A Glimpse at the State Fairs of Old

 It’s October, which means that it’s Louisiana State Fair season. The fair, which began in 1906, will be coming to the Shreveport-Bossier area October 30th, and will last until the 16th of November. Throughout its lifespan, it has had numerous attractions, from rides, to events, and more. Take a ride through the past, with images and the following article. What follows is a showcase of the attractions in 1936, some eighty-nine years ago, as seen in the September 24, 1936 edition of The Bossier Banner.

1936 STATE FAIR ATTRACTIONS

The Bossier Banner described the attractions of the 1936 State Fair in its September 24, 1936 issue. “Bossier Parish readers will be interested to learn that a larger and greater State Fair will be presented to all fair visitors, when they visit Shreveport during the exposition, to be held from October 24th through November 2d.”

“Fair officials report, in late dispatches to this paper, that preparations have been underway for several months, in an effort to provide fair visitors with the most splendid educational and amusement program ever witnessed by fair goers in this section. All buildings are being thoroughly renovated so that the fair plant will be spic and span when the gates swing open on the 24th.”

“The agricultural building, always a mecca for Bossierites visiting the fair, will be one of the best decorated on the exposition grounds. New indirect lighting systems, being installed in most of the display booths, will enhance the beauty of the exhibits, and attract thousands of visitors to the agricultural show.”

“With poultry show experts hailing the building as an ideal layout for such an event, it is expected that renewed interest will be displayed in this fair department. Entries are already pouring in and fair officials are confident that the 1936 poultry show will be the best ever. This news will be well received by poultry breeders throughout Bossier Parish, some of whom will also be State Fair exhibitors, it is learned.”

“Judging from early entries, the livestock shows will be especially good this year. Competition in dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep and swine should be keen this fall, fair officials say. With the cattle tick eradicated in Bossier and other nearby parishes, it is believed by the fair management that the livestock exhibits, especially the cattle divisions, will do much to kindle interest in the possibilities for developing the livestock industry of this section of the state.”

“A record-breaking Broadway musical review, to be staged nightly, in front of the grandstand, tops a sensation list of amusement features booked for the State Fair says secretary-manager W. R. Hirsch. The title of the extravaganza is ‘Rise and Cheer, America.’ The show’s cast includes 125 chorus girls and a beavy [sic] of stage and screen stars. A fireworks display, always a much looked-for feature of the nightly grandstand shows, will top off the program each night of the fair.”

“Bossier Parish folk who thrill to the hum of racing automobiles will look forward to the two Sunday racing programs, booked for the 1936 exposition. It will be of interest to these enthusiasts to know that thrills and chills aplenty are in store for them, as most of America’s leading daredevils of the speedways have signified their intentions of entering the races.”

“Followers of the turf and amateurs who thrill at the sight of racing thoroughbred horses, and those who like to wager a mite on the races will have their innings each week-day of the fair, for an eight-day racing meet has been booked.”

“Football will again furnish amusement for followers of the pigskin sport. Opening day, October 24th, will see the annual clash of Louisiana State University and Arkansas State University. Saturday, October 31st, Centenary College’s Gentlemen will meet the Ole Miss eleven.”

“A new fair feature, a state-wide beauty contest, with about 150 towns and cities sending contestants, will take place in the Coliseum during three days, October 27th, 28th and 29th. Miss Louisiana, the title of the beauty pageant winner, will be given a trip to Atlantic City, N. J., to compete for the title of Miss America.”

“Other amusement features, to be of more than passing interest at the 1936 fair, will include a horse show, a basketball tournament, a dog show, a state junior band concert, a Boy Scout Jamboree, Four-H boys and girls conventions, Future Farmers’ get together and many others, which will be elaborated upon in later stories.”

Get ready for our Haunted Bossier Program, presented by Bossier Parish Libraries Historian Pam Carlisle! Hear the tales of haunted houses, ghosts, and more as we dive into the frightening folklore of Bossier Parish. Join us October 28, 10:00 A.M., at the Bossier Central Library.

If you have any photos or other information relating to the history of Bossier City or Bossier Parish, the History Center may be interested in adding the materials to its research collection by donation or by scanning them and returning the originals. Call or visit us to learn more. We are open M-Th 9-8, Fri 9-6, and Sat 9-5. Our phone number is (318) 746-7717 and our email is history-center@bossierlibrary.org. We can also be found online at https://www.facebook.com/BPLHistoryCenter/ and http://bpl-hc.blogspot.com/

Images: 

