The first Fair on record in Dickinson County was
held October 18 & 19, 1870 in a large meadow immediately south of the old
Abilene City Dump.
In 1879 the directors of the Dickinson County Agriculture
Society purchased approximately 40 acres from Eliphak Barber located just north
of the old city Dump. A stock shed and racetrack were built and fairs of 1879 & 1880
featured horse racing.
By 1881, the Agriculture Society evidently fell upon
hard times and had to mortgage their property in order to pay taxes. No Fair
was held that year. Newspaper reports indicate that the Fair held in September
1882 had 26 classes of entries, 12 horse races, 2 bicycle races and 2-foot races.
In November 1886 the Agriculture and Industrial Association of Dickinson County
sold the Fairgrounds to J. S. Drake.
In the fall of 1887, the Central Kansas Free Fair Association
held a Fair in Hope. The Santa Fe Railroad ran trains from Abilene to Hope for
85 cents per round trip. The Fair was held in Hope again in September 1890. Abilene
held a Fair in the fall of 1891.
No Fairs were held in the County from 1892 until 1906,
except for a big corn carnival held in Abilene on October 12, 1899 and sponsored
by the merchants of Abilene. In February 1906 the Dickinson County Fair Association
purchased 30 acres from Josiah Snyder. This is where the Fairgrounds and the
Eisenhower park are now located. The "Agriculture Hall" was built and
located west of where the swimming pool is now located. A 1500 capacity stadium
was built where the current one is now located.
The first Fair at the new fairgrounds was held October
2-5, 1906. It featured Trotting Ostrich, Horse Racing, and Balloon Ascension.
It was the first real Fair in Abilene for 15 years. The Fairs of 1907-1911 featured
public weddings, baby showers, and horse racing. Buick's were winning all the
auto races. The City of Abilene purchased the Fairgrounds and converted the property
into the City Park and Fairgrounds. Numerous buildings had already been constructed.
Starting October 29, 1925, a 3-day livestock show was held. General Booth was
to speak, but had to go to Washington, D.C. for the court martial of Col. Billy
Mitchell. The Stock Show of October 6, 1927 had horse and auto races.
The Central Kansas Free Fair as it is known today was
organized in 1924 and was incorporated on January 14, 1928. The first Central
Kansas Free Fair under new incorporation was held in September 1928. The Works
Progress Administration (W.P.A.) replaced the old Grandstand in 1938. Sterl Hall
was completed in March of 1951 although it was used for the 1950 Fair. Sterl
Hall was completely renovated in 1996 and is probably the most used building
in Dickinson County.
Through the years, livestock facilities have been built
as the Fair has grown. A new Swine Show Barn was built in 1990. In 1998, a large
40 stall horse barn was built in part with Memorial Funds of Jesse Karl, son
of Steve & Jacque Karl, and brother to Cody, along with funds earned by the
4-H Horse Club. |
