(click to enlarge photos)
Published in The Seattle Times online on Oct. 10, 2024
and in Pacific NW Magazine of the printed Times on Oct. 13, 2024
The first Puyallup Valley fair in 1900 set the stage for today’s extravaganza
By Jean Sherrard
Irrepressible 66-year-old Lewis Alden Chamberlain barely slept a wink on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 1900. It was the eve of the first Puyallup Valley fair, which he’d been tirelessly promoting for months. All his efforts were on the line.
Universally known as “Dad,” the Buckley farmer must have knocked on hundreds of doors throughout the valley, drumming up support for his dream of a harvest festival featuring regional agriculture and industry.
Chamberlain wouldn’t take no for an answer, suggested Puyallup grocer Ned Rogers. “He called on me six times,” Rogers said, “I finally gave him a dollar to get rid of him.”
At the turn of the century, Northwest cities boomed. Tacoma was a thriving lumber town of 37,000 and Seattle — where, in Chamberlain’s words, “miners were exchanging gold dust for mackinaws” — had expanded to 80,000. Puyallup Valley farming communities, with a population of 3,500, supplied Western Washington with agricultural bounty but received scant recognition.
“Dad” and his Valley Fair Association hoped perceptions would change with its three-day fair.
Opening day dawned crisp and clear, but the two-acre fairground, originally donated by pioneer Ezra Meeker, was still nearly empty. Chamberlain paced the streets of Puyallup, sweating bullets. By late morning, a caravan of exhibitioners finally arrived. “Dad was so overjoyed,” reported fellow fair official W.H. Paulhamus, “that he shed a good many tears.”
Wagonloads of produce arrived, along with prize farm animals. Twins Bill and Ronnie Nix gave children “merry-go-round” rides on their tame de-horned bull. Several borrowed horses raced around a makeshift track. And the first of many Best Baby contests was held (although no blue ribbons were awarded).
The Tacoma Ledger proclaimed the fair “a veritable Garden of Eden”
in which “the Puyallup Valley … blushingly made her debut in the exposition world.”
Turnout far exceeded expectations, drawing 3,000 people from across the region. The fair’s shoestring operation had netted $583 after bills were paid.
“Dad” predicted a bright future. “In 30 years,” Chamberlain said, “we will have a grandstand, a racetrack and a cow barn,” with other improvements.
124 years later, the 20-day annual September event has surpassed Chamberlain’s wildest dreams. Since 2012, the now-renamed Washington State Fair has expanded to cover 165 acres, featuring hundreds of exhibits. With annual attendance nearing a million, it is the Northwest’s biggest fair and ranks among the largest in the world.
“Dad” would be mighty proud.
WEB EXTRAS
To begin, a huge thanks to the staff of the Tacoma Public Library’s Northwest Room. As always, their research work is incomparable and meticulous!
For a 360 video of this week’s column, please click here!
More photos of the 2024 fair attached:
To me, it will always be the Puyallup Fair. When I was a child (40s & 50s), my father worked the fair for Langendorf Bread, his employer, delivering buns to the food vendors. I would have to get up before daylight to go with him. Upon arrival I would disappear to the horse barns. Horses will always be my passion. I miss the horse races and rodeo they used to have at the grandstand show.
Puyallup Fair forever. As a Puyallup kid our first school holiday was a day off to go to the Fair, complete with an entry ticket.
Thank you!