Acton's Agricultural Fair
- ahsvolunteer20
- Sep 24
- 17 min read
In the years between the world wars, many local people would look forward to a highlight of autumn, the Acton Fair. It started in 1917 as an idea that came out of the Grange. The original proponent was James B. Tuttle, a farmer who served the town in many ways. He was both the first master of the Acton Grange and the first president of the Acton Agricultural Association, the organization that sponsored the fair for many years. The idea was not to make money from the event but to bring the community together and to promote Acton’s agriculture in a wholesome atmosphere.
According to the local news, the townspeople did indeed come together and produced many exhibits for the 1917 fair. Prizes were awarded, but unfortunately, we do not have access to the first year’s premium list, and the Concord Enterprise did not publish a full list of winners. It did mention, however, that Miss Susan Oliver, at 96 years old, won first prize for the silk quilt she had produced. Ella Miller’s diary mentioned that she and her father also won prizes.
Unlike at other fairs, games of chance were prohibited, but that did not stop outsiders from setting up gambling tables and relieving some townspeople of their money with three-card monte and the “jippers.” Called “fakers” at the time, these outsiders were sent away by constables wearing badges over normal clothes. In later years, the officers (then uniformed) were able to keep gambling away from the fair entirely.
A highlight of the 1917 event was a speech from the bandstand by Ex-Mayor of Boston John F. Fitzgerald who also sang “Sweet Adeline,” a crowd favorite. A supper of home-cooked food was attended by over 300 people and was followed by an auction, with James B. Tuttle as auctioneer. Ella Miller was among the women who provided food for the supper (a pie). Her diary summed up the event as “a great success all around.”
The venture went so well that the organizers meant to repeat it in 1918. A premium list in the Society’s collection is a folded single sheet, promising a band concert, cattle show, harvest supper, auction, sports, and the presentation of a service flag to the town of Acton. All net proceeds were to go to the Red Cross. It was supposed to be held on September 28, but according to Ella Miller’s diary, the fair was put off because of the Spanish flu epidemic. (School was also cancelled and did not reopen until Oct. 21.) As sickness continued, Ella wrote on October 16 that the organizers had called off the Fair. On Nov. 6, the Concord Enterprise reported that there would be an exhibition, supper, and entertainment the following Saturday, without any prizes. Management asked that “all who desire … bring something to help make this a success.” Ella Miller’s diary elaborated on November 9, “Miss Smith & I sold tickets for the Exhibition, Supper & Entertainment gotten up to defray expenses for the Fair.” The newspaper did not report on how it actually went, because attention turned to the end of World War 1 on Monday, November 11th.
Confusingly for historians, a 1923 history of the fair in the Boston Globe gave no indication that the 1918 fair had been sidetracked by the Spanish flu. It reported that the 1918 fair began to break records, with “noted speakers, a good band, splendid exhibits, another glorious farmers’ supper and another Tuttle auction,” presentation of a service flag to the town, and a contribution of the entire proceeds to the American Red Cross. ”O yes! And Ex-Mayor John F. Fitzgerald of Boston, who married a pretty Acton schoolgirl, sang ‘Sweet Adeline’ amid joyous acclaim!” Someone seems to have forgotten what actually happened that year. We were lucky that Ella Miller’s diary made us dig deeper.
Despite the fact that the 1918 fair did not come off quite as planned, its premium list helpfully included rules and regulations. Some rules persisted throughout the fair’s history, such as that all fruits and vegetables had to be grown by the exhibitor. Donated items were to be auctioned off on Saturday evening, a practice that continued and usually included the exhibited products. In the earliest version of the fair, exhibitors were limited to Acton residents, and only ribbons (not cash) would be awarded if there were fewer than three entries. Soon after, the rules were relaxed so that entries were allowed from other towns, and categories with two or even one entry could still win some prizes, but first-place prize money required real competition.
