Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
~ FAIRGROUNDS ~
(1129 Charlevoix Avenue, Petoskey, Michigan)
~ PUBLICLY SPEAKING ~
The design and compilation of the text and photos on this site are copyrighted 2017.
Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
"Clicking" on some color highlighted words may access additional information.
Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
~ Emmet–Charlevoix County Fair ~
2017
2017
Photo Above: Posted on this Northern Mich~Mash Preserve web site only by permission from
remarkable photographer and videographer Charles Dawley of Up North Imaging.
remarkable photographer and videographer Charles Dawley of Up North Imaging.
Photo Labels Include:
B&G = Buildings & Grounds Committee ~ Dissolved in January 2017 (Minutes~Legal Documents)
Current Emmet/Charlevoix Fair Director Agnes Shaw
In the summer of 1877 Alexander Rinaldo Clark moved to Petoskey, driving through with a team of horses. He traded the horses for 20 acres of land on the west side of Petoskey, later selling 10 acres to the Emmet County Fairground Board. He operated a livery barn on Mitchell Street for a number of years. He drove traveling men to Cheboygan before a railroad was built to Cheboygan. He took two days to make the trip. His wife Jessie, had a hat shop on Mitchell Street, later operating the Occidental Hotel on Lake Street. Later, Alexander Clark and Harry Clark operated a summer hotel, called Clark's Tavern, on Lake Street. Mr. Clark died May 1930 in Petoskey, Michigan, and was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery nearby to the Fairgrounds.
1882 ~ Organizing the FIRST fair to be held in Emmet County
1882 ~ Emmet County Fair
1884 ~ Shall we have a Fair Ground?
Additional photos of the fairgrounds may be found on this same web master's "Charlevoix Emmet History ~ Honoring the Military" web site's web page "Milkweeds" by clicking HERE. The fairgrounds was used as a collection and drying station during WWII when milkweeds were being processed in Petoskey on Sheridan Street to be used inside flotation vests for the soldiers.
1894 > 1896 ~ Farmers WANT a Fair... and will have a Fair
(Little Traverse Agricultural Society)
(Little Traverse Agricultural Society)
~ Buying the Fairground Property and Building the Buildings ~
Mr. L. L. Thomas arrived in Petoskey in 1892. According to the 1954 Petoskey News Review article about him and his wife celebrating 63 years of marriage, "Mr. Thomas was instrumental in the purchase of the permanent fairgrounds and superintended the erection of the buildings." He also helped to clear the ground and construct the buildings where the Michigan Maple Block Company now stands. Mr. Thomas was a member of the Greenwood Cemetery board for 20 years, served as a county supervisor from the fourth ward, deputy and chief deputy Sheriff and still held the office of City Constable in 1954.
1905 ~ The Petoskey high school held a field meet at the fair grounds.
Joseph Bacon and the county fair over the years...
Photo Below from Undated Article: "Joseph Bacon, Petoskey oldest living citizen at the time (born in 1870), had lived in the Petoskey area since 1879. Bacon was one of the original officers of the first Emmet County Fair in 1895, and is the oldest living blacksmith in the area. He came to Petoskey when just two log bridges crossed Bear Creek in 1879. He then lived as a small boy at Conrad Zoll's boarding house on Lake Street."
In the very early years, the Charlevoix County Fair grounds were in East Jordan... before merging with Emmet County.
Advertisement for the Charlevoix County Fair Below: In 1917, Charlevoix County was holding its 33rd Annual Fair... in East Jordan. The Charlevoix County Fair eventually (about 2000) merged with the Emmet County Fair.
Advertisement for the Charlevoix County Fair Below: In 1917, Charlevoix County was holding its 33rd Annual Fair... in East Jordan. The Charlevoix County Fair eventually (about 2000) merged with the Emmet County Fair.
The 17 August 1990 Petoskey News Review reported: "[Commissioner] Winkworth also expressed reservations about transferring responsibility to a board which is not entirely represented by taxpayers in Emmet County, and therefore the owners of the fairgrounds. The fair board includes three members from Charlevoix County."
A Greenwood Cemetery biography of Dr. George W. Nihart explains why circumstances required him, as Emmet County Health Commissioner, even, to close down the county fair due to the Spanish flu. Read the explanation on pages 81-82 by clicking HERE.
Since 1921, the annual Emmet County Fair has been held at this current [2021] location on US-31 on Charlevoix Avenue, west of Petoskey... ONE HUNDRED YEARS. Emmet County owns 29 acres of land at this location due in part to the acquisition of property from Hodgkiss & Douma, Inc.
Article Below: October 1928 ~ County Turned Over a Strip of Land to the State for Roadway...
Photo Below: 1930 ~ 4-H Club showmanship contest winners
Photo Below: 3 September 1931 ~ 4-H Club showmanship contest Emmet County Free Fair
It was reported in the 13 October 1931 Petoskey Evening News that the Emmet County Free Fair for 1932 would be discontinued. In a close vote the county supervisors decided that the cost was much too heavy.
