The Topsfield Fair is an annual fair held in Topsfield, Massachusetts and is the oldest county fair in America. It was established by the Essex Agricultural Society as a way to promote and improve the agricultural industry.
The following is a history of the Topsfield Fair:
1818:
- On February 16, the first meeting is held about establishing the Essex Agricultural Society in order to promote and improve agriculture. The society is officially founded a few weeks later.
- In May, member Colonel Thomas Pickering delivers the society’s first official address.
1820:
- On October 5, the society holds its first cattle show.
1824:
- The society’s cattle show returns.
1841:
- The Beekeeping and Honey Show is held at the Topsfield Fair for the first time.
1858:
- Salem physician Dr. John Treadwell bequests his 150-acre farm in Topsfield to the Essex Agricultural Society under the condition that it be used as an experimental farm for the promotion of science and agriculture. The society leases it out to tenant farmers for many years.
1891:
- The society begins discussing establishing a permanent location for the fair rather than moving it around the county.
1894:
- The society decides to establish a permanent location for the fair in Peabody.
1895:
- The society purchases a ten-acre plot of land in Peabody where it establishes the Tospfield Fair grounds.
1909:
- After several years of dwindling attendance at the fair, the society decides to move the fair grounds to the Treadwell farm in Topsfield.
1910:
- The society establishes the Topsfield Fair grounds on the Treadwell Farm on Boston Street.
- The cattle show and fair are held at the fair grounds.
1916:
- Several new buildings are constructed on the fair grounds including the grange.
1918:
- The Topsfield Fair is cancelled due to the Influenza pandemic.
1920:
- The entrance gate is constructed on the fair grounds.
- The first aid station, a gable front cabin, is constructed.
- The public safety building, a hipped roof bungalow with a porch, is constructed.
1921:
- The Topsfield fair grounds are wired for electricity and a night time orchestra concert with dancing is held that year.
1922:
- The dance hall is constructed.
1923:
- The nursing mother’s lounge, a clapboard building, is constructed.
1924:
- The fruits and vegetables building, a long wood building with three large windows, is constructed.
- The swamp at the corner of Boston Street and Maple Street is filled in and a road is built around the fair grounds.
1925:
- The industrial building, a long wood building with large sliding doors, is constructed.
1938:
- The fair becomes a five-day-long event.
1942:
- Free admission to the fair is offered in exchange for 50 pounds of scrap metal or 20 pounds of scrap rubber to help the war effort.
1943:
- The Topsfield Fair is cancelled due to WWII.
1944:
- The Tospfeild Fair is cancelled due to WWII.
1945:
- The Topsfield Fair is cancelled due to WWII.
- The beekeeping building is constructed.
1950:
- The Ye Olde Pepper Company opens a booth at the Topsfield Fair and has continued to do so every year since, making them the longest running vendor at the fair.
1953:
- The Hollywood Ice Capers perform at the Topsfield Fair, which is the first outdoor ice skating show at any New England fair.
1955:
- The pig barn, a Dutch Colonial-style barn with a cupola, is constructed.
- The sheep and goats barn, a wood vertical board building with a long gable roof, is constructed.
1960:
- The rabbit and poultry farm building, a corrugated metal building, is constructed.
- The restrooms, a concrete block building, is constructed.
1964:
- The cattle barn, which is 11 bays long with two overhead doors, is constructed.
1971:
- Another restroom building, a concrete block building, is constructed.
- The Mrs. Essex County Pageant is held for the first time.
1980:
- The draft horse stable is built.
- The trianon stage is constructed.
1981:
- Coolidge Hall is constructed thanks to a $60,000 grant from William Coolidge.
1984:
- The Topsfield Fair holds its first annual All New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off.
1989:
- The arena is constructed which is a 52,000 square foot metal building.
1990:
- The administration building is constructed.
1995:
- The sugar shack, a wood vertical board building with a porch and louvered cupola, is constructed.
2018:
- The Tospfield Fair celebrates its 200th anniversary.
2020:
- The Topsfield Fair is cancelled due to the pandemic.
2023:
- During closing weekend, the Topsfield Fair breaks a record with the biggest single-day attendance ever.
Sources:
McHugh, Michael. “Huge crowds break historic attendance records on closing weekend at the Topsfield Fair.” Salem News, 10 Oct. 2023, salemnews.com/news/huge-crowds-break-historic-attendance-records-on-closing-weekend-at-the-topsfield-fair/article_e45727aa-66e1-11ee-8a81-8fdd632de4d1.html
Campbell, Robert D. “Column: Why the Topsfield Fair matters and endures.” Newburyport News, 11 May. 2022, newburyportnews.com/opinion/column-why-the-topsfield-fair-matters-and-endures/article_24d9d1dc-d0a8-11ec-be98-6751319ff5e4.html
“Essex County Fair.” Digital Commonwealth, digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:6h445j95x
Palma, Kristi. “Go Back in Time to the Topsfield Fair.” Boston.com, 27 Aug. 2014, boston.com/culture/new-england-travel/2014/08/27/go-back-in-time-to-the-topsfield-fair/
“Peabody & the Topsfield Fair.” Peabody Historical Society & Museum, peabodyhistorical.org/2020/10/peabody-the-topsfield-fair/
“Topsfield Fair Timeline.” Tospfield Fair History, topsfieldfairhistory.org/