In 1919, the fair took place on the last Saturday of September, following the same plan as earlier years. The Enterprise announced that a truck would meet each “electric car” (trolley) coming from Maynard and would pick up residents of South and West Acton at that time. The supper was served to 389 guests, and a number of former Acton residents attended, a practice that became an “Old Home Day” tradition.
The Acton Fair entered a new era in 1920 with Clarence N. Goward as president. Town Hall was to be open on Friday evening for exhibit-viewing (fruit, vegetables, canned goods, “women’s work,” arts and crafts, and the Junior Exhibit). The “Grand Fair,” including the livestock and poultry exhibits, would open on Saturday October 2 at 10 am. The premium list was a 32-page booklet that listed committee members; there were 75-100 people involved (some with more than one role). The soliciting committee seems to have been quite effective in obtaining ads from businesses in Acton and mostly nearby communities. More resources allowed prizes to be offered in many more categories, supplemented by bonus prizes from the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture. Ella Miller wrote on Oct. 2, 1920, “Sat. – Big Acton Fair, bigger than ever. Sold over 2000 entrance tickets. … I helped keep books at the auction.”
In 1921, the fair became a full two-day event. The rules of the fair changed little from year-to-year, but in 1921, a new one was added: “Any exhibitor who in any way interferes with a judge when engaged in the performance of his duty as such or seeks to influence his decision by suggestions or otherwise shall be debarred from competition for the premiums offered under the class of said judge.”
The number of prize categories kept growing, with more specific delineations. This had begun in 1920 with the expanded premium list. In 1921, the cattle, poultry, ducks, geese and turkey categories were broken down into various categories and breeds. (Ducks, for example, had sixteen categories, and geese and turkeys had eight each.) Fruit varieties were spelled out, with prizes for, among others, the best plate of Sheldon pears, Carman peaches, October Purple plums, and Worden grapes. Fifteen varieties of apples had their own prizes. Vegetables, canned goods, and flowers were specified. Cooking included items such as the best loaf cake and best dozen doughnuts. “Woman’s Arts and Crafts” categories had grown, with prizes in 32 categories including the best quilt, rugs, sweaters, trays, lace, embroidered luncheon set, hand-made basket, beadwork, sofa pillow, pin cushion, and more. The Junior Department for those under 18 had many prize categories similar to adults. Some were aimed specifically at the young, such as best buttonhole, best pig raised by boy or girl, best pet (rabbits, chickens or pigeons), “Best Piece Boy’s Handiwork Showing design, skill and workmanship,”, and the best of various vegetables. Specific instructions were given, such as that an entry of five Irish Cobbler potatoes must be cleaned but not washed. Some of the prizes would have represented quite a bit of money to young people at the time; the best-pig first prize was $5, or roughly $90 in 2025.
The cattle show was standard in early years, growing from four head of cattle in 1919 to almost sixty in 1922. A dog show was a regular feature through the 1920s. The horse show became a larger and larger event, particularly starting in 1924 when the Boston Work Horse Relief Association became involved and, along with a number of individuals, offered special prizes. Examples were a $5 gold piece for the best-preserved old horse over 25 years and another for the best pair of work horses over 15 years old. In some years, there were separate shows for ponies and horses.
The objective of the fair planners was to have something going on for fair-goers at all times. Agricultural, livestock, and traditional exhibits were supplemented by other entertainments. In 1921, the event program mentioned a “midway” for the first time, although it is not clear whether that was different from earlier years. Ella Miller, schoolteacher in Acton center, reported in the week before the fair opened that tents had been put up between the Library & Town Hall and that a merry-go-round was installed where the old hotel had stood. On Friday, Oct. 7, she reported that there was no school because of the fair, a policy that varied from year-to-year.
Band concerts were a regular feature of the Fair, often given in the afternoon and evening on both days. In some years, Acton’s own Cadet Band would play on at least one of the days. Bands were also brought in from other towns. A particular favorite, judging by the number of return appearances, was Groton’s “boy wonder” Teddy Beers and his band. In 1929, ten-year-old Teddy debuted at the fair with his band of twenty-five school-age performers. He also directed and played drums for a Beers family band that also may have been involved during his Acton appearances through 1934.
