lowville in 1859; and WHEREAS, From 1855 to 1871, the Lewis County Fair was held alternately at the Turin and Lowville sites; Lowville became the permanent site upon the purchase of 15 acres of land in January of 1876 from the Bostwick Estate at the northeast end of the village; this site became known as Forest Park; and WHEREAS, The 4-H Club, which began in Lewis County in the early 1920s, took part in the Fair for the first time in 1931; and WHEREAS, Since those early years, membership has increased considerably, as have the goals and exhibition of cultural projects displayed by local youth; and WHEREAS, Throughout the storied history of the Lewis County Fair there is a vivid reflection of hard-working, fun-loving and home-loving people which remains today; and WHEREAS, Today, under the able leadership of its President Douglas Hanno, the Lewis County Fair continues to serve as an extraordinary attraction, bringing thousands of people each year to see what it has to offer; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and commend those organizations that have brought entertainment and cultural enrichment to the citizens of the State of New York; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Lewis County Fair; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Douglas Hanno, President, Lewis County Agricultural Society.