WHITBY FREE PRESS-SPRING FAIR SUPPLEMENT, JUNE 3,1987, PAGE 5 Brooklin air tradition began in 1851 By ROXANNE REVELER A history of Brooklin Spring Fair has been attempted by many, and to date, an accurate account from beginning to end has not materialized. But from research it has become evident that Brooklin was the-site of a spring fair as far back as 1851, although it was not as we know it today. At that time, the fiar was held much earlier in the year. Although the first reference found to such a fair was in the Whitby Reporter on May 10, 1851, there is every indication there were spring fairs held in the village prior to that date. It must be remembered that Brooklin was founded as the Village of Winchester in 1840 and was not named Brooklin until 1847. It is conceivable that spring fairs may have been held in Brooklin from as far back as the mid-1840s. According to articles found in the Whitby Reporter, the "spring show" was held in Whitby in 1850 and in 1851 the fair was held in Brooklin in May. The following year, a fair sponsored by the Whit- by Township Agricultural Society was held in Brooklin on April 28 and consisted of a horse and cattle show. In 1853, the Brooklin Fair was held on March 9 and included a show and sale of. grain and agriculturalimplements. Unfortunately, there are no newspapers surviving for the years 1854 to 1856, but the Whitby Chronicle, which began in 1857, gave good coverage to the fair. The Chronicle reports the Whitby Township Agricultural Society held its spring fair at Brooklin on May 4, 1857. It was said to be the largest fair yet seen in the township with regards to the number of persons attending and the show of horses and cattle. In the evening, after the one-day fair, a dinner was held in the Globe Hotel, which was located on the land where Grass Park is today. The dinner was thereafter to become as much of an institution as was the fair itself. By 1861, the annual spring show in Brooklin came under the spon- sorship of the Whitby and East Whitby Union Agricultural Society. This was because Whitby Township was divided into Whitby and East Whitby between lots 17 and 18 in 1858. During the years that followed the new sponsorship, there were as many as four fairs per year, but the spring fair was always held in Brooklin until 1873, when it was held in Columbus. The following year, it returned to Brooklin on April 23, 1874. Information over the following years is rather·sketchy. If anything is mentioned it is usually only the date, and in some cases a list of prize winners. Information pops up again in the Gazette-Chrónicle of January 23, 1913. Here it noted that at a meeting of the Brooklin Spring Fair Board. it was decided to hold the fair abou March 14 or 15 that year. "At this fair will be shown fat cat- tle, horses, poultry, seed grain, etc.," states the write-up. It went on to state John Vipond was appomn- ted president and a decision made to ask the government for a $50 grant to assist with the fair. The first actual Brooklin Spring Fair to stand on its own was held in 1914, and according to newspaper accounts was an immediate suc- cess. By 1915, when the event was held on Victoria Day, Monday May 24, the fair had established itself as an annual event, with upward of 2,000 persons attending. A write-up in the newspaper of the day says there was "attendance of people from al over the district and the result was a crowd from 1,500 to 2,000 people, variously estimated, but really impossible of accurate calculation since there was a very large number of persons who were admitted on tickets which included a whole family. In ad- dition, over 100 Boy Scouts were present, as well as several football teams." In the clipping is mentioned the names of many well-known stock breeders, whose descendants are still living in the area, such as William Dryden, W.F. Batty, and John Vipond. At the beginning of the Spring Fair, the location was on the property of John Vipond, which is where the Meadowcrest sub- division was' ultimately construc- ted. At that time, however, a mill race (viaduct) ran through the property and was dammed to form a large pond, surrounded by a grove. During this Second Annual Fair, there were many exhibitors vying for prizes for their agricultural stock; a four-hour performance by the Whitby band; a dinner tent with meals provided by the Women's In- stitute; a refreshment booth of- fering ice cream, drinks, candies and fruit; a program of sports in- cluding races and jumping. But the big feature of the day was said to be the arrival by train of the Oshawa troop of boy scouts. After pitching their tents, they gave demon- strations of drills and manoeuvres with the "big bugle band" giving an exhibition of various calls and marches. With the coming of nightfall, the crowds dispersed to the Masonic Hall where a patriotic concert was given with Dr. Moore (Brooklin's first man of medicine) acting as master of ceremonies. Playing on the emotions of the day, most skits and music reflected the patriotism felt during World War I. This resulted in a collection amounting to $80 which was devoted to the "Patriotic Fund." It is perhaps appropriate to close with the final paragraph from the newspaper clipping of May 27,1915. "The Brooklin people are indeed entitled to be proud of the success of their second spring fair which is a testimony of their energy and persistent effort. All those who have had anything to do with the fair as directors are deserving of praise, but special mention should be made to the work of the president, Mr. Thomas Hall, vice president W.F. Batty and secretary-treasurer R.M. Tipper. These gentlemen have given a large part of their time lately to the fair, and have worked unceasingly and unselfishly ini its interests." RUNNING AWAY from home? Not really, the Jackson brothers were par- ticipating in the Spring Fair Parade. CONGRATULATIONS To The Brooklin SpringFair Compliments of Gary Herrema, Regional Chairman REGION OF DURHAM CURDS'N WHEY LTD Gift Baskets - Mail Order ELDORADO CHEESE DELUXE XX OLD limited quantities max 2.lb. per person $5.85 per lb. 128DUNDASW. WHITBY McCULLOUGH JEWELLER S........ PRECISE TIMING from the Bulova Collection of fine watches 20%OFF BULOVA & CARAVELLE WATCHES 209-2 Dundas St. E. Whitby 668-5051 COMPLIMENTS OF BROOKLIN ELECTRIC COMPANY LTD. For the 76th ANNNNUAL SP N1 F SERVICING THE FAIR FOR 10 YEARS a 1200 Brawley Rd. W. 120655-4771