By Kelly Tyus
1940 thru 1946: FREESTONE COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION SPONSORING THE
Freestone County Fairs and Rodeos WERE NOT HELD during the “WAR YEARS”.
06.05.1947: “FIRST COUNTY FAIR IN TEAGUE SINCE WAR” was held on September 4,5, 6. A complete fair, with livestock, poultry, food exhibits, perhaps will combine to make the biggest three-day fair ever held in the county. Special events, included fiddler’s contest, hog-calling contest, a tobacco-spitting contest, various rodeo events and other unusual shows highlighted the event. A 100-page premium catalog was published containing premiums, rules and merchants’ advertising.
1947 Miss FC Fair Queen: Jean Paul of Teague.
“The Freestone County Fair and Rodeo closed a successful three days in Teague, Saturday night with an estimated 9,000 attendance for the first of the annual event since before wartime.”
“Direct sales from commercial exhibits passed the $6000-mark Fair President Pete Davidson reported.”
Written on back: “Brush Arbor Watson Camp taken in 1900 at the old Confederate Reunion Grounds, Fairfield, TX. Note: Mrs. Mary Weaver Watson died in April 1912. Photo of Watson family from the Freestone County Museum, Fairfield, TX.
08.19.1948: FREESTONE COUNTY FAIR AND RODEO ASSOCIATION held Annual Freestone County Fair and Rodeo. Rodeo livestock was provided by Roland Reid of Hillsboro.
1948 Miss FC Fair Queen: Patsy Richardson of Teague.
The 1948 Livestock Sale was disappointing. “Local merchants are going to have to come to the sale and help buy the livestock that these boys and girls work hard to get in show shape.”
1949: Freestone County Fair and Rodeo held September 9-10 in Teague. Roland Reid provided the rodeo livestock.
1949 Miss FC Fair Queen: Monta Jo Seale of Teague.
1950: Rodeo Chairman was Suel Hill.
1950: Miss FC Fair Queen: Claudette Maloy
1951 Miss FC Fair Queen: Marcia Lynn McSpadden of Teague.
Fair Chairman was Dick Boyd of Teague.
08.23.1951: CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION at FAIRFIELD SEPTEMBER 2, 3, 4 and 5.
CITY OF FAIRFIELD celebrated 100 years 1851 – 1951.
09.06.1951: The annual Freestone County Fair was held in Teague on September 6-7-8, 1951, being Thursday, Friday and Saturday after Labor Day. Fairfield Chairman “L. R. Boyd says it has been strictly through donations from the businessmen and friends that made it possible to put this Fair on free to all.” “Boyd says that the merchants and businessmen have been so generous with their time and money to put this fair on that each and every citizen should be just as nice and stand behind the merchants and trade at home.”
1952 Miss FC Fair Queen: Wanda Hullum of Teague.
1953: The Freestone County Fair Aassociation Fair was not held in Teague – Korean War. The Miss Freestone County Fair pageant was not held.
08.29.1953: The Freestone County Boys Club and Livestock Show was held in Fairfield.
1954 Fair Directors were Ben G. Capps Jr.; Roger Ivy; Rankin Gilpin; Sam Carroll; and L. J. Davis. Rodeo Stock provided by Roland Reid of Hillsboro.
05.20.1954: Freestone County Fair and Rodeo held in Fairfield.
Business men and Freestone County Fair Finance Committee of Fairfield, Rankin Gilpin, Sam Carroll, Roger Ivy, L. J. Davis and B. G. Capps Jr., interested in improving the grounds presented plans to the City Council. The Committee sold FAITH BONDS for construction of permanent facilities at the fair grounds. By July 1954, the total Faith Bonds sold was $5,600.
08.19.1954: Texas Governor Allan Shivers lead the parade. The Governor rode a sorrel horse provided by C. V. Carroll of Streetman. The $1,500 silver-mounted saddle was courtsey of O. B. Utler, Sr. of Fairfield.
1954 Miss FC Fair Queen:
Sylvia Faubion of Teague.
Rodeo Chairman: Suel Hill
Pickup Men:
Bradford Ivy and Arnold Anz
AUGUST 1954: Ivy’s Dry Goods float owned by Roger Ivy of Fairfield.
Representing the History Club in the fair parade was a 1923 Model T Ford driven by W. I. Goolsby. Riding with him were Mrs. Emma Hill, Club President Mrs. C. N. Williford and Mrs. George Stubbs.
The Fairfield Recorder parade entry.
(Photos from Freestone County Historical Museum)
RED & WHITE GROCERY bldg in background. (Photo courtesy of Loretta Anderson)
Utley Gro & Mkt
| O. B. Utley
Will Buy Your Live Stock Fairfield, TX Phone 46 |
Contact Kelly Tyus, text 903-388-1813, or email kelly.tyus@gmail.com with any articles and/or fair pictures that you would like to include in the FCFA history book. Deadline is April 10, 2022.
Pre-Orders are being taken for the “100 years of Traditions and Heritage 1922-2022” history book. The book will be printed after the June 13-18 2022 fair and rodeo to include the 100-year celebration photos and articles. To pre-order your book, mail $75.00 plus $7.95 postage to Freestone County Fair Association, % Sec. Nadine Phillips, PO Box 592, Fairfield, TX 75840.
“LOOKING THRU THE AST TO FIND THE FUTURE”
