Reminiscences of Children's Fair (Continued)
Construction of the Fair (Continued Page 16 - 17)
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 16-17
We met as human beings; children of one Father, for one. common purpose, to extend to other children of God who are needy, the blessings more abundantly bestowed on us. That kindly purpose begets an atmosphere of fraternity and cheeriness, and general satisfaction and good will akin to Christmas, which does, or ought to promote "Peace on earth, good will to men." We rarely see, I think, a crowd of happier-looking people than at the Congregational Church in New Ipswich at Children's Fair.
I will recapitulate the few changes which have been made. from the first fair in 1862 to that of 1873, viz.: a plain dinner table where all can be seated together; a general table where any who are not seated at dinner can buy and take to other parts of the hall at the same time; and a separate place where
fancy articles can be obtained during the day. The younger women and girls have presided at the general provision table.
Let us pause and gather up, if we can, the history of these. eleven unrecorded years. Great changes have taken place in the condition of our country. Our town had received back the citizens, many of whom had been but boys when they went forth to fight for the Union..
The flag they had defended waved over a country undivided, with no star lost, and the blot of human slavery no more disfigured its fair folds.
But war must ever cripple the resources of a people, and our receipts from the fair had not increased as we had hoped, but the interest in it had not abated and few changes had been. made.
The only departure from fixed custom was the year of the memorable Chicago fire. News of this disaster reached us just before our fair was through. I do not recall whether it was included in one of these eleven years.
But the news came that such a conflagration was still progressing and a motion was made that we send to the aid of the homeless sufferers there fifty dollars of the proceeds of this fair." And it was done. There was some objection made as it was a departure from our compact with donors, which was overruled by the reply that "we were under no written. compact" and the majority present voted "yea"
Two years later, at the meeting of the general committee of the fair, chosen to make arrangements for the Thirteenth Annual Fair, desire was expressed to know what had been the amount we had contributed. (I have been able to gather it from several sources.) It had been $963.14. Average each year, 874.08. I will name the objects to which the proceeds of these eleven fairs had been given :
To Our Soldiers.
Freed Men.
American Missionary Association. Home Missionary Society.
Seamen.
Home for Little Wanderers.
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Five Points House of Industry. Poor in Town.
Mr: Constantine, a missionary to Greece,
New Hampshire Orphans' Home.
Freedmen's Teacher. Baptist Sunday School.
Wm. Seneca, a colored man with one arm.
Congregational Sunday School. Preaching.
Temperance (National Temperance Society.) Soldiers' Monument. Baptist Missionary Union.
Bible Society.
155th Children’s Fair - August 20, 2016
James Roger diary entry
20th July 1913
Warm with nice west wind. Mr. Lord preach from Ephesians 6th and 1st text: "for this is right.”Evening service at 7 P.m. Mr. Cummings spoke on "things which benefit.” I understand there were about 30 present. I wrote my usual letters, also to Miss Bryce and Mr. Loudon (London?).
Upcoming Event
163rd Children’s Fair - August 17, 2024
New Ipswich Congregational Church
150 Main Street, New Ipswich, NH
10 AM - 3 PM
Who was William Seneca, the man of color with one arm? That must have been a difficult position to be in for him.
In Irving, NY there is the William Seneca Bld, the headquarters of the Seneca Nation.