Messenger Staff Writer In 1886, THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS began promoting “Texas agriculture, education, and community involvement through quality entertainment in a familyfriendly environment” and continues to do so through today as it “advocates community, preserves FAIR PARK, and stands as a National Historical Landmark.” Its 24 days of events (I think.) and its “one of the largest” size make it noteworthy throughout the United States.
It was first chartered as a private corporation by a group of Dallas businessmen, such as Thomas Marsalis, John Armstrong, W. H. Gaston, James Simpson (elected President), and Sidney Smith.
As it turned out, another group also secured a charter. The first called itself the Dallas State Fair, and the second was named The Texas State Fair and Exposition. Each had a RACETRACK and Exhibit Facilities.
Both pulled in pretty large crowds and made quite a bit of money—but money brought in did not match money paid out, and the two groups merged in 1887, becoming The Texas State Fair and Dallas Exposition.
There followed good times and bad, but mounting financial woes, fires, and various mishaps were finally joined by legislation banning betting upon horse racing in 1903, and that away one of the Fair’s main sources of income….. so, the property was sold to the City of Dallas in 1904 with an agreement that the City would set aside days each autumn to keep the annual exposition alive!
The next thirty years brought more good times than bad, and things looked good—and in 1930, construction of what was to later become the Cotton Bowl began. In 1934, R. L. Thornton and others helped FAIR PARK to be selected for the site of the TEXAS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, and the fair grounds were made into what was called by many, a “MASTERPIECE OF ART AND IMAGINATION.”
The 1950s brought a monorail system, Elvis Presley in the Cotton Bowl, an international livestock show, and BIG TEX.
The ‘60s brought the tradition of having a THEME each year, and 1968 saw Fair ATTENDANCE pass 3,000,000 visitors!
In 1986, Fair Park became a National Historic Landmark. The late ‘80s saw the run of the Fair rise from 17 to 24 days. The final Friday of the 2012 State Fair saw the tragic fire that consumed BIG TEX—but not for always…..at the end of September, 2013, Big Tex once again said “HHOOWWDDYY FOLKS!”
My first memories of THE FAIR are knowing it was taking place when our Oklahoma relatives came to the Themer home in Forney before heading off to the “Texas—O. U.” game that seemed, at least for a little while, to be the most important thing going on in the world! The Uncles and Aunts and others who attended always managed to visit some of the Fair Events and Exhibits before coming back to Forney after sundown!
In later years, Dad and I used tickets from Southland Athletic to represent Forney at the game back when it was deemed safe to park Dad’s 1962 Ford Fairlane outside the Fair Grounds at the “PARK HERE” lot that was the closest and cleanest, and at least reasonably priced! I remember the year that Dad and I sat “almost next to” Mr. Red Coleman, and I asked Dad what “that man” kept drinking out of the container in his coat’s over-sized pocket! As an early school-aged boy, I remember the teacher giving each student a ticket to the Fair, and then each of us guarded it closely until turning it over to usually a Mom at home. At first, my Mom took my sister and me to the Fair on what was called Rural Youth Day (I think.), and the surrounding schools in our area were all closed to allow us to attend without “being absent” from school. When we returned to school classes, we told each other the things we had seen and done and the “treats” we had eaten. Mom was fairly strict, but I do seem to remember cotton candy (never really did like the stuff), ice cream, Youngblood’s Fried Chicken for lunch, popcorn, and “pop.” And, through the years, there were corny dogs, hot dogs, too much soda pop, and quite often a number of “sample” snacks to try to get folks to buy them at the store in the days to come. I never did like the “taffy” that some of my friends thought was great, and all the “prize-winning” foods of this day were not a “thing” then!
We did get to ride some rides on the Midway (Merry- go-round was my favorite as a toddler.), and the “fun house” and “cars” and some of the “fast” rides agreed with me—but not the big roller coaster (scared of heights). One of my favorite things was staying until dark and seeing the “end of the evening” parade! And, I just “loved” seeing all the farm animals and seeing if any belonged to the Forney 4-H or FFA students. As we went from exhibit to exhibit, my Mom was one of those who “signed up for things.” Then, the next month or so, she would be bombarded by mailings trying to get her to buy things or tour properties or buy into “time-shares.” Dad was rather chagrined by all the stuff that came in the mail!
One year, I was a 7th or 8th grader and bought an initial ring for my souvenir…..BIG MISTAKE…..It tarnished my finger and also would not “come off” when the referee asked me to take it off at the start of a basketball game…..had to go to the locker room for soap and water and tugging!
As I aged from youth to adult, I rather lost my desire to go to the Fair, until my wife and I had children who wanted to attend and then older parents later who needed “someones” to go with them. We let the children eat too much, see the pig races, watch the police horses, touch some of the animals, ride some rides, watch some indoor shows, look at cars, go into some of the buildings that were always there, even when the Fair was over, and buy some souvenirs. This doting father kept close watch on my children and wife and was paranoid as we threaded our ways through the crowds.
And now that I am aptook proaching that same old age, I will admit I really do like going with “just my wife” (We buy season passes.) or going with the “Boys” and their families. One thing we always agree upon is going to see the “new cars” and going to the “samples” building and listening to the free concerts----Trace Adkins, Christina Aguilera, Credence Clearwater……“ Who Will Stop The Rain?” And we must have Fletcher’s Corny Dogs with slathers of mustard! Plus, I have finally adjusted to having tickets instead of money!
For a long time, Sherri McCrary (FISD Secretary at High School) was in a booth, representing Borden’s, and Jake and Wilda Oesch (from our Church) worked the coupon stands and security/parking. We have missed them the past couple of years.
And I will close with my FAVORITE thing (again) about the FAIR year-in and year-out…..FLETCHER’S CORNY DOGS (with mucho mustard!)—I could eat one for breakfast, lunch, and supper. (This past anniversary year, we stood in the “early” line for free ones!) **I do not like the taffy and barely tolerate the cotton candy!** So, now I will retire to the bed or recliner to gain that muchneeded rest so that I can “dig dirt” or trim trees or mow weeds or chase the fowls from our flowers!
See you at the FAIR, maybe at the “milking exhibit,” which is usually in the shade, or at the building with the TEXAS exhibits and “freebies.” If you are not sure who I am, I will have on a ball cap, long sleeves (dermatologist advises), jeans, and probably sunglasses—and I will be trying to hug a pretty, curly-haired woman, who will be saying, “Not here; quit that!”
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