FARM 1919 COMMUNITY Fair Day

Pine Mountain Settlement School
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FARM 1919 Community Fair Day

FARM 1919 COMMUNITY Fair Day
September 27, 1919


TAGS: Community Fair Day 1919, Farmer’s Meetings, farmers, Community Fair Days, fairs, Fair Day, Harlan County KY, foodways, iron kettles, awards, prizes, garden products, poultry, livestock, cooking, canned goods, vegetables, jams, jellies, home products, flowers, games, Delia Creech, Henry Creech, Marguerite Butler, Mary Sweeny, Cuisley ciuil, fabric


The Community Fair Day is one of many annual events that has a long history at Pine Mountain Settlement School. It started in 1917 as an extension of the Harlan County Fair and the School’s “Farmer’s Day.”

While the fundamental program of the Fair has remained remarkably consistent, the scale and scope of the Fair have varied from year to year as interest in fairs has waxed and waned in the School, the community, and the nation.


GALLERY: FARM 1919 Community Fair Day – Correspondence & Lists


CONTENTS: FARM 1919 Community Fair Day – Correspondence & Lists

[Note: Letters from PMSS staff in the PMSS Collections are carbon copies, typewritten, unsigned, and meant for the Office files. The original signed copies were sent to the correspondents. The initials at the bottom left of most PMSS letters indicate the writer (along with initials of the secretary). For example, “KP” refers to Katherine Pettit. Letters from others are typewritten originals unless specified otherwise. The following list of contents is in chronological order and not necessarily in the order of the image numbers.]
  1. [007] May 22, 1919. Letter from Katherine Pettit to Henry Chappell, Middlesboro, KY. regarding the printing of the Fair programs with the list of exhibits.
  2. [008] Program for the Community Fair, September 27, 1919. Pine Mountain, Kentucky.
    “Note –No money premiums will be offered. 1st Prize: Blue Ribbon, 2nd Prize: Red Ribbon.
    Bring your dinners and let us have a good old-fashioned picnic, for there will be good speaking all day.”
    Program lists: LIVE STOCK ; FARM AND GARDEN ; CANNING ; COOKING ; HANDWORK ; ATHLETIC CONTEST.
  3. [008a] Notes on back of program reads in Katherine Pettit’s hand [?]
    “Have separate classes for:
    Rhode Is. Reds [chickens]
    Barred Ply. [Plymouth] Rocks
    White Leghorns

“Add
Peppers
Broom Corn

“Add
Piece of Cuisley [?] [** Cuisley is generally understood to be a type of bagpipe (Cuisley ciuil) however, here it may refer to a type of cloth that is patterned like paisley, evocative of India[?]. This may also be a typo and should read Paisley]
Piece of Linen”

4. [009] N.D. Typed list of Fair goods In addition to LIVE STOCK ; FARM AND GARDEN ; CANNING ; COOKING HANDWORK ; Best display of gourds ; Best collection of flowers ; Story ; Writing ; 1 lb. Honey ; ATHLETIC CONTEST – Races, Jumping.

5. [010] May 23, 1919. Letter from Three States Printing Company, H.R. Chandler, Manager. Middlesboro, KY. Responds to letter from Pettit to H.C. Chappell. Acknowledges that the company will run the programs as usual but that Mr. Chappell’s offices have been leased to Chandler.

6. [011] June 1, 1919. Letter from Katherine Pettit to Mary Sweeny, University of Kentucky, inviting her to speak at the Fair.

27. [012] June 4, 1919. Letter from Katherine Pettit to Dean Cooper, Experiment Station, University of Kentucky, Requests that Prof. Mathews be sent again to PMSS to speak.

8. [013] June 4, 1919. Letter from Katherine Pettit to Marguerite Butler, PMSS staff, who will be directing the campus Fair Day. Butler was in Mt, Auburn, Cincinnati, OH. Pettit thanks Butler for her list which will be sent to the printer. She thanks Butler for arranging accommodations in Open House for her and discusses student Pearlie Turner. Discusses a “community fund” that would be used for community purposes. Mentions contacting Mary Sweeny as speaker at Fair. Notes that Miss [Harriet] Butler and [Grace] Huse, R.N. “are probably going to have an industrial worker living with them at Big Laurel, and are so pleased at that prospect.”

9. [014] June 7, 1919. Letter from Katherine Pettit to H.R. Chandler, Three States Printing Co., MIddlesboro, KY. Responds to change of ownership of printing company and requests 300 copies of Fair list to be distributed to neighborhood.

10. [020] June 12, 1919. Letter from Katherine Pettit to Professor C.W. Matthews, Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Kentucky, acknowledging his visit as a speaker for the Fair. Pettit invites Mrs. Mathews to accompany him. She suggests that he come a few days early so he can “enjoy seeing something of the neighborhood and its needs.”

