Tuesday, July 20, 1999
Clermont's 150th fair has touch of history
BY TOM O'NEILL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
OWENSVILLE — Nationally, the Gold Rush was on. Locally, a county fair in a far-off place called Clermont made its debut, netting a princely profit of $40 for the fair society.
The year was 1849.
Fast-forward 150 years. Sutter's Mill in northern California, where gold was found and dreams were born, is a tourist's footnote to Old West lore.
But in Clermont, the fair marches on.
This year's Clermont County Fair — the 150th — debuts Sunday with a new parade route and a week's worth of events befitting a sesquicentennial celebration.
Opening day will begin with a brunch for all county residents 100 years of age and older. During the 1999 Royalty's “Crowning of the Court” later that day, royalty from the past 50 years will be honored.
“As urban sprawl comes this way,” fair board Executive Secretary/Treasurer Harold Herron said Monday, “the county fair still gives those people a reminder of when Clermont was country. A kind of "I used to do this; I remember this.' Of childhood. Of what their grandparents told them.”
Organizers will offer for $2 a 35-page history book of the fair, with photos and a “treasure of wonderful anecdotes,” Mr. Herron said.
But as much as this year's seven-day event is about the county's seniors and history, the fair also is — as always — as much about its younger citizens. Beside the usual Junior Fair livestock shows, fair coordinators have added a YMCA Kids Day on July 29.
Kids Day will include face-painting, puppet shows, a coloring contest, arts and crafts, a watermelon-eating contest and information on a range of activities offered by the YMCA and 4-H club.
Admission on Sunday is free.
On other days, admission prices are: adults (12 and older), $18 for a season pass, $6 for individual day tickets; adults 60 and older, $10 for a pass and $6 each day; youths ages 6-11, $6 for a pass and $1 each day. Children under 6 are admitted free.
For more, call 732-1657.
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