For the first time in more than 10 years, the Grays Harbor County Fair hosted a booth telling the fair’s own story, from its time in Aberdeen in the ‘40s to the present location.
From a military depot to a run-down property to the grounds visited by more than 60,000 this year, the History and Heritage stand, hosted by the Chehalis Valley Historical Society., featured scrapbooks, paintings, articles and awards telling the story of the county fair in Grays Harbor.
“Our purpose of being here is getting people not only interested in the fair, but in the history of Grays Harbor County,” said Darrel White, the former president of the Chehalis Valley Historical Society, as he helped run the booth on Thursday.
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Darrel White displays some of the historical material hosted at the History and Heritage fair booth, hosted by the Chehalis Valley Historical Society.
The Chehalis Valley Historical Society’s Vice President JoAnn Yost set up the booth combining their photos, articles, and awards going back to the 1900’s, like White’s own blue ribbon winning art from when he was a first-grader.
“I brought a finger painting I did in the first grade that got a blue ribbon,” White said. “It’s got a 1953 ribbon on it.”
A lot of the material, including the yearbooks detailing fairs from a selection of years. were supplied by the fair board itself, White said.
Lillian Saeger / Daily World The County Fair Board provided a variety of historical materials about the fair itself for use at the History and Heritage Booth.
“The fair board was really helpful,” White said.
The historical articles and photos cover not just the nostalgia-laden years of youth, but some information that might come as a surprise.
“The oldest materials we have here that are actually from back then are from the 1900’s,” White said. “There are some big gaps too.”
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Darrel White, former president of the Chehalis Valley Historical Society, talks about his award-winning artwork from the 1953 Grays Harbor County Fair.
The exhibit had materials showing the fair taking place at the Electric Park in 1911, from an Aberdeen Daily World article written by Bill Koski. Chehalis Valley Historical Society also showcased when the Fair Association got started in 1913.
“I think most of us were surprised the fair had not always been here,” White said. “I didn’t know that in 1953 it had not actually been operating that long.”
The Chehalis Valley Historical Society also had photos and articles of the Horse Club of Elma going back to 1954 on display.
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World The Grays Harbor County Fair has had a number of homes, settling in its current location in the late 1940s.
“I think the emphasis of this display, besides the history of the fair itself, is about the era where the Horse Club of Elma saved the fair,” White said.
The Chehalis Valley Historical Society was at the fair every day, opening up the past of the fair and the county to visitors. The Chehalis Historical Society is always looking for new members to join the volunteer organizations, White said.
“There’ll be times when only two or three people kept it running,” White said. “We have some really really outstanding people.”