• Ferris Wheel at Louisiana State Fair. C.1910s. - (BPL History Center - 1997.054.064)
• State Fair Midway showing signs for sideshows. C.1910s. - (BPL History Center - 1997.054.025)
• Photograph of the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in the 1920s-1930s, of a race car on the fairgrounds race track. - (BPL History Center - 2002.027.007)
• Color photo of the Shady Ladies Club helping with crafts (quilting) at the Louisiana State Fair 1988. - (BPL History Center - 2012.038.057A)

Article by: Jonah Daigle 

4-H, the State Fair and Pigs, and the Peace Boys of Benton

 Digitally flip through the book, “Club Men of Louisiana in Caricature,” drawings by W.K. Patrick and Associates, 1917, available online from the Library of Congress, and you’ll find illustrations that poke fun at, yet revere some very influential members of clubs across Louisiana, a powerful, yet limited group. Most of the men are from points further south. However, there’s one illustration that very clearly states it is in Shreveport - William R. Hirsch. A put-together and rather unperturbed-looking, oversize Billy Hirsch sits at a comparatively small desk, labeled “Secretary, State Fair of Louisiana.” The State Fair coliseum (not yet named after Hirsch) and Exposition Building are sketched behind him. 

Surrounding Hirsch in the illustration is a clearly loud, agitated mob of “ladies and gentlemen” assailing him with a barrage of questions or commentary: “I had the goldurned best pertaters in the hull shebang, war’s my prize?” “Tilly Moots got the prize I otta had -shameful!” and, “Samhill! Whar’s the prize on my shote? Thar wuz a blue ribbon on ‘im’?” That one I had to look up – turns out shote, aka shoat is a young pig. 

This cartoon had me wanting to learn more about William Rex Hirsch too. He was president of Hirsch & Leman Company of Shreveport, and secretary of the State Fair, though in more common parlance, he was often known as MISTER State Fair. He had deep roots in Shreveport and wanted to leave a lasting legacy on the city and state. His 1952 obituary said the affairs of youth, particularly the educational improvement of rural youth, was a deep-seated interest of his. The writer speculated it was one of the prime reasons that Mr. Hirsch was involved with the fair. (And if the cartoon was any indication, it was the adults who were “sore losers”.) The writer mentioned that Hirsch was especially a promoter of the livestock auction for 4-H entrants (the youth who were learning to have a future in agriculture) and that it is thought that the Louisiana State Fair under Hirsch was the very first to have 4-H’ers showing pigs, which then become commonplace across the country. 

By 1929, the swine show for adult farmers at the Louisiana State Fair was considered among the best in the country. Also, that year, the 4-Hers had really hit their stride with the Pig Club event, with Rapides Parish coming out on top. By 1944, 4-H club entries in the swine category at fairs and livestock shows bested even the pigs of adult competitors. 

By the late 1940’s, the best of the 4-H swine came from Bossier Parish. As announced in the Planters Press Bossier City newspaper of Jan. 30, 1947, three brothers from the Peace family in Benton, Ernest Richard, 13, Jerald, 11, and Marion Dale, 9, not only raised champion pigs and gained national recognition for their methods of care and the fine product that resulted, but then donated the pigs to the March of Dimes Polio fund for auction. The pigs brought in a record-breaking donation of $540, over $7,700 in today’s money!

In April of 1947, five Bossier 4-H club members exhibited 28 head of swine in the statewide competition at the Louisiana Junior Livestock Show in Baton Rouge, and got many of the honors. The grand championship “fat barrow” prize went to Jerald Peace’s 310-pound Duroc Jersey pig. Ernest Peace also won several places in the swine competition. Marion Dale was too young to participate in that show, but he attended along with their father, stock farmer Mr. E.R. Peace. In addition, Jerald’s pig was sent on an educational tour over the Illinois Central railroad as Bossier’s exhibit, with other 4-H exhibits taking up the entire train. The public was invited to attend this novel event and visit the giant porker during the train’s stop in Shreveport. 

The boys’ 4-H advisor, assistant agricultural extension agent Enoch Nix, and other adults who traveled to Baton Rouge for the exhibition, expressed pride in the Bossier boys’ fine showing at the event. Clearly their behavior, and the generosity of the Peace brothers, could teach the disgruntled adult exhibitors in the cartoon of William Hirsch a thing or two about gracious winning! 

Do you have any stories or photos to share of your Bossier Parish friends or family of various generations growing, raising, or preparing their own food? If so, we’d love to add either originals or copies to our collection. The Bossier Parish Libraries History Center is located at 2206 Beckett St, Bossier City, LA (across the street from the new Bossier Central Library). We are open M-Th 9-8, Fri 9-6, and Sat 9-5. Our phone number is (318) 746-7717 and our email is history-center@bossierlibrary.org

For other fun facts, photos, and videos, be sure to follow us @BPLHistoryCenter on FB, @bplhistorycenter on TikTok, and check out our blog http://bpl-hc.blogspot.com/.

