Hamilton County Fair (Cincinnati, Harrison, Butler: city hall, crime, theater)

[Hartwell Girl]

I would love to hear stories from people about their memories of the Fair. There are a few Fair Board members who want to move the Fair out of Carthage and move it to a more remote area of western Hamilton County. Many locals in Hartwell and Carthage are upset over this and want the Fair to stay where it has been for over 150 years BUT find better venues to bring fresh life into the Fair and get families involved again.

Any feedback on this issue would be greatly appreicated. Thank you!!

[CincyExpert]

Some of my earliest memories of childhood after I moved to Cincinnati were going to the Fair every year and enjoying the animals, games, rides, contests and food year in and year out. I think the Fair should stay in Carthage because its as central of a location as you can ask for in the county and it exposes the fun of the Fair to an urban population that most likely wouldn't get to experience it if it was moved out by Harrison or West Colerain Township.

[goyguy]

Hear, hear! I think of it as the "Carthage Fair," and I bet most people still do. Let's face it, the fair is a relic wherever it might be as far as Hamilton County is concerned. There are hardly any farms any more, since malls and subdivisions are the big cash crop of the last fifty years. So it'd make no sense to move it to some remote corner of the county.

I don't have any stand-out recollections to report, but I do remember watching some demolition derbies (lol) and checking out the baking and animal-husbandry contest winners. ("Mmmmmm, look at that rhubarb pie!" "Wow, check out the size of that pig!") Once, when I was 8 or 9 years old if that, I was bonding too strongly with a penned horse - heavy petting, on the nose that is - and had to be led away. The carnival rides were OK, but nothing that wasn't also at any given church festival.

Who or what is behind this proposal? If I lived in Carthage or Hartwell I'd be concerned about what would go on the site if the fair did get uprooted. For all the talk of a juvenile detention facility being put on former Longview Hospital land, I'd wager that that might be the fairgrounds' possible fate. My take on the Cincinnati City Council is that the "voice" for Bond Hill would probably be louder than any one for Hartwell and Carthage. Who wants a jail for underaged criminals in their back yard? It's not like a new counterpart to Kings Auto Mall would go there - look at the car dealers on Vine St today and compare them to the not-so-long-ago Jennings Buick, Sutherland Ford, and Mohawk Motor Company. Big-box store? Maybe, maybe not. On that basis alone I'd be leery of voting in favor of closing the fairgrounds.

A lot of what makes county fairs a great American institution may be outdated and seemingly corny to city dwellers, but the traditions should be kept anyway. It's one of those things that educates kids who have no idea they're being educated - they're just having fun watching, and joining in, sack races...getting up close to farm animals...playing carnival games, etc. Having noted that, I also think that more "social relevance" needs to be brought in. The surrounding communities' more recent arrivals could be reached out to, perhaps in the form of setting aside an exhibition barn for displays of agriculture in the Caribbean and Central America. Make food preparation doable, introduce culturally adapted counterparts to pie-dough rolling (and pie-eating) contests - for example, and it'd be a draw both for "traditional" fair-goers and people who'd previously seen no reason to visit. The less politicized a fair is, the better, but some booths ought to be allotted to advocacy groups working for causes such as supporting family farms, compensating Southern AA farmers for misappropriated land, and so on. After all, if agribusiness prevails there'd be no reason for 4-H Clubs' existence and county fairs themselves would be nothing but a "living history tour."

So, as of now the vote in favor of keeping the Carthage Fair in Carthage is 2-0.

[Hartwell Girl]

Just some additional information...Three Fair Board members asked for money from the State Capital Budget to move the Fair to a western Hamilton County location. The problem these three Board members explain is the crime on the evenings of the Fair and the "thugs" which try to get in about 10:30p each night and cause problems. They also want it off the busline. Carthage and Hartwell residents were insulted by that comment as we have some of hte lowest drime stats in the City and in Dist. 4. The biggest problem is these three Board members DID NOT take a vote on this proposed plan before moving forward with efforts to raise money for the move. There are 15 Board members and only 3 who want to move. The years of poor planning and non conforming to changing times has made the Hamilton COunty Fair less than impressive when compared to other Fairs. A new fresh board with new ideas needs to get involved. Check out Butler County Fair, they changed years ago when they lost most of their farm land to new subdivisions...but their Fair is a big hit each year because they work hard ALL YEAR to make it a success...not just a few months before the event and throw it together.

"My take on the Cincinnati City Council is that the "voice" for Bond Hill would probably be louder than any one for Hartwell and Carthage. Who wants a jail for underaged criminals in their back yard?"---Thanks Goyguy but Hartwell is a pretty loud voice in Cincy lately-we ask for help from surrounding neighboroods but I dont think there has been much involvement that I know of other than Hartwell and Carthage. Hartwell has a pretty strong council with great leaders that have worked hard for some great changes out here. I have a lot of faith in Hartwells strength.

Thanks for the feedback so far! How about 3-0 now....

[goyguy]

Thank YOU, H-Girl, for posting what my instincts already told me. It's the same song, umpteenth verse, all about Queen City racism. Funny how no one kicked up a fuss when the brawling rowdies on the fairgrounds at night were from "good" White families, eh? 801 Plum St still dances to the tune called by "concerned citizens" alarmed over all the Black/Hispanic incursions into their domain. Too much of Cincinnati's population and government thinks and acts like "the Klan without sheets." And when strong voices like those of Reese, Smitherman, and Cole rise in opposition they're met with hatred and scorn. So it's good to know that there are only three people on the "Fair Board" who're talking of relocation. Keep on fighting the good fight!

[Hartwell Girl]

I agree G-Guy. People just dont seem to understand that problems will occur any time you have big events. Some residents are working towards a Farmers Market at the Fair location and I would love to see a big amphitheater built so familes can enjoy outdoor summer concerts. Many things can be done if the entire Board was in agreement to work towards new ideas.

[Hartwell Girl]

Watch for the new Save The Fair web page coming soon. I will let you know when it is up and running. There are some great comments here and your input is greatly appreciated by those of us who do not want to see the Fair move anywhere but its current location.

[The Don]

Originally Posted by Hartwell Girl

There are a few Fair Board members who want to move the Fair out of Carthage and move it to a more remote area of western Hamilton County.

Western Hamilton County? We already have a fair (Harvest Home). Why would we want another? I can't see anyone
east of I-75 travelling to Harrison to go to a county fair.

Maybe county fairs are an anachronism and should be retired.

As for a J-D detention center, sounds like a perfect match for Westwood -- City Hall saddles us with every other peice of trash they don't want any where else.

[Hartwell Girl]

Arachronism--great word The Don! Many Fairs have conformed due to changing times and loss of large farms. Butler County has done a great job with that and they have a stong attendance each year. They really make an effort to reach out to the community and children by having items/displays which appeal to families. I know Hamilton County can do the same with a little effort.

[notquitethere]

My most prominent memory from the Hamilton County Fair is the "diving donkey". They probably don't do this anymore, at least I hope they don't! Basically they would poke and prod a donkey up this really long ramp till he was maybe 30 feet in the air, and then drop out the platform from underneath the animal. The animal would then plummet into a large pool of water. Fun, huh?

I recently found a picture of this whole spectacle and simply HAD to put it in my scrapbook. I will say, anyone who's not from this area who I've shown the picture can't even believe it's real... which is exactly why I had to put it in my scrapbook!