Two Photos Below: 1936 ~ County Round Up Day (Playing ball)
Photo Below: Using the loading/unloading shute near the fairground barns
Photo Below: 28 August 1936 ~ Emmet County 4-H Club Fair Dairy Exhibit
Photo Below: 28 August 1936 ~ Emmet County 4-H Club Fair Dairy Exhibit
Photo Below: 1937 ~ 4-H Club members pitching horseshoes at 1st Emmet County Camp
Three Photos Below: 1937 ~ Emmet County Wool Show at the County Fairgrounds
Photo Below: 1938 ~ Judging the bovine 4-H competition at Emmet County Fair
Photo Below: 1938 ~ Potato Demonstration at Emmet County 4-H Camp
Photo Below: Aerial View of Fairgrounds
~ 1938 ~
Photo Below: 1940 ~ Preston Mathers with Ayrshire cow at the 4-H fair
Photo Below: 1940 ~ Bull calves purchased by Elias Gregory and Jeremiah Eby
~ 1941 ~
In 1941 Emmet County was presented at the Fairgrounds with a flag created by the J.L. Hudson store in Detroit. That year the Hudson Company was celebrating their 60th anniversary and thus presented each of the 83 counties with their county's flag.
Article Above and the Header Photo:
WHERE is Emmet County's own county flag???
Read how Roscommon County, Michigan, recently discovered the whereabouts of its 1941 flag.
WHERE is Emmet County's own county flag???
Read how Roscommon County, Michigan, recently discovered the whereabouts of its 1941 flag.
The 29 December 2016 The Houghton Lake Resorter revealed the location of the Roscommon County Flag: "Clerk Michelle Stevenson wasn’t aware of the flag’s current location, however, when Hamp asked Commissioner Marc Milburn (District 4) about the flag he took it upon himself to do a little digging. It turns out the flag has been hanging in a plastic dry cleaning bag in Commissioner David Russo’s (District 1) office for several years."
1965 Article Below: Another clue as to possible whereabouts of the Emmet County's own flag... "The flag was presented to the Emmet 4-H Clubs in September 1940... It is now hanging on display in the hall at the court house." BUT, is it?
1942 Article Below:
The Emmet Fair was canceled partially due to the gasoline rationing because of the war effort.
The Emmet Fair was canceled partially due to the gasoline rationing because of the war effort.
During the 1940s, relative to WWII, the fairground fences were used to dry milkweed pods.
Read about this event on the Charlevoix Emmet History Website,
making Petoskey "The Milkweed Center of the World".
Read about this event on the Charlevoix Emmet History Website,
making Petoskey "The Milkweed Center of the World".
Second Largest Wild Animal Circus in America Coming to Emmet County Fair Grounds
~ 1950 ~
~ 1950 ~
2000 Kids Jam the Midway at the Fairgrounds
~ 1951 ~
~ 1951 ~
Cooperation Builds 4-H Center
~ 1952 ~
~ 1952 ~
Photo/Article Below: 4-H Club raised money toward 4-H Center
~ 1953 ~
~ 1953 ~
~ 1954 ~
Charlevoix County sold its East Jordan 40-acres fair land to the East Jordan School District
for use as an athletic field with the grandstand.
Charlevoix County sold its East Jordan 40-acres fair land to the East Jordan School District
for use as an athletic field with the grandstand.
~ 1954 ~
The Emmet County board of supervisors voted to continue the Emmet County Fair for another year, even after a slight deficit.
The Emmet County board of supervisors voted to continue the Emmet County Fair for another year, even after a slight deficit.
~ 1954 ~
Smiley Burnett, (photo below) the cowboy comic, who rates among the few people who are classed as a one man show. Smiley has an unusual personality. He is one of the most accomplished musicians in show business, playing a total of 52 musical instruments. Burnett has written more than 300 songs, including the words, many of which have reached the top on the nation's hit parade. ~ 19 August 1954 (Emmet County Graphic) |
~ 1955 ~
~ 1955 ~
~ 1956 ~
TOP
~ 1957 ~
Access additional information about the Petoskey Motor Speedway
on this same web site by clicking HERE on the Vehicles & Bicycles web page.
on this same web site by clicking HERE on the Vehicles & Bicycles web page.
~ 1960 ~
FIRST Circus to Cross the Mackinac Bridge Comes to the Emmet County Fairgrounds
FIRST Circus to Cross the Mackinac Bridge Comes to the Emmet County Fairgrounds
~ 1962 ~
Popeye The Sailor at the Fair
1962 Photos:
Animal Judging on the in-field, go-cart racing on its own little track, attendees' vehicles parked on the highway...
Animal Judging on the in-field, go-cart racing on its own little track, attendees' vehicles parked on the highway...
~ 1963 ~
Fairground Site
Fairground Site
~ 1968 ~
Emmet County Fair
Emmet County Fair
~ 1969 ~
Moving the Fair Office for Space to Widen Charlevoix Avenue
Moving the Fair Office for Space to Widen Charlevoix Avenue
~ 1970 ~
Article Above: This "Future Fair Site" piece of property is located on the corner of Hathaway and North Conway roads. Since the 1970 purchase by the county, 40 acres [08-16-12-300-004] of the 159 acres have been sold, at the very corner, to the Emmet County Road Commission. Emmet County still owns the 119 acres section [08-16-12-300-003] of that corner of land.
