The History of Richmond Fair
With Richmond Fair just around the corner, there is no better time for a trip down memory
lane.
The first exhibition held by the Richmond County Agricultural Society took place on September 24th, 1856 on the Commons in Danville. Lord Aylmer of Melbourne was the president of the Agricultural Society at the time.
In the years that followed, the Richmond Fair continued to be held without a permanent site. Exhibitions took place on the properties of the Lovejoy and the Mackenzie families. They started off with no permanent buildings, a very small judging contest, and only a handful of visitors.
In 1872, the trustees of St-francis College, who were large supporters of the Agricultural Society, offered their property for the exhibitions without the Agricultural Society paying a single cent. They eventually allowed them to build a barn on their property but this was at their own expense.
In 1896, a permanent site was finally chosen near the railway yards in Richmond. The property was purchased from Patrick and Catherine Mcgauran for $1,374, and a grandstand, additional barns, and other facilities were built. In 1965, however, the provincial government took the property away from the Agricultural Society for the building of Highway 16 and the new bridge across the St-francis River.
Forced to relocate, the Agricultural Society chose the present day property on Highway 143 near Corris Pond costing a total of $24,500, the present day site of the fair. As much as possible they moved their buildings from the old site to the new, building a new arena and cattle barns in the process.
The fair had its ups and downs over the years; it almost went bankrupt in the 1980’s until a small group of individuals came together to form a corporation and sold shares in the Agricultural Society. This year marks its 163rd anniversary and as the years go by it keeps breaking attendance records.
County fairs always need your support so come on out and show your local fair some love!