It’s “Fair Time” – county fairs, state fairs, any fairs. Fair time was a special time in Lewisburg WV in the 1950’s and 60’s.
It didn’t take long after we moved to Lewisburg to discover that a huge event took place just outside of town. In Fairlea, a small burg between Lewisburg and Ronceverte, West Virginia staged their annual state fair in late August, and it was well worth the price of admission. There were great rides, grandstand shows with star entertainers, food galore, girly shows, horse pulling contests, harness horse racing and everybody in and around town attended, often daily.
On our first family trip to the fair, Daddy hustled all us kids past the great rides and food down to the agricultural barns. But that turned out to be one of the most entertaining parts of the fair.
When my dad was a boy in Saratoga, NC, he had a pig, a hog, and he and that pig carried on conversations, or so he said. When we arrived at the hog barn, Daddy showed his pig-calling prowess and soon had half the pigs in the barn snorting and oinking. I was most impressed. The cattle were also impressive. Greenbrier County at that time was genuine cattle country with pure-bred Hereford and Angus cattle grazing among the lush, green pastures. Our neighbor, Houston Moore, won many a ribbon with his prized Angus bulls. They all looked impressive to me, but only a few would win blue ribbons, increasing their value as breeding stock.
There was just about every type of animal in the world in the agricultural barns – rabbits, ducks, turkeys, geese, chickens, horses, cattle, goats, sheep – and I hated to leave, but the haunting aroma of French Fries, Elephant Ears, Italian Sausages and “Fair Food” in general were all calling us in that direction.
There were always three food stands I patronized at the West Virginia State Fair. One was a 4-H sponsored country ham booth right beside the grandstand. They prepared delicious, genuine country ham slices on a steamed bun and often I ordered two. Another must-visit booth was on the opposite side of the grandstand – Ben Ellen Doughnuts. We usually stopped there right before leaving and ordered a dozen or two to take home. Perhaps my favorite food stand was directly in front of the grandstand. Don’t remember the name, but they made the best corn dogs ever. The batter was thick and sweet, almost like cake, and the dogs inside erupted with flavor. Two squirts of mustard sealed the deal. I don’t think I ever missed a fair without one of those corn dogs.
There were mega-rides at the West Virginia State Fair, but I avoided them at all costs. I used to turn green on a child’s merry-go-round, so spinning head over heels at warp speed was not my cup of tea, but all the other kids loved the rides – the scarier the better. There were dozens of gambling stands where they said it was possible to win a teddy bear. It was generally a waste of quarters and dimes – sorta’ like playing the Lottery today. The Carnies knew the odds. The side shows featured sword swallowers, miniature horses, bearded ladies, two-headed roosters, and tattooed ladies. At the upper end of the amusement area, there were several hoochy-koochy tents with lovely ladies beckoning to passers-by. Thirteen-year-olds, however, were not welcome.
In the evenings, the West Virginia State Fair offered world class entertainment with stars through the years like Alabama, Reba McIntire, The Bee Gees, Vince Neal of “Motley Crue”, Ray Stevens and John Denver. After the last shows, we watched a spectacular fireworks display. Daddy once told me it sounded like a naval battle in the South Pacific where he was a lieutenant on a cruiser ship.
The fair used to be held the last two weeks in August. I can remember chilly evenings and wearing windbreakers and sweaters to keep warm. The fair now happens earlier in August, along about this time. If I am ever able to attend, the first thing I’ll do is get a corn dog.
