Ebensburg’ Fair

 

The residents of the Ebensburg area have enjoyed the Cambria County Fair for many long years.  As a matter of fact, the first gala event was held on June 29, 1891.  The race track was constructed by Bert Shoemaker.  The first directors were:

 

John Lloyd – President                                           John Owens

Alec Waters – Secretary                                        J.B. Denny

Ira Bloom                                                                    S.D. Paterson

P.J. Sanders                                                              Daniel J. Lewis

Ed James                                                                  J. M. Shoemaker

Webster Griffith

 

These secretaries served at various times:

 

Charles (Carp) Evans                                     John Sechler          

Lemmon Reed                                                   Charles Hasson

Mel James                                                                 Leonard Huntley

 

In 1920 an organization was formed known as the Cambria Interstate Fair Association.  This group operated the fair under the above name:

 

Leo McKendrick                                                   Ivan McKendrick

Aloysius Skelly                                                  L.S. Hummell

W.C. Krug                                                                  Charles Meisel

William F. Owens                                                            A.E. Shriber

A.A. Noel                                                                    M.J. Bradley

James A. Wilkinson                                                       Mrs. Ira Bloom

 

The late C. M. Schwab entered the picture after the 1920 fair.  The next fair was held in 1924 after the grounds were completely landscaped and the present buildings constructed.  The fair operated under Mr. Schwab until 1931.

 

In 1933, after the fair had closed operation for two years, it wastaken over by Ira Bloom, J.C. Pender, J.S. Vipond, William Bennett, L.F. Crouse, Garfield Thomas, James Wilkinson and Rowland Davis.

 

In 1937, the carter to the Cambria County Fair Association was acquired by Ira Bloom, L.F. Crouse, Rowland G. Davis, and James A. Wilkinson.

 

The present officers, operating the fair to open here Labor day, Sept 6, 1954 and running the full week are:  James A. Winkinson, president; John P. Bloom, treasurer; Walter F. Good, secretary, and Mary Rupert, secretary.  Mrs. Rupert has served in this capacity since 1933.

 

One highlight of the history of the fair is the setting of the world time record for the handicap mile trot made by Great Atlantic, a Pittsburgh – owned horse.  Joe McGraw of Washington, Pa. Has been starter for the fair for many seasons.