Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

opinions through several letters to the editor.
He wrote. “If money is the leading objection [of not
banning horse racing) why not go whole hog and
license all kinds of gambling concerns, and a house of
ill fame? A dancing house we already have. They
generally go together. This horse racing has a bad
influence by offering an inducement to the young men
of our county to raise and train fast horses, and such
slim neck. splinter-shank things are not what the
farmers want. To call on the people generally to
contribute money to maintain a society which allows
such things, is a perfect outrage, which should no
longer be tolerated."
Many letters regarding what the fairs should include
were printed and Mr. Brazelton had his adherents, as
the following notice was consequently published
during the winter of 1867: “Notice is hereby given to all
whom it may concern, that the following preamble and
resolutions will be offered at the next meeting of the
Directors of the Jones County Agriculture Society to
wit: Whereas, Horse racing and Dancing have become
the leading features of our County Fairs, and whereas
many of our best citizens entertain conscientious
scruples in regard to those things and refuse to take
part in any exhibition while such things are allowed on
the Fairgrounds. Therefore, be it resolved, lst. that
Horse Trotting for premium purse or wager, shall not
be allowed on the Fair Grounds.
2nd, that no license. or permit, shall be given to
establish Dancing Houses on any grounds within the
jurisdiction of the society.
Editor Booth took exception to the resolution
concerning the horse racing, “We too, believe gambling
is evil, but still think it should be allowed for the
enjoyment of the people."
Another letter writer who signed himself as ‘Muggins.
secretary," wrote, “We, the Old Folks, of Bowen's
Prarie and vicinity, having our views lately discarded at
the meeting of the fast men of Jones County on the 29th
and having an Old Fashioned Fair after the Old style of
our Old fathers in Olden times, issue this call to the Old
Folks of Jones county to meet on or near the Old home
of Mr. B ..... .. in the Old settlement of Bowen's Prarie. in
the Old moon in October.
“Come on Old men. Bring your Old horses, Old cows.
Old sheep, Old hogs. Old sickles, Old threshing flails.
Old drags, Old plows, Old forks, Old hoes, and all your
Old machinery you Old men may have, and if any of
you Old men have an Old style one-handle plow, bring
it along for l want one for my own use.
“Old women, bring all your Old bed quilts, Old
carpets, Old cloth. Old butter, Old cheese, Old looms,
and every Old dud you can find in your Old house."
After the horse racing was stopped at the Fair at
Anamosa, it was taken up at Monticello. The letters to
the editor of the Eureka, and the editor himself, was up
in arms over the horse racing being held on the same
two nights scheduled for the Anamosa event. Signing
himself, “Bowen's Prairie“, wrote, “The real issue is
horse racing against the Jones County Agricultural
Fair. We have denied them the privilege of carrying off
$2.100 of our money as they did two years ago. They
(Monticello) have become enraged and swear in their
wrath that if they can't rule, they will ruin, and have
made an attempt by appointing their horse race on the
same day. In this attempt to break the annual Fair, they
will fail. lt will add greatly to our Fair. It will be be the
means of bringing to our Agricultural Fair those who
would not go, were it not for this ungenerous attempt to
ruin it.
"The best citizens of Monticello condemn the course
taken by the horse racers and will attend the County
Fair."
When the 10-year lease of the fairgrounds at
Anamosa was up, Mr. Shaw renewed it for five years,
rent free. The fair limped along for a time, and 1872
was the last year that the Jones County Fair was held at
Anamosa.
The State Fair was held in Cedar Rapids that year,
the week before the date of the Jones County fair,
which tended to draw the smaller county fair-goers to a
fresher setting.
In January 1874, a notice was placed in the county
newspapers by E.V. Miller, pro tem, urging the meeting
of interested farmers to attend a meeting to be held in
Center Junction February 27, 1874, to reorganize the
Jones County Fair.
On September 2,3,4, 1874, the first Jones County
Fair was held at Monticello, following a reorganization.
August 5, 1879, the Anamosa Driving Park
Association was organized, after 40 young Anamosa
men met to form this group. This gradually evolved
into the Anamosa District Fair which was active until
1931 when there was a disastrous fire which destroyed
the double amphitheater.
The first officers of the Anamosa Driving Park
Association were: N.S. Noble. president: J.P. Scroggs.
vice-president, William Mclntyre, secretary; L.
Schoonover, treasurer. The Directors were: George
Watters. L.N. Pitcher, Pat Washington, John Foley and
Samuel Tucker.
The purpose of the Driving Park Association was to fit
up the grounds for fairs. agricultural exhibitions,
the training of horses, and for a driving park generally.
Stockholders purchased stock at twenty-five dollars
each. The beginning of the corporation, as was
mentioned, was August 5, 1879, and was to continue
for 20 years. The Association held title to the land later
used for the fairgrounds. This was farther north than
the fairgrounds of earlier days. The land consisted of
about 30 acres.
The first fair held at Anamosa in several years was
held in September 1884. It mostly was made up of
patchwork quilts. fruits and flowers. canned fruits.
breads and a good show of hogs, sheep and a few fowl.
The trotting and running races were among the chief
attractions. The Norwegian Band played for the benefit
of the fairgoers. The total premiums were $3,300.
The editor of the Anamosa Eureka, T.E. Booth, wrote:
“There need be no hurtful clash of interest between the
fair here and that at Monticello. On the contrary, a
healthful rivalry may, and we think will. operate to
stimulate the efforts of both societies with favorable
results."
In 1895, the young men of Anamosa, desiring to
improve the Anamosa fair, organized into the Anamosa
District Fair Association. A large amphitheater was
built which would hold 10,000 persons. They moved
the horse stables from the north side of the fair grounds
to the south side. They planted elm trees to make a
shady park. The Anamosa District Fair Association and
the Anamosa Driving Park Association were merged
into one body and the same members owned the
property and belonged to both associations until 1905.
The officers of the 1895 Anamosa District Fair were
E.R. Moore, T.E. Watters. J.E. King, F.J. Cunningham,
T.W. Foley, J.R. Washington, F.M Rhodes. W. H.
Prentice, A.C. Watters, Bert Scott, D.B. Sigworth, W. S.
Bromily, W.A. Miller, J.A. Belknap, John Z. Lull, Will
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