11 [021] July 2, 1919. Letter from Katherine Pettit to Dean Thomas Cooper, Experiment Station, University of Kentucky, “Thank you for your prompt reply in regard to Miss Sweeny. Of course, we are sorry not to have her with us for the Fourth, and that there has been such an urgent request for her for the Fair that we shall be very glad if you can arrange for her to come then, — the last Saturday in September.”

12. [015] July 10, 1919. Letter from C.W. Mathews, Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Kentucky, to Katherine Pettit. Responds to invitation to speak at Pine Mountain School Fair Day. She asks if Pettit has any suggestions for the “line of discussion particularly along horticultural lines and if there is any kind of a demonstration that I could give that would not require the transportation of too bulky equipment …” Also, Mathews worries about the condition of the road over Pine Mountain.

13. [016] September 3, 1919. Letter from Mary E. Sweeny, College of Agriculture, Dept of Home Economics, University of Kentucky, to Katherine Pettit. Asks it Pettit still plans to have the dar (D.A.R.) and suggested that “I saw some of the men from America in the war and some of them from your section of the state in the first pioneer regiment. I will be glad to come.” She suggests bringing Miss Gertrude McCheyne, state leader in Home Demonstration along to PMSS. Wonders about using Wilson Lewis’s “nag” to bring her over the mountain.

14. [017] September 11, 1919. Letter from Katherine Pettit to Prof. C.W. Mathews, University of Kentucky, regarding her planned trip to School in last weekend of September. Advises Mathews to contact Wilson Lewis regarding mule transportation from Dillon on the south side of Pine Mountain to campus. Advises Mathews that William Creech‘s funeral “is to be preached that Saturday and Sunday, and you will have an interesting time if you plan to stay over for that. We are putting your talk in the morning for the preaching begins in the afternoon.” Pettit responds to Mathews request for guidance on topic of her talk: “I hardly know what to say about the line of discussion and equipment; you know the kind of gardens and farms people have through here and what they need to be told; anything you need for a demonstration you should send in advance by parcel post.”

15. [018] September 11, 1919. Letter from Katherine Pettit to Mary Sweeny, University of Kentucky, regarding her planned trip to School in last weekend of September. She requests that Sweeny bring along Miss McCheyne and that they contact Wilson Lewis about getting over the mountain. She also advises her of Uncle William’s funeral.

16. [019] September 16, 1919. Memo from Katherine Pettit to Editor of the Enterprise, Harlan, KY announcing the Fair.

17. [001] LIST OF ITEMS TO BE EXHIBITED BY COMMUNITY AND NAMES OF EXHIBITORS. (page 1)

  1. Stool  – Mr. Pennington
  2. Chair – Mr. Pennington
  3. Corn Broom – E.K. Wells
  4. Bark dyed wools – [Wilmer] Stone
  5. Natural wools –  [Wilmer] Stone
  6. Goats wool –  [Wilmer] Stone
  7. Quilt –  [Wilmer] Stone
  8. Double sleigh blanket –  [Wilmer] Stone
  9. Flax dress –  [Wilmer] Stone
  10. Linsey [flax] petticoat –  [Wilmer] Stone
  11. Stockings 2 pr. –  [Wilmer] Stone
  12. Flannel –  [Wilmer] Stone
  13. Blanket –  [Wilmer] Stone
  14. Coverlet –  [Wilmer] Stone
  15. Blanket –  [Wilmer] Stone
  16. Rag Rugs –  [Wilmer] Stone
  17. Twisted Shuck Rug –  [Wilmer] Stone
  18. Stockings –  [Wilmer] Stone

18. [002] LIST OF ITEMS TO BE EXHIBITED BY COMMUNITY AND NAMES OF EXHIBITORS. (page 2)

19. Cushaw Justus [?]   – [Leon] Deschamps
20. Cushaw Justus [?]   – [Leon] Deschamps
21  Mittens  – [Wilmer] Stone
22. Stool – B. Parsons
23.  Pumpkins – John Lewis
24.  Pumpkins – John Lewis
25.  Basket  – H. [Harriet] Butler
26.  Shuck Ruck – [Dr. Grace] Huse
27.  6 Beets – Coy Callahan
28.  Winter Squash – [Leon] Deschamps
29.  Mangles – [Leon] Deschamps
30.  Table – J.M. Callahan
31.  Carrots –  [Leon] Deschamps
32.  Salsify –  [Leon] Deschamps
33.  Parsnips –  [Leon] Deschamps
34.  Onions –  [Leon] Deschamps
35.  Potatoes –  [Leon] Deschamps
36.  Corn field [Field corn] – Grant Creech
37.  Popcorn – Grant Creech
38.  Summer Squash – Grant Creech

19. [003] LIST OF ITEMS TO BE EXHIBITED BY COMMUNITY AND NAMES OF EXHIBITORS. (page 3)