~ 1973 ~
Photo Below: Bill Waldrop was Fair Manager
~ 1974 ~
Photo Below: Don Cooper, horse racing school teacher, racing his trotting mare, "Supreme Angel"
~ 1974 ~
~ 1974 ~
~ Grandstand ~
Photo Below: The Elks Concession Stand was located right beside the Grandstand.
Photo Below: Mud Run in front of a full grandstand...
Photo Above: Alex Childress' additional work also may be viewed at Alex Childress Photo.
The new 2004 grandstand has 2,700 seats.
The new 2004 grandstand has 2,700 seats.
Fairground Site
~ 1983 ~
~ 1983 ~
Wilfred L. Sterzik served over 50 years on the Emmet County Fair Board
~ 1987 ~
~ 1987 ~
Fairground Site
~ 1987 ~
~ 1987 ~
Fairground Site
~ 1988 ~
~ 1988 ~
~ 1992 ~
~ 1993 ~
~ 1994 ~
~ 1997 ~
~ 1998 ~
~ 2000 ~
The fair began operating as a two-county fair
Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair
The fair began operating as a two-county fair
Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair
~ 2002 ~
~ 2003 ~
Stated in the 2016 Emmet County Summer newsletter:
"It was determined that the old dilapidated Fairgrounds that are the gateway to Petoskey from the west needed to be completely overhauled and restored. The property was a decades-old eyesore that continued to worsen.
In 2003, a $13.325 million bond issue was approved by the Board of Commissioners. The flagship project was a $5.4 million overhaul of the Fairgrounds and Community Building into what you see today - the most beautiful Fairgrounds in the state."
"It was determined that the old dilapidated Fairgrounds that are the gateway to Petoskey from the west needed to be completely overhauled and restored. The property was a decades-old eyesore that continued to worsen.
In 2003, a $13.325 million bond issue was approved by the Board of Commissioners. The flagship project was a $5.4 million overhaul of the Fairgrounds and Community Building into what you see today - the most beautiful Fairgrounds in the state."
~ 2004 ~
Year of Fairground Renovations
(Completely ADA-Accessible, 10,000 square-foot Community Building,
Updated Barns, Animal Pens, 2,700 Seat Covered Grandstand)
Year of Fairground Renovations
(Completely ADA-Accessible, 10,000 square-foot Community Building,
Updated Barns, Animal Pens, 2,700 Seat Covered Grandstand)
2004 Article below:
Announcement of the $3.6 million newly renovated Emmet County Fairground with an old-fashioned ice cream social...
Announcement of the $3.6 million newly renovated Emmet County Fairground with an old-fashioned ice cream social...
2004 Article Below: Newly renovated fairground was in the middle of "Show Time"
2011
Photo Below: Should it be a prerequisite to be able to spell "Emmet" and "Charlevoix" correctly
for renting the fairgrounds?
for renting the fairgrounds?
30 May 1883 Petoskey City Record advertisement (front page) in two sections below:
No mention of where this FIRST Circus ever in Petoskey would be held,
but probably NOT at the fairgrounds... just interesting to note this was the FIRST Circus for Petoskey...
No mention of where this FIRST Circus ever in Petoskey would be held,
but probably NOT at the fairgrounds... just interesting to note this was the FIRST Circus for Petoskey...
~ A Lake Street Parade about 1900 ~
Photo of Poster Below:
The Circus Shop (children's clothing store) in Downtown Petoskey,
has had this poster, along with several other circus related posters, displayed in the store for many, many years.
The Circus Shop (children's clothing store) in Downtown Petoskey,
has had this poster, along with several other circus related posters, displayed in the store for many, many years.
21 May 2017 was the end of the staging of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clowns.
"The Greatest Show On Earth"
Read about the 1897 local visit to Newberry's Land between Bay View and Kegomic
of the Ringling Brothers Circus on the web page "Flora and Fauna" on this web site, by clicking HERE.
"The Greatest Show On Earth"
Read about the 1897 local visit to Newberry's Land between Bay View and Kegomic
of the Ringling Brothers Circus on the web page "Flora and Fauna" on this web site, by clicking HERE.
Emmet County Fairgrounds Community Center
2018
2018
2021
Report Below: Additional information about the deal made with The Greenwood Cemetery regarding property transformation over the riverine that goes through the corner of the fairgrounds may be accessed by clicking HERE and scrolling toward the bottom of that web page.
The 2022 Emmet–Charlevoix County Fair held at the Petoskey Fairgrounds ran from 23 August to 28 August 2022. The slideshow photos below were taken on 29 August 2022...
~ The Day AFTER the Fair with the Skerbeck Family Carnival ~
Click on PLAY in the upper left corner of the main photo to view the slideshow.
~ The Day AFTER the Fair with the Skerbeck Family Carnival ~
Click on PLAY in the upper left corner of the main photo to view the slideshow.
Fairgrounds Memorial Bridge built by the Maintenance Department, thanks to materials donated by Preston Feather.
July 2023
July 2023
The county's old logo was just being replaced with the new logo, on to the Fairground's digital sign.