Other entertainments were speakers and, in the late ‘20s, vaudeville shows. In some years there was dancing. We learned from a 1924 photo in our collection that there was a Winner’s Parade that year featuring a band, winning horses, winning cattle and “Acton’s New Fire Dept.” The picture also shows the bandstand in front of the town hall; according to Ella Miller's diary, moving it was part of preparations in 1922.
Sporting events were also popular. Over the years, these included baseball games, at least one “between boy-and-girl team,” tugs-of-war for teams of boys and of men, horseshoe pitching contests, and a basketball game. In 1922, there was a junior track meet between Boxboro and Acton.
Children’s events brought in both the young and their proud parents. A costume parade was instituted in 1924, led by a band. Prizes were given out for costumes based either on “Beauty, Uniqueness, and Educational qualities” or, by the entrant’s choice, “the Grotesque, the Ludicrous, or that which invokes merriment.” First prize in each was $10 for a group and $5 for an individual. Ella Miller noted on Friday Sept. 19, “No school on account of the Fair…. Saw the children’s parade – fine. 4 prizes came to our precinct – Robert & Neville as Geo. & Martha Washington, Marjorie Coombs as Miss Goldenrod.” The children’s parade was repeated for a number of years, sometimes with special themes such as Mother Goose or a parade of nations. In 1930, the children staged a historical pageant.
Children remembered their Acton Fair experiences. The Society has in its collection a Kewpie Doll that had been won at the fair. Its clothing is in tatters, but it brought back happy memories to the donor for decades. Children (and adults) treasured the ribbons they won for their exhibits and costumes. Some of them also were saved and donated.
As time went on, the Fair had to keep up with the times. Bus service from Maynard started being advertised in the 1920s, with stops in South and West Acton. The 1925 program advertised electric lights that would provide a “well lighted show Friday Evening.” An automobile show became a regular feature. More cars, of course, meant that parking was needed. In 1923, there was a one-person Auto Parking Committee.
The Acton Fair outgrew the capacity of the town common and the town hall. 7.000 people attended in 1922. Pictures confirm that it could get quite crowded. During 1925, the Acton Agricultural Association acquired five acres of land behind the town hall and had a house moved to the property (used at least for the first year to house an 840-pound pig). Tents, covering half an acre, supplemented the usual exhibit spaces in the town hall. Having its own land allowed for parking management. In 1925, adults were only charged 50 cents for admission to the fair. Parking at the horse show, on the other hand, was $3. The next year, the land was graded and seeded before the fair, and soon some buildings were erected to house exhibits. A 72’x34’ mercantile building was added in 1926. 1930’s program stated that “A new building has been erected on the Grounds for the Exhibition of Vegetables and Poultry. – See the greatly enlarged exhibit by the 4-H Club on the first floor of the Town Hall – The Juniors are doing Wonderful Work.” 1931’s program mentioned not only the 1930 building (to be used exclusively for a big poultry and rabbit show), but 4-H exhibits in the “new building,” plus Mercantile and Home Appliance exhibits in the Mercantile Building. It is likely that the growth put some strain on the Association's finances. In a letter sent out to the 380 members in the spring of 1932, Clarence Goward mentioned that despite the fact that "Everyone tells me we had a wonderful Fair in 1931," it did not make money.
Organizers of the fair had to distinguish it from other fairs to keep visitors coming. It was regularly promised that recurring features would be bigger and better than ever with, for example, ever-larger horse shows, an “enlarged” automobile show, or a “Snappy Midway.” The premium booklet kept growing, too; by 1927 there were 144 pages and 216 ads. Organizers kept coming up with new ideas. An innovation in 1926 was the “Horse and Mule Dynamometer” used in a pulling contest under national rules and regulations. According to the program, “only seven fairs can have this interesting attraction.” Three classes of draft horse and mule pairs would be tested for their sustained maximum pulling capacity. The starting load would be 1,500 lbs, and the pull would be a continuous 27.5 feet. Each team would get three tries to move a load the full distance. There were conditions to prevent maltreatment of the animals. The pulling contest was obviously a success, because it was repeated in 1927, with four classes.
