1855-OCTOBER 10-11   the first fair was sponsored by the Winnebago Agricultural Society. It was reported in the Oshkosh Courier that the exhibition of livestock, agricultural products and many manufactured articles is much greater than anticipated and is in the highest degree creditable to the farmers of the county. J.H.Osborn was the fair secretary. This fair was held at the public square by Main Street and Merit Street. The fair was held on October 10 and 11.

1868- The fair was believed to have been in the area where the Mercy hospital was located, down by the lake. It included a ½ mile race track, since horse and sulky racing was very popular at that time. It is also believed that sometime between 1855 and 1868 that adjoining counties were also included in the fair.

1870- The fair was conducted by the Northern State Agricultural and Mechanical Association. At this time it was located on land diagonally across from Fair Acres shopping center is now located, at the intersection of Jackson Street and Murdock Street. Bad weather at this fair.

1871 – The fairgrounds were being used by the military so the Winnebago County Agricultural Society and the Omro Agricultural and Mechanical Society in a joint venture held the fair in Omro. This also prompted the Omro residents to build a fairgrounds in Omro which were not ever used for a county fair

1872 – Fair was on 60 acres at the north end of Jackson Drive. It was put on by the Northern State Fair Association.

1879 – Attendance record was set for a single day with 12,000 in attendance, which made the fair the largest in the state. A large two story building was erected in six weeks and two days, costing $6000.00. The construction was overseen by E. P. Sawyer. On Sept. 2, 1879 a Harvest-Home-Ball was held in celebration of the mammoth exposition building.

1880 – The large building erected in 1879 burned to the ground shortly after the fair was held, but the residents of Winnebago County rebuilt it.

                                 Ticket prices were .40 for adults

                                                                .20 For children

                                                               .10 babies

                                                                $1.00 for season tickets or passes.

1882 –This fair was known as one of prominence and tremendous success. The fair attendance was down the first day but the following days The attendance estimate was 15,000 to 18,000 attending per day.The fair was held on Sept. 11 thru 15.

1885 – August 7th – A devastating tornado struck Oshkosh with the fair grounds being in its way, also swept the fair buildings with it. Damage estimates were at about $16,000.00

1886 – Determined to have a fair, a large tent was erected and exhibits were lined up in it. Livestock were tied along fences. Determined that the show must go on, $4000.00 was paid in premiums and $2100.00 for race winners.

1888 – Had outstanding bills owing $2600.00. The fair still was held but not all entrants received premium moneys, leaving a bad taste with the participants. K. M. Hutchinson was the secretary

1895 – The biggest attraction at this fair was the bike and horse races. A special art show from the Chicago Art Institute was brought in for display along with many local artists.

1897 – Fair was held Sept. 27 to Oct. 2nd. With a drop in admission prices it was hoped to bring people back. Adults .25 cents

                                                   Child under 12 yrs. 15 cents

                                                   $1.00 for a season pass

                                                    .25 cents was charged for grandstand

The name of the fairs sponsoring organization was changed from the Northern States Fair Assoc. to the Oshkosh Fair Association sometime between 1890 and 1897. According to articles of the local newspapers, bicycle races and horse racing were the most popular events.

1910 – Sponsoring organization was changed to the Winnebago County Fair Association. This is also the time the fair started where the Fair Acres Shopping center is now located. The incorporation was on May 6th, 1910. The original documents for incorporating were sighed by Otto Konrad, John Athern, and Ira Parker

1911 – Was the 2nd fair under the sponsoring organization, Winnebago county Fair Association. Fair was held Sept26 – 29. Secretary was A.R.  (Dick) Maxwell.

1914 – A tornado hit the fair grounds damaging buildings on the grounds.

1918 – Taylor Brown became the fair secretary and manager

1919 – Junior exhibits started to be shown at the fair.

1921 – The grandstand was built.

1924 – Exposition building built on the southwest corner of the fairgrounds and an addition to the grandstand was also made. The construction work was done by Flour Bros. and was completed in time for the Sept 23-26 fair. The 4 day event had an estimated record attendance of over 100,000 people.

1926 – Education building built on the southeast corner of the grounds.

1930’s The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals played an exhibition game in front of the grandstand

1941 – The 4-H dormitory was built.

1948 – Fair had 82,000 attendance with Oshkosh day being the largest and Neenah-Menasha day the 2nd largest.

1951 – The new race track was dedicated on June 13th.

 1952 – Had insurance problems, but got the liability issues resolved. The fair went from a 4 day event to a 6 day event. Attendance was at 100,000. The Joe Chittwood Thrill Show was the most successful day.

1953 – Reported that all display space had been sold out, and that the harness racing was the best ever. After this fair was over the board voted to go back to a $ day fair.

1954 – Winnebago County became the owners of the fair grounds with a lease agreement with the Fair Association. There was an addition to the cattle barn completed in time for the fair. There was also 4 days of horse racing.

1955 – Fair held Aug 29-Sept 1. The big attraction at this fair was the Ice Show. The fair was plagued by the polio epidemic with children under 16 were advised not to attend. The fair ended up $40,000. in the red. The County Board came to the rescue and appropriated $20,000. so the bills could be paid which were created by the deficit caused by the polio epidemic.

