By Jamie Furness, Stafford Historical Society
On the opening day of the 18th Stafford Fair in 1888, the weather was not as promising as anticipated, but that did not stop the schools from closing or cause them to turn the attendees away. Nor had many tickets been returned at the gate. That morning, judges were glad to be inside, and hundreds opted for the attractions in the newly built hall, starting with the favorite and always popular showing of poultry.
Displayed in the grange hall were fruit, vegetables, a 150-pound squash, canned goods, quilted pieces, fancy needlework, and historical relics like dishes, tools, arrowheads, books of a bygone era that included a 1760 almanac, and a three-foot piece of the first ocean telegraphic cable. A display of bugs, beetles, butterflies, dairy exhibits, and a butter-making machine were most noteworthy. Local firms displayed their work and wares like cemetery stones, photos of homes built with Monson granite, hardware, sportsmen’s goods, organ players, and stoves. Stafford’s own G.H. Baker & Co. displayed an elegant line of carpets and parlor furniture. Those who braved the weather hoped to see livestock such as sheep, Governor Hyde’s fine lot of award-winning Jerseys and Devons, and Julius Converse’s Holstein’s, both having been a leading attraction for the past several years. “Best showing of cattle I ever saw,” said one veteran of cattle shows.
Early afternoon was one of promise. Breaks in the rain and specks of blue sky brought more hopeful crowds to the gates. But just before the horses started to trot, the winds picked up, and the rain fell, dispersing the fairgoers back into the exhibit halls and suspending the races. Soon after the attractions were stalled, the showers turned to a drizzle, and the dogs were able to perform their tricks, the rope walker was able to walk, and with the wind dying down, the main draw – the widely known Professor Hogan – was able to fill his balloon and be ready at the appointed time of 5:30 to perform his aeronautical feat.
A fine sight it was as he made his ascent above the crowd of 3,000 spectators. The balloon rose over a mile high until the grey clouds had almost blocked him from view. They waited patiently. The Professor took the fabric chute and its attached cords and connected it to the basket. He readied his contraption to fall to Earth once he started his descent. He took the last few moments to grab the large ring attached to the chute and cords, to sight a landing area, and to say a prayer.
With his hands tightly gripped around the ring, Professor Hogan jumped from the basket from that awful height, nothing below him but the spectators and the hard, unforgiving ground. The cord connecting to the basket suddenly snapped, the exhibitionist’s only lifeline was a ring and some fabric. Then, although recently calm, the weather suddenly aggravated the situation when the wind picked up and tangled the cords, the rain stiffened the fabric, and the chute couldn’t expand. The Professor fell through the sky at a terrible rate. His knuckles turned white, his head went dizzy. Mouths agape, the crowd saw his white chute plummeting like a log. Fearing the worst, some ran. Others covered their eyes. Women clutched their breasts. One almost fainted from holding her breath. Gasps and exclamations of “My God” were heard amid the silence.
Suddenly, half the descent made, Professor Hogan gathered his wits and shook the ropes with all his might. “Pop!” The chute did what it was intended to do and caught the air and transformed into a cone shape, reminiscent of an umbrella. Fully opened, it slowed, and he swung gracefully to and fro. The fearless aeronaut waved his hand to the crowd he had left on the ground a short time before. What a fantastically frightening sight over the skies of Stafford Springs at the Stafford Fair!
Balloon ascensions like Professor Hogan’s were popular in the early years of the fair. He was one of many stage attractions and entertainers who helped to fill the schedule of the three to four-day agricultural fair held in October from 1870 to 1969. Even though attractions were popular, The Stafford Fair’s purpose was to showcase farmers’ produce and livestock and to share new methods of farming and husbandry. Tens of thousands of fairgoers looked forward to seeing whose livestock, produce, and handiwork won ribbons and trophies, as well as the local businesses and industries that had booths or exhibits demonstrating their products or services. The most popular attraction at the fair was racing. Until WWII, harness racing (a horse pulling a driver in a two-wheeled cart called a sulky) brought racers and people from around the country to Stafford. On and off, starting in 1914, motorcycles raced and at the 1949 fair, stock cars made their debut.
The first Stafford Fair was set up under tents on Willington Avenue (where Stafford Fire Department No. 1 now stands) with the horses racing on Main Street. In 1871, the fair moved to what we know as Stafford Motor Speedway. There, it grew to what many residents may remember from their childhood – half-price children’s days, laser light shows, a midway with games, senior class fundraising, sitting in the grandstands, sending messages to Vietnam servicemen at a booth with amateur radio operators or Kelly the Kandy Man. Although the Stafford Fair may be gone, it will never be forgotten. The Stafford Historical Society continues to collect photos and memorabilia from the fair and to interpret the fair’s history for the Stafford residents and visitors. There is always something new to learn about the role the Stafford Fair played in the social and economic development of the town.
The Stafford Historical Society is dedicated to promoting and preserving the rich history of the town of Stafford, Connecticut. Our main museum, at 5 Spring Street, has two floors of exhibits and a research area with files of photos, articles, and books on the town. We also run the Patten One-Room Schoolhouse in Heritage Park, one of Stafford’s original seventeen schoolhouses. We are generally open the second Sunday of the month, April to November, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., during Arts on Main from June to September, and other town events such as the Apple Fest and Winterfest. We have workshops every first and third Monday of the month and are open for volunteers and visitors from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. During these workshops, we work on various museum and exhibit-related projects. Follow us on Facebook.
Sources:
Hartford Courant, 10/22/1888
The Press, 09/27/1888, 10/4/1888, 10/18/1888