Caledonia Fair
Leslie T. Richardson- Memories & Other Stories
There are some aspects of life which become traditional. Such a one is the Caledonia Fair. It was part of my life when I was growing up and is still part of it.
In many ways it remains the same and yet over the years, it keeps changing. The candy floss, the balloons, the barkers and the merry-go-round are still part and parcel of the show. The cow barn, the chicken house, and sheep pens are still in use. The horse barn at the east end of the grounds is in continual use all year round, but everything outside of the gates have been changed.
The sights, sounds and smells are the same, also the excitement. When I watch the little ones heading towards the Fairground and see the excitement in their eyes, I realize this, too, has not changed.
Before my time, the excitement started at the Railway Station, where every hour on the hour, a train pulled in from every direction and the people literally poured out of the carriages and headed down Argyle Street towards the Fair. Every store was prepared for the on-rush and Fair Day was the biggest business day of the year.
In the crowds were the home-towners returning for a family reunion and to meet new faces at the Fair; first-time visitors, curious to see both the town and the Fair of which they had heard so much; and the old faithfuls, who have followed the Fairs for years. Some actually took Saturday morning off, as the factory workers in those days worked a six and a half day week. To them the excitement of the Fair was worth losing one half day's pay.
Another bit of excitement was to see the buggies coming into town from all directions too. I can remember the horses drawing the 'surreys with fringes on top'. Invariably a dog was tied under them. The horses were lined up on both sides of the river, where they enjoyed fresh grass all day. Sometimes the families picnicked near the horses before going to the Fair.
As small children we practically lived at the Fair for the whole two days. At the Four Corners of the town we joined the crowds and headed towards the Fairgrounds. With every step the excitement grew, especially when we passed some of the lucky ones carrying Kewpie Dolls, balloons and other wonderful prizes and going in the opposite direction.
Even at the gates the excitement did not dim our enthusiasm. We had 25 cents in our pocket to spend and we soon, learned how to budget it. The first call on our wallet was the main gate, but we soon learned how to overcome that hurdle quickly, and entered the Fair "real cheaply". There was always some vehicle going in or coming out and just room enough for a small boy to slide in.
Occasionally the river bank was left unattended when the guard got called aside and it is amazing how many more attended the Fair than was accounted for.
How we loved that Fair!
The sights and sounds inside the Fair itself will have to wait for a future column.