1956 – All children were admitted free to the fair if with a parent

!957 – Taylor Brown passed away He had been the fair sec. and manager since 1918. The fair was cancelled except for the Junior fair end of it.

1963 – Referendum was voted on with 66% of the voters saying not to spend tax dollars for a new fair site.

1964 – A all purpose building was built at the south east end of the fairgrounds. This building became known as the Maxwell Building.

1965 – The exposition building burned to the ground a day after the fair on 9/9/65. Arson was the suspect.

1966 – Griese and Ross Inc. completed the new 96 ft. by 144 ft exhibition building just in time for the August 17th fair opening.

1972 – All purpose building named the Maxwell Bldg. in honor of A, R. (Dick) Maxwell.

1973 – Bill Jones elected to the fair board.

1978 – Leo Galica quit as the manager of Leo’s Speedway but will stay on as co-manager with Barb Galica as fair managers. Jim Barthel became the 4 – H and Youth agent. Fair lease was extended for another 2 ½ years. Fair had a 3 million dollar insurance policy.

1979 – Racetrack was leveled by a County Highway crew. Grandstand came under criticism for being unsafe. County board voted in favor of moving the fairgrounds. Petitions were circulated to keep the fair grounds in its present location. Tom Egan was elected to the fair board.

1980 – The stock pavilion was damaged in a wind storm.  Funding for repair of $20,000. was approved by the County Board since the Association had to do some major repairs in the grandstand.A free gate was tried at this fair. Admittance was free till 5:00pm. Kids from Wisconsin were a hit in the grandstand.

1981 – A new stock pavilion was built. City of Oshkosh found major electrical problems in the grandstand. A new 3 year lease was given to the assoc. for the running of the fair.

1982 – The Association reorganizes and set up new bylaws. It was at this time that they shed the sale of association stock purchase. A new carnival was hired for the fair. There were 90 tractors entered in the tractor pull, with Glen Barthels winning his class with a pull of 201’ 9 ½ “ 6500# class. There was a 30% increase in exhibits.

1983 – Milk house tabbed as obsolete. Jim Selle was elected to the fair board.

1984 – Renovation of the fair grounds. Heating system repaired in the Maxwell Building. A new entrance constructed off of Main St. A new horse ring was also built.

1986 – Education building was replaced with a new building to be used for year around events. Fair ends with $20,000. surplus.

1987 – All youth judging was done face to face. County closes grandstand, saying it doesn’t meet code. After much investigating it was found to be repairable. Barb and Leo Galica quit as fair managers. Attendance at this years fair was very bad because of all the bad publicity about the grandstand. John Hoeft was named manager at the annual meeting in Dec.

1988 – County repaired the grandstand. Tip Top Shows became the new carnival. County Board voted Sunnyview as new fair site.

1989 – County sold the fair grounds to Dial Companies for development of a retail mall. The new fair site was at the sunnyview complex. Total fair entries were up for this years fair by 239.. A new lease agreement was made for five years for the new grounds.

1990 – Fair moves to the sunnyview site on cty road Y. The new fairgrounds are 155 acres. The old fair grounds sale was for 2.825 million dollars. The fair spent $45,000. for grandstand entertainment. Patti Loveless and Highway 101 were the headliners in the grandstand Youth entries were up by 1000 over 1989, with over 7000 total entries. Polly Kaufman was the winner of the logo contest, “1990 the YEAR OF THE NEW COUNTY FAIR.’ Gate admission was $3.00 per car. Rain during the fair totaled 4.72 inches

1991 – Fair audit uncovers 474 cases of canned beer were missing. A total of $11,000. were in question.

1992 – Food Court was built. This was the year that Lorrie Morgan Cancelled the grandstand performance days before the fair. B. J. Thomas replaced her at the last moment. Had lots of rain this fair, accumulating to over 6 inches. Fair ended up with a $38,000. loss.

1993 Had the 15th best attendance in the state, out of 76 county and district fairs. 53,032 people were estimated to have attended the fair.

1998 – Fair celebrated the State of Wisconsin Sesquicentennial. A large parade was held on the grounds. Fair ran from Aug 12 thru 16th.

 

1999 – Winnebago County Fair manager investigated for embezzlement. A certified letter was sent to him, stating that he would not be needed as fair manager and that he should not do any managerial or fair related promotional activities.

2000 – Tom Egan becomes president- manager of the Winnebago County Fair.

2001 – Calkins Midways double books dates with the Winnebago County Fair dates, leaving Winnebago County with no carnival.

2002 – Murphy Bros. carnival becomes the new midway. Fair hires a new promoter to help in increasing fair attendance and sponsorships.

2004- After two years of not very good production results, the promoter was relieved of his contract because of not backing up what he said he would do. Tip Top becomes the new fair carnival.

Information listed comes from researching the Winnebago County Fair at the Oshkosh Public Library and the archives at the Oshkosh Public Museum. The majority of the information in this article comes or was taken after reading newspaper articles of the times.