Fireworks began in 1927 and became a perennial favorite. A novelty advertised in the Concord Enterprise was Samuel F. Perkin’s “man-flying kites” (“Wonderful Invention; Greatest Attraction Ever.”) In 1928, the program included kites and a “Big Pigeon Flight” both mornings, “weather permitting, when about 200 Homeing Pigeons will be liberated in front of the Poultry Tent. These Pigeons will be from some of the most prominent Lofts in Middlesex County.” In the early 1930s, a postage stamp show was featured for a couple of years (“a king’s hobby and yours”), as well as a doll show.
In 1932, the fair’s management arranged for Cooper Radio-Electric Co. to provide music day and evening, as well as broadcasting. Radio advertising would be available; “Business Broadcasting Twice Daily $2.00 per day (60 word limit).” Other innovations were a Mechanical Hen on exhibit “by Special Arrangement,” an exhibition of Exercises and Stunts by pupils of Acton High School, and the creation of a 40’x40’ dance floor where patrons could “Dance to Your Hearts Content both Day and Evening” with music by Irma Durkee and her orchestra, under the management of Foley, Hoit and Durkee. Starlight dancing was optimistically forecast. There would be a “grand automobile exhibit,” and both days would feature a ferris wheel and a merry go round.
1935’s fair was particularly innovative. It was Acton’s bicentennial year, and community spirit had been high. In addition to the fair’s usual features (including a ferris wheel, “thrilling ride – but safe”), there was a pet show with a parade of winners, pony rides, an outdoor animal circus (“Bucking Mule. Try him out.”), and a side show tent featuring magic, mysteries and Punch and Judy. An amateur foot race, roughly tracing the routes taken in 1775 by Paul Revere, Dr. Prescott, and the Acton minute men, started from Arlington Center, went through Lexington and Concord, and ended in Acton. It was won by Johnny Kelley who had won the Boston Marathon in April (and later became an Acton resident). There was a new and enlarged midway with games, wheels and entertainment, all owned and operated by the Acton Agricultural Association. “No gyps – no blank numbers – everything open and above board. Try your luck. With valuable prizes.” Entertainments included a firemen’s push ball competition (Acton champions against challengers), outdoor moving pictures (courtesy of the US Navy), shows by a Finnish folk dancing troupe, and a fashion show with amateur and professional models. Finally, there was an “Extraordinary, Magnificent, Startling and Expensive Display of Fireworks” to conclude the fair.
The Acton Agricultural Association voted in July 1936 not put on their fair that fall. After all the novelty of 1935, perhaps the townspeople needed a break. The fair was, without question, a great deal of work, before and even after the event. In Sept. 1923, for example, Ella Miller wrote "Very busy times all over town, getting ready for the Fair." Two days after the 1925 fair, she wrote, “Common pretty well cleaned up from the Fair tonight – more yet to do over on the Fair grounds.” Another explanation for the lack of a 1936 fair was given in a 1937 Concord Enterprise article; “it seemed inadvisable to operate after several years of unfavorable weather conditions.” We were able to confirm from Ella Miller’s diary that in 1933, Thursday’s fair preparations were done in drizzle and rain, Friday’s weather was cold and cloudy, and it rained steadily all Saturday. In 1934, Friday was mostly cloudy, but Saturday was foggy all day with heavy rain in the evening. We do not have a diary for 1935, but Boston’s weather forecast was for showers Saturday afternoon and evening. Perhaps repeated years of less-than-ideal weather reduced organizers’ enthusiasm, the fair’s profits that could be plowed into the next year’s event, or both.
