 
Assembly Resolution No. 803
 
BY: M. of A. Blankenbush
 
        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.
Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Lewis County Fair

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