MAKING MEMORIES
Local historians present history of Schaghticoke Fair
VALLEY FALLS, N.Y. » To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Schaghticoke Fair, two historians presented a talk about the fair’s history.
Rensselaer County and City Historian Kathy Sheehan and Schaghticoke Town Historian Chris Kelly gave a talk on Oct. 17 and slideshow at the Pittstown Town Hall. The two women took turns presenting their finds to the audience, sometimes consulting their notes or with each other to make sure they had accurate information.
“I’ve been doing small panel exhibits about the fair’s history for the past 20 years,” Sheehan said “Researching this was a lot of fun. I think it’s fascinating.”
The Schaghticoke Fair is one of the highlights of the summer for many people. With the use of a fair timeline created by Sheehan and a map of fair locations made by Kelly, lecture attendees got an idea of the fair’s humble beginnings and how it grew and changed into what it is today.
200 years ago, farming was a very prestigious occupation. People in Rensselaer county who held prominent jobs were also farmers. An idea grew to give the farmers an opportunity to show off their agricultural knowledge and skills. From the very beginning, the fair was a place to present the best flowers, produce, animals, and “domestic arts” that the citizens of Rensselaer county had to show.
Much of what made the fair popular and special in the beginning still rings true today. Nowadays at the Schaghticoke Fair, buildings are filled with ribbon-winning fruits, vegetables, and flower arrangements. The farm animals are one of the most popular attractions for visitors of every age. New and novel exhibits and attractions are thought up regularly to keep the fair fresh.
This year, for example, the fair had “Swifty Swine” pig racing for the first
time. In 1928, the fair debuted a “Better Baby” contest.
The f air’s l ocation changed several times. For about 45 years there were two fairs in Renssealer county. Then in 1921, a farm was purchased for the purpose of
having a accessible, permanent location for the annual fair. This farm, which grew and developed over the years as more land was purchased and buildings were added, became the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds.
Sheehan and Kelly concluded their talk by asking the audience to share their favorite memories or experiences from the Schaghticoke Fair. Popu
lar answers were the antique engines, the school exhibits, the animal pulls, and seeing people at the fair once a year.
“Rensselaer County is still very rural, so it’s important to keep the fair going,” Sheehan said. “The last line of history is never written - as we continue to learn more and discover more sources of information about the fair, the story will change.”
As the Schaghticoke Fair moves ahead into its next 200 years, its story may change, exhibits and attractions may change, and the land it’s on may change, but one thing will always remain the same. The fair will always be a beloved Renssealer county summertime attraction, delighting people of every age and showing off the best that its agricultural community has to offer.