Acton was not completely without fall festivities in 1936. Worcester’s Evening Gazette announced: “Acton, Sept. 4 – The Edwards-Quimby Post, A. L., four-day fiesta at the Acton Fair Grounds will open this evening with a road race between boys of West and South Acton. There will be a continuous program Saturday, Sunday and Monday including sports, art and craft exhibits, automobile show, flower display, boys’ and girls’ 4-H Club exhibits, and Army and Navy exhibits. A greased pig race is booked for Saturday afternoon, open to all. On Sunday there will be a horse show in charge of Joseph Jacobs and son of Hudson and Robert Riley of Marlboro. An Old Home Day reunion will feature the Monday afternoon program in charge of Howard Billings, former selectman. ‘Miss Acton’ will be chosen from the young ladies on the Fair Grounds Monday afternoon.” The Boston Herald added that there would be “prominent political speakers from both parties.”
The Acton Fair was put on again by the Acton Agricultural Association in 1937, with a president from West Concord, Carl G. Johnson. In 1938 and 1939, the event, managed in cooperation with the state department of agriculture, was called the Middlesex County Fair and spanned three days. In 1940, the name and format went back to normal. In the years after 1936, there were old favorites such as the ferris wheel, midway, horse show, auction of exhibited items, band concerts, and fireworks. Every year there were novelty events, such as a goat show, an ox pulling contest, an amateur night, baton twirling and drills, and an apple pie contest whose top three winners could compete at the Eastern States Fair in Springfield. Parades for children had various themes, such as a doll carriage parade and a bicycle parade. Boy Scout and Girl Scout exhibits were added. A fashion show in 1940 featured Acton and Maynard school girls with a few adult women, some “tiny tots,” and two boys. In 1940, a fair attendee from Maynard won a drawing for a 1940 Plymouth automobile.
1941 was the last Acton Fair. One might have thought that the fair was running out of steam, but according to newspaper reports, both the 1940 and 1941 fairs brought in thousands of attendees. (Free admission in those years could not have hurt attendance.) The final fair ended with a “monster display of fireworks” and, as always, an auction of fruit and vegetables that had been on exhibit.
The fair started as a community effort to show off the town’s agriculture just before the United States entered World War 1. Acton’s fair became a treasured tradition in the region, but it came to an end just before America's entry into World War II. The Acton Agricultural Association decided to sell the fairgrounds. The town of Acton voted at a special town meeting on September 11, 1944 to purchase the property. A “substantial part” was to be set aside as a public playground to be named after Clarence Goward and sometimes used for Old Home Days and similar gatherings.
We are grateful to have a collection of a number of premium books, prize ribbons, and photographs from the Acton Fair. From them, with help from Ella Miller’s diaries and local newspapers, we learned about a part of Acton history that meant a great deal to its inhabitants before World War 2. If anyone has other items from the fair or photographs that could be donated or scanned, we would be grateful to add them to our collection.
Sources:
Premium Lists: 1918-1935, 1937, 1940
Ella Miller Diaries: especially entries on Oct. 6, 1917, Sept. 28, 1918, Oct. 16, 1918, Oct. 21, 1918, Nov. 9, 1918, Oct. 2, 1920, Oct. 4, 5 & 7, 1921, Sept. 26, 1922, Sept. 20, 1923, Sept. 19, 1924, Sept. 21, 1925, Sept. 14-16, 1933, Sept. 21-22, 1934
“Held Fair,” Concord Enterprise, October 10, 1917, p. 9.
Acton Centre news, Concord Enterprise, October 12, 1918, p. 8.
Acton Centre news and “Flag Unfurled,” Concord Enterprise, October 16, 1918, p. 8.
“Acton Fair,” Concord Enterprise, November 6, 1918, p. 1
“Fair Will Be Held,” Concord Enterprise, September 24, 1919, p. 4
“Fair was Success,” Concord Enterprise, October 1, 1919, p. 1
“Acton Fair Promises Much,” August 28, 1923, p. 1
“Bigger, Better Fair than Ever Says Promoter,” Acton Enterprise, September 19. 1923, page 1.