39.  Colt – Mrs. Farley
40.  Wh. [white] Sheep’s wool – Mrs. Farley
41.  Flowers – Mrs. Farley
42.  Flowers – Frances Hall
43. Table Desk – Boone Callahan
44. Hickory Brooms – Miss [Wilmer] Stone
45  Purple Dress – Arlena Hall
46.  Green Dress – Clara Callahan
47.  Green Dress – Hulda Howard
48.  Brown Dress – Bessie M. Baker
49.  Grey Dress – Laurie A. Williams
50.  Canned Beets – Emily Hill
51.  Canned Blackberries – Emily Hill
52.  Apron – Frances Johnson
53.  Gingerbread – Becky Jane Huff
54.  Corn Bread – Maude Baker
55.  Cucumber Pickle – Emily HIll
56.  Blanket – Delia Creech
57.  Pieces for Quilt – Delia Creech

20. [004] LIST OF ITEMS TO BE EXHIBITED BY COMMUNITY AND NAMES OF EXHIBITORS. (page 4)

58.  Tomatoes – Delia Creech
59.  Beans (String) – Delia Creech
60.  Flowers – Mary Lewis
61.  Crabapple Preserves –  Mary Lewis
62.  Crabapple Jelly –  Mary Lewis
63.  Sweet Pepper –  Mary Lewis
64.  Natural Wool –  Mary Lewis
65.  White Sheep –  Mary Lewis
66.  Apron – Mary Lewis
67.  Silk Bonnet – Aunt Leah Smith
68.  Gloves – Miss [Wilmer] Stone
69.  Coverlets – Miss [Katherine] Pettit
70.  Coverlets – Miss [Katherine] Pettit
71.  Coverlets – Miss [Katherine] Pettit
72.  Coverlets –  Miss [Katherine] Pettit
73.  Baskets –  Miss [Katherine] Pettit
74.  Quilt – Miss [Katherine] Pettit
75.  Quilt –  Miss [Katherine] Pettit
76.  Canned Swiss Chard – Grace Wells

21. [005] LIST OF ITEMS TO BE EXHIBITED BY COMMUNITY AND NAMES OF EXHIBITORS. (page 5)

77.  Barred Ply. Rhodes – Earel [?] Miller
78.  Leghorns – Virgie Burton
79. Pickles – Shirley Sizemore
80.  2 Cabbage – Mrs. Browning
81.  2 pr. Stockings – Mrs. Browning
82.  1 pr. gloves –   Mrs. Browning
83.  Cucumber Pickles – Nancy Mullins
84. Blanket, Striped – Mrs. [Katherine] Pettit
85.  Blanket, Striped – Mrs. {Katherine] Pettit
86.  Flowers (Dahlias) – Mrs. Browning
87.  Basket – Mrs. [Katherine] Pettit
88.  Basket of Flowers (Cosmos) –  Mrs. [Katherine] Pettit
89.  Split Rug – June Lewis
90.  Corn Suck Rug – Mrs. C. Lewis
91.  Canned Peas – Ninny Callahan
92.  Canned Beans Peaches [?] – Baler
93.  2 Cabbages – William Creech
94.  Canned Swiss Chard – Shirley S. [Sizemore]
95.  6 Ears Corn unshelled – W. [William] C. Creech

22. [006] LIST OF ITEMS TO BE EXHIBITED BY COMMUNITY AND NAMES OF EXHIBITORS. (page 6)

96.  6 Parsnips – W. [William] C. Creech
97.  Sweet Potatoes – W. [William] C. Creech
98   Field Corn – W. [William] C. Creech
99.  Popcorn – W. [William] C. Creech
100. Broom Corn – W. [William] C. Creech
101. Canned Gooseberries – Miss [Ruth] Gaines
102.  Sweet Potatoes – Otto Nolan
103.  Field Corn – P.M.S.S.
104.  Ax Handle – Harmon Turner
105.  Book of Sewing -Bonnie Baker
106.  Biscuits – Clara Siler
107.  Canned Blackberries – Bonnie Baker
108.  Canned Peas – Bonnie Baker
109.  Canned Beets – Bonnie Baker
110.  Onions – Harmon Turner
111. Canned Lima Beans – Causey [?]
112.  Canned Corn – Causey [?]
113.  Sweet Cucumber Pickles  – Mrs. Zande [Ethel de Long Zande]
114. Canned Blackberries – Mrs. Zande [Ethel de Long Zande]

23. [007] LIST OF ITEMS TO BE EXHIBITED BY COMMUNITY AND NAMES OF EXHIBITORS. (page 7)

115. Canned Tomatoes – Mrs. Zande [Ethel de Long Zande]
116. Blackberry Jelly – Mrs. Zande [Ethel de Long Zande]

* 28 Hon. men. [Honorable Mentions] – only 1

 Justus
Chester P
Golden
Burton
Colon
Bradley

122.  B — Writing – M. Middleton
128.  R — Writing – K. [Kitty] Ritchie


Return To:
EVENTS Guide to Past Events
FARM AND FARMING Guide
FARM Guide to Community Fair Days
FARM COMMUNITY FAIR DAY History

See Also:
ART and CRAFT Guide
COMMUNITY – What is Community? – Post
FOODWAYS