The Tunbridge Worlds Fair, September 13th - 16th 2007.
I went to the fair on Thursday (Ag day) when it was a little quieter, more of the local farmers and backwoods types it seems. On Thursdays they have the pony pulls, starting early in the day with the under 1400 lbs class at 10:30, then at 2 it's the 1401 - 1800 class and rapping it up in the evening at 7 is the free for all pull. I always like to see the free for all class, it was my dad's favorite class of the pony pulls because you really get to see the spirit of the ponies and the quality of the drivers. The ponies pull a stone boat in teams of two, if they pull the boat 6 feet or more they move on to the next round. Every round they add more weight to the boat and by the end the boat weighs about 6200 lbs. It is amazing to see these small ponies and drivers move a 6200 lb sled 6 feet. Here is a photo of one of the teams pulling. (it is very dark in the pulling arena and I didn't have a tripod so count this as a snapshot.)
Besides the pony pulls I have a few more important things I always do at the fair. I walk through the Floral Hall where the vegetables are judged then I head over to the livestock barns to see the dairy cows, oxen with backs higher then my head and the usual assortment of pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits and birds of all sorts.
Here is a shot that I always see at the fair looking back down the old midway from the Floral Hall
This is a standard Tunbridge Fair photo of the 4H kids with their dairy cows.
There is also Nelsons Fudge, it used to be in Floral Hall but now it's in a Commercial building inside the Racetrack. Nelson's Fudge is a time honored tradition in my family, my sisters and I have been getting their fudge at the fair for as long as I can remember. There are so many things about this fair that I strongly associate with the fall. I head back towards the Sugarhouse, across the racetrack (I have to wait behind the rope while the Trotting Horses go by.) and up to Antique Hill. Walking up the hill past The Sugarhouse towards Antique Hill I saw this shot.
Antique Hill is a large knoll overlooking the rest of the fairgrounds, it is setup to look like a little town with a Civil War encampment, a blacksmith, a printer, a one room schoolhouse, a barn filled with old farming equipment and a log cabin with antiques and displays about life in the olden days. The whole thing is sort of like a little living history exhibit. This photo is of my mom's good friend Sue, she is a living history expert and works every year on Antique Hill in the Log Cabin.
This is a shot of the Country Store exhibit in the log cabin.
After hanging out at the fair all afternoon and evening with my mom it's time to head home. On the way out I saw the lights from the rides and like a moth to a flame I was drawn, here's what came of it.
Wow, a long post for you. I miss having my sisters around. They are both off in cities with foreign names, hopefully enjoying life.
~will
3 comments:
I really like the last picture!!
All the others were so familiar they made me sad because I was not there. Keep up the good work!
Pony pulls.... keeping up the traditions, good job ;) I miss going to the fair with you! I hope you didn't forget to have some maple cotton candy!! I can almost smell the leaves and taste the Delicatta.
Thanks.
It is really nice to have a window into what you're doing, photographing, and enjoying (and missing = your sisters). It's also nice to see the replies -- makes me feel like the Cleland family is not quiiiiiiite as far away from me in those far-flung places.....even though they are.....
Attractive site you've created, Will -- both your pix and your writing are clear and direct -- makes me feel like I'm right there, at the fair, on the mountain, at the market. Thank you.
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