“Something New in Fairs,” Boston Sunday Globe, August 19, 1923, p. 9.
“Acton Fair Promises Many Attractions,” Concord Enterprise, September 9, 1925, p. 1
“Acton Fair Comes Friday and Saturday,” Concord Enterprise, September 16, 1925, p. 1
“Purchase Made at Acton,” Worcester Evening Gazette, May 21, 1926, p. 21
“Acton Fair – New Buildings Provide More Space for the Various Exhibits, Concord Enterprise, September 15, 1926, p. 1, and “Acton Agricultural Fair Supplement,” p. 9-12.
“Acton Fair Supplement,” Concord Enterprise, September 14, 1927 p. 9-12
“Acton Fair,” Concord Enterprise, September 12, 1928, p. 7
“Welcome Fair Visitors,” Concord Enterprise, September 26, 1928, p. 11
“Acton Fair on Way,” Lowell Sun, September 27, 1928, p. 7
“Acton Fair Notes,” Worcester Evening Gazette, August 15, 1931, p. 2
“15th Annual Acton Fair Sept. 18 and 19,” Concord Enterprise, September 26, 1931, p. 1, “Welcome to the Fair,” p. 4-5
Letter from Clarence N. Goward to the members of the Acton Agricultural Association, April 1932
“Kelly Wins Marathon to Feature Acton Fair,” Springfield Republican, September 22, 1935, p. 26
“The Weather,” Worcester Telegram, September 20, 1935, p.2
“Official Forecast by U. S. Weather Bureau,” Worcester Evening Gazette, September 21, 1935, p. 2
"Acton Fair to Be Omitted This Year," Concord Herald, July 16, 1936, p.1, 6, also "Acton Plans Field Day July 25th"
“Acton Legion Plans for Four-Day Fiesta,” Boston Herald, September 1, 1936, p. 1
Acton news, Worcester Evening Gazette, September 4, 1936, p. 23
“All Roads will Lead to Acton Fair, “Concord Enterprise, September 16, 1937, p. 1, 6, also “Acton Fair Amateur Nite,”, p. 1
“Fair Weather was Great Aid to 1937 Acton Fair Success” Concord Enterprise, September 30, 1937, p. 6
“Actor [sic] Fair Opens Friday” and “Juniors Are Exhibiting at Acton Fair,” Concord Enterprise, Sept. 22, 1937, p.1.
“County Fair will Open on September 15,” Concord Enterprise, August 31, 1938, p. 4
“County Fair Drew Crowd to Acton Grounds,” Concord Enterprise, September 21, 1938, p. 1,7
Acton news, Concord Enterprise, September 13, 1939, p. 5.
“Middlesex Fair Largely Attended,” Concord Enterprise, September 20, 1939, p. 2
“Cattle Show to Be Feature of 24th Annual Acton A. A. Fair,” Lowell Sun, August 23, 1940, p. 2
“Record Attendance at Fair,” Lowell Sun, September 14, 1940, p. 11-12
“Largest Crowds in Many Years at Acton Fair,” Concord Enterprise, September 18, 1940, p. 2, 3
“Acton Fair Will Open 25th Season Sept. 12-13”, Concord Enterprise, September 10, 1941, p.5
“Acton Fair Attracts Thousands,” Concord Enterprise, September 17, 1941, p. 1
“Acton Street Fair Sept. 12 – Woman’s Club to Sponsor United Nations; Guard to Conduct Midway,” Concord Enterprise, September 3, 1942, p. 5
“Abstract of the Proceedings of the Special Town Meeting Held September 11, 1944,” Annual Report of the Several Official Boards of the Town of Acton Massachusetts for the year ending December 31, 1944, p. 25-26
Center news, Acton Beacon, February 13, 1945, p. 3
“Town Talk,” Concord Enterprise, August 22, 1946, p 9
“The Acton Agricultural Fair was the fall social event from 1917-1940,” Belle Choate, The Acton Citizen, September 13, 1996, p. 1, 12