Images: 

• William Hirsch caricature/courtesy "Club Men of Louisiana in Caricature" & the Library of Congress
• Jerald Peace and his grand champion pig/courtesy The Bossier Banner April 3, 1947

Article by: Pam Carlisle 

This Month In Bossier Parish History

 October: Through The Years

Oct. 1: Model T Day is celebrated every year on October 1 to commemorate the day that changed how America traveled on its roads. Model T was an iconic automobile that changed America’s streetscape. We absolutely love and respect Henry Ford for introducing the car to America and contributing to its progress. Celebrating Model T Day is our way of paying tribute to his extraordinary enterprise.

Photo: Richard "Dick" Bradford, Sallie Tidwell Bradford, Mary A. (widow of John Leven) Bradford and Mary Leven Bradford taken about 1930s     2002.035.215B   

Oct 13, 1953: The "Big Chain" store opens in the heart of Bossier City. 

Photo: The Times Oct. 13, 1953

Oct. 19th: Weekly news from 100 years ago.  Newspaper clippings are from the Oct. 19, 1922 issue of the Bossier Banner.

• J.B. Arnold’s store burns, nothing of value could be saved. 

Photo: C.1880’s: James Brownlee Arnold    2002.035.394  

                 

• Grace Larkin was able to return to work

Photo: The interior of the old courthouse at Benton is best shown in this c. 1931 photograph. James M. Henderson, the clerk of court at that time, is seated. Grace Hamilton Larkin, who succeed Henderson upon his death is wearing a dark coat. 

 

• The boys and girls Plain Dealing High School basketball teams were a success at the Bossier City Fair.

Photo:   Plain Dealing High School Girls' Basketball team.  1923-24.  Girls are dressed in bloomers and middy blouses.   Pictured are Mattie Sentel, Madge New, Inez Hefner, Nevella Peyton, Hazel Sanders, Lucille Wright,  Marie McKeller,  and Sea Willa Kilgore. 

1998.055.002                                        

Plain Dealing High School Boys Basketball Team 1922  

1997.054.122   

    

Oct. 27th: The Louisiana State Fair is here!

In recognition of well over 100 annual state fairs, here are a few photos and newspaper clippings from the early 1900’s

Photos: c.1910's Louisiana State Fair, various pictures.  1997.054.

                     

 

This Month In Bossier Parish History

 November: Through The Years

Nov. 1, 2020: Happy National Author's Day!

Bossier Parish has some amazing authors! 

All of the mentioned authors' lives, lived or is affiliated within the parish of Bossier. Their books are also available for check-out or reference at the Bossier Parish Libraries.

* Gypsy Damaris Boston                                                                

 

Books:

    · Pink Hair
    · Hurry before the magic ends
    · Dear Louisiana... love, Gypsy

    · Rainbow Fairies

* Clifton "Cliff" D. Cardin

Photo: 

History Center's History Day 2000.  Clifton D. Cardin & Shanna Faulk

2000.056.018  

           

 

Books: 

• Bossier Parish headstones : a complete inventory of all known cemeteries, family plots, and lone burials
• Bossier Parish history, 1843-1993, the first 150 years
• Bossier Parish
• Doing research in the Bossier Parish Courthouse : a guide to the resources and materials within the Bossier Parish Clerk of Courts Office in Benton, La.
• Proud to be in Bossier : a retrospective

* Arthur Lee Ford

Book: When the Whippoorwill Sang

* Taneka Fuller

Book: Taylor's Strawberry

* Marguerite Hudson

1994: Benton High School Yearbook

 

Book: Whiskey Chitto Woman

* Kay Lottinger

Books: 

• One Quirky Bird: The Roadrunner
• Have You Seen The Roadrunner
• A Squirrel Named Dave

* Adolf “Wes” Wesselhoeft

Book: Traded to the Enemy 

Nov. 13, 2020: Weekly news from 100 years ago

• The handsome new home of I.A. (Ira Austin) Gleason is near completion
• The Adner and Kingston schools were to be combined due to lack of students
• Everyone has been at the fair this past week that there hasn't been much time for entertainment
• Mr. S.W. (Samuel Whitfield) Vance will assume the management of 5,000 acre plantation near Monroe

Photo: I.A. (Ira Austin) Gleason

           1999.163.005 Davis Collection

1915-1916 Adner School, left to right (first row) Elmer Treadway, Shrell Busby, unknown, Fred Busby, Frank and Leo Stafflebach (twins), Bynum E. Murphy, Velma Treadway, and Quinton Busby; (back row) unknown, Bertha Mae Treadway, Clifton Busby, George Stephens, Jewel Busby, Marlin Busby, Murtie Rounsavall, Brytha O. Murphy, Louise Treadway, Velnia A. Murphy, and Freda Stafflebach, Elmer and                                                                                                 Velma Treadway were twins.

