Reminiscences of Children's Fair (Continued)
Construction of the Fair (Continued Page 12 - 13)
Records and Reminiscences of Children’s Fair
“Seeking to make idle hours useful hours, I have written it in my old age Please accept my old RECORDS AND REMINISCENCES.” - C. H. Obear - July 8, 1911
Construction of the Fair - Page 12-13
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FAIR.
This Children's Benevolent Fair had come into existence. Was there any element of perpetuity in it?
It was a unique institution! It could not be called an organization! It had no constitution or by-laws, or even "rules of action." It simply had a purpose to carry out.
That purpose was to plant in the hearts of the coming generation an early desire and habit of sharing its blessings and privileges with others to whom had not been given in so large degree. There were no officers chosen at this preliminary meeting invited to come together, whose duties extended be yond the present effort.
They simply decided to have a gathering that present autumn, to which should be brought anything desirable for purchase to be offered to the highest bidder by auction, the products of such sale to be given to the object or cause named as its donor desired. There was little time to make preparation, and these parents seemed to have proposed to bring for their children the desired offerings, give to them a better knowledge of the needs of the world, and look for ward to the procuring of such means to obtain these gifts by their own efforts at the future festivals as should occur to them hereafter.
Such Committees were chosen or appointed as would promise to bring best results, and no arrangement made for further action in the future. It was an informal Committee of Arrangements for that one festival.
They were to learn by experiment what to do in the future, and it is surprising that the measures secured so good a degree of success, that each year, when the General Committee of five which was chosen each autumn has given its report of the Fair and read the acknowledgments of parties receiving the various donations, and this report is accepted, there is no organization called Children's Fair. At the end of the report of the eleventh Fair a permanent secretary was chosen, as we found no record of what we had been doing, only such as existed on scraps of paper that had been kept by different committees and from a daily private journal kept by C. H. Obear. At this Sunday School, at which the results of the eleventh Fair was reported. a permanent secretary was chosen, as I have said. At his death fifteen years afterwards, George Brooks was chosen, and when he left town, Miss Ettie M. Taylor, who still remains in this only official position that exists in this unique institution. I would say in passing, that these earlier Sunday School reports were re ported to all the churches in town on the succeeding Sabbath.
After two years, another woman was added to the committee of arrangements chosen each year. The Secretary is a member by virtue of his office. There have been but three in fifty years-C. H. Obear, till his death in 1887, George Brooks, till his removal from town, and Ettie M. Taylor till the present time.
The Chairman of this board is generally the Sunday School Superintendent or the Pastor of the Church. They are chosen by nomination.
After the refreshment tables were established, a question was raised in regard to any children who were unprovided with money enough to buy a dinner. This was settled by having one who is acquainted with the families represented in the hall, solicit small sums of individuals who were present. A little suffices to get a good dinner for a child and all thus share in the feast alike, and donors who designate their gifts have their wishes carried out also.
152nd Children’s Fair - August 17, 2013
James Roger diary entry
17th July 1913
Call night; warm, dusty day; wind west. David cutting Presbys’ hay in the morning and went to Greenville with barrel of potatoes for Berkley; then helping Lonie with his hay and drawing stone for Knowlton lot with Henry Royce. Alice and I picked potatoes in the morning, and I took ice to Miss Palmer. Also picked peas and raked together the weeds in the garden. Also went to mail in afternoon; paid telephone account, and some Masonic accounts. Gedenberg (previously spelled Guttenburg) paid balance of his grass account today. Met Rev. G. Prescott downtown. Got nice letter from David Paterson enclosing receipt for 6 dollars sent to White Memorial fund in December. David got letter from Chapmans at Fitchburg asking him to grade their cemetery lot
Upcoming Event
163rd Children’s Fair - August 17, 2024
New Ipswich Congregational Church
150 Main Street, New Ipswich, NH
10 AM - 3 PM
Wonder when the chicken BBQ became a fixture at the Fair. I remember it when I was a kid and that was well more than 60 years ago.
C H Obear died in 1887 but the date of these remanences is July 8, 1911, so who's writing them. The Children's Fair is a wonderful event and I've attended many of them, even driving 110 miles to attend. It's an occasion to see old friends and support a good cause, although I admit to not knowing what that cause was. I assumed it was for the church seeing it was on church grounds.