Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
ALL’S FAIR IN CHESCO
THE TENTS ARE UP AS GOSHEN COUNTRY FAIR GEARS UP FOR ANOTHER RUN OF SUMMER FUN
The tents are up and the signs are out, it’s time to bake that award-winning pie or pick your prize tomato for the Goshen Country Fair, which returns to the fair grounds just off West Chester Pike and Ellis Lane for the 69th year, beginning Monday, July 30.
All of the country fair favorites, from farm animals, cows, sheep, goats to games such as cow pie bingo and the hotly contested firefighter tug-ofwar will be there. A midway will again include rides and games of chance – and of course there will be the popular Goshen donuts. The annual summer staple is one of the leading fund-raising events each year that benefits the Goshen Fire Co.
“We have guys who come just for the doughnuts,” said Michael Wolpert of C.B. Dombach tent rentals as they were putting up one of the dozen tents Friday.
As a true country fair, residents can enter their finest quilt, vegetable, baked product, photograph or Lego creation for a blue ribbon. Each evening features live music as well as events such as a pie-eating contest.
Thursday evening rock pioneer Charlie Gracie will perform at the Fair. Gracie, a South Philadelphia native, had a number of hits including “Wandering Eyes” and appeared frequently on American Bandstand.
“For me it’s been a family affair, I’ve been on the fair grounds since I could walk,” said Ted Harrison IV, president of the fair. “My father is on the board and as a child he was assistant fire chief. Now it’s nice to see my kids excited about the fair.”
“Putting the event on in this day and age, getting the volunteers to do this is pretty amazing,” said Harrison, a technology teacher at West Chester Rustin high school. “I’d estimate each night over 150 volunteers take part in putting the fair on, with the same core group of people running the same booths each night.”
Harrison said they get volunteers from all over the West Chester area,
with some coming from as far as Morgantown.
One of those volunteers was Mildred Seeds. She ran live stock judging for the fair for many years and lived on a farm in Downingtown. She enjoyed showing her awardwinning Jersey cows and in 1957 founded the Chester County 4-H Dairy program. Harrison said Seeds passed away last December and will be missed.
Volunteer Jim Jenkins, the emcee on the bandstand, has been involved in every fair, according to Harrison.
Harrison said the fair is actually a year older than the fire company. The first fair was held in the summer of 1949, with the funds used to create the fire company the next year. Goshen Fire Company is situated on land that was donated by local developer Harry Taylor.
“The land surrounding us has gone from farm land to pretty dense development. The fair is still successful,” said Harrison, who estimated that after expenses it brings in more $150,000 for the fire company each year.
In the 1960’s the Goshen Country Fair hosted a demonstration Thor missile, similar to those at the Nike base down the road in Edgmont. Harrison said while there are no plans for a missile, there are already big plans underway for a exciting attraction to celebrate the 70th fair in 2019.