                                                                                             1999.020.001   Light Collection

 

C.1910’s: State Fair Midway showing signs for sideshows

1997.054.025  Findley Collection

 

Left: Samuel Whitfield Vance and Sarah (Sallie) Eliza Vance around 1861. 1998.067.021    Jennings collection

Right: Samuel Whitfield Vance and his children  Samuel Whitfield Vance, Jr. and Mary Boutwell Gilmer Vance.

1998.067.023  Jennings collection

 

Nov. 19, 1929: Gov. Long receives a letter regarding the need of another bridge across the Red River connecting Caddo and Bossier. The plans were approved and was stated that it would be free of cost to both communities. 

 C. 1931 Texas Street Bridge under construction

2006.034.010 Neil Yarborobough collection

 

Nov. 26, 2020: Happy Thanksgiving!

Please enjoy the newspaper clippings relating to Thanksgiving. 

Bossier Banner-Progress

26 Nov 1925

 

 The Times

24 Nov 1963

 

 

  Bossier Banner

  27 Nov 1930 

 

     Bossier Banner-Progress

      22 Nov 1951

1918 State Fair Canceled

Ferris Wheel at Louisiana State Fair in Shreveport
c 1910s.  Beulah Findley Colelction: 1997.054.064.

Recently the Louisiana State Fair announced that the 114th annual fair for this fall is canceled, but it is has been rescheduled for next spring. This means there will be two fairs in 2021, the 114th in the spring and the 115th in the fall. This year is only the second time in the history of this annual festival to be canceled.

The last cancellation was of the 13th annual fair in 1918 during the Spanish flu (H1N1) pandemic. W.R. Hirsch, regretfully, made the official announcement based on the following telegram from state health officer Dr. Oscar Dowling:

“Supplementing wire. After conference with Corput, public health service, concluded best postpone under existing conditions.” Dr. Corput was the federal health official, stationed at New Orleans, in charge of the influenza fight in this territory.

According to Hirsch, “In my opinion, which is based on the records in our headquarters, the 1918 fair would have been record-breaking, both in attractions, including the mammoth lot of exhibits, and also in attendance. We had promise of exhibits filling every exhibit building and barn, with indications that tents would have been necessary to accommodate a big overflow.”

Advertisement for the 13th annual Louisiana State Fair, 1918.

Before the cancellation, Hirsch had announced, “A dozen aviators, all in the aerial service of Uncle Sam, and most of them home boys, will fly over Shreveport during the seven days of the State Fair.” That year, Oct. 31st was designated as General Pershing Day and Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Day. Special arrangements were made to have as many of the aviators fly on that day as possible. All military, including allied nations and confederate veterans, were to receive free entry into the fair.

With WWI going on, there was a lot of focus on the war and the military. Plans included a 9,000 square foot United States government war exhibit, which included a gas mask used at that time to protect American soldiers from German gases. We were one of four southern fairs scheduled to receive this exhibit. The mask was made in a factory on Long Island, where 27,000 masks were manufactured daily.

“The fireworks spectacle, ‘World’s War,’ reproducing scenes from the world war, would have been another great attraction.” There was also promise of a great war exhibit by the Canadian government.

“We are the only State Fair announcing that Herbert C. Hoover, national food administrator, would be present and deliver an address to its visitors. We are also the only State Fair with promise of an address by a member of the congressional party that recently returned from a visit to the battle fronts of western Europe, Congressman J.B. Aswell having accepted our invitation to deliver an address on his experience on that thrilling trip to the war zones.”

All culinary articles were to be hooverized products, the premiums offered were to encourage economy in cooking, and with assigned space for an exhibit of food conservation work. The word hooverize originated in 1917 and, by definition, means “to be sparing in the use of something especially food,” which Herbert C. Hoover promoted. He was the head of the U.S. Food Administration during WWI, and he encouraged citizens to eat less and save food for soldiers. Common slogans were “save the food, win the war,” and “food will win the war.”

Chambers, C. E. (1917) Food will win the war - You came here seeking freedom, now you must help to preserve it -Wheat is needed for the allies - waste nothing / C. E. Chambers. United States, 1917. [New York: Rusling Wood, Litho] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2002720171/.

Miss Elizabeth Dombourajian was another special guest scheduled for that year. She was a native Armenian who was to speak on the life of the people of her native land, where the Turks have massacred many thousands of Christians. Other plans included an automobile show, horse races, musical guests, the fancy rifle, revolver, pistol shooting by Tom P. Parker, and many other attractions.

To learn more about the history of local festivals, visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center at 2206 Beckett St., Bossier City.

By: Amy Robertson