008INGERSOLL PRIZE LIST
0
Preface w�,>ye ✓ r a., �.p; d
INGERSOLL, NORTH and 'NEST OXFORD %/� l"e°�
o f doe �//•a,
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY Smc`
nd,nyeT
At f�
o;,
1847 - 1947
The one -hundredth anniversary of the. founding of the Inger-
soll, North. and West Oxford' Agricultural Society is tieing cele-
brated this year simultaneously with the holding of the annual
„r
exhibition.
1
The firsts Agricultural Society of this district.was organized in
the summer of. 1.847 and the first fair was held on Oct. 20th, The
society at?that time was known as "The Ingersoll Agricultural
e
Society", but as time passed and more settlers took up land near
'.
Ingersoll, the area served by the society was extended- to.include
the adjoining townships of :North Oxford and West Oxford. Evi-
dently, in the formative years of the society, good co-operation
existed between urban and rural residents. The first president in
11847 was a banker and the first secretary -treasurer was a farmer.
e,
In 18-52 the society was put on a more definite and permanent basis
as required by a new Agricultural Act; the officers of that year
being President, John_Mathews, a merchant; Vice -President, C. E.
Chadwick, a .banker; Secretary, John M. Chapman, a druggist;
Treasurer, Daniel Phelan, a merchant; directors, Adolphus Mine and
James 1lenderson;business men, representing the town and the
following farmers'representin? the rural sections: Jacob .Choate,'
W B M- abge, Co �cl� and Stinson, Geo. Walker, James 33od— well and
Robert Cameron. This co-operation has exed tothepresenttime.
S�
-
�A
in a young country, like Canada, one hundred years is a long
time for one institution to be in existence. Durin, this period of
time many changes must of necessity take place. For many years
after the founding of the Ingersoll Agricultural Society, the fairs
were held on the north side of the Thames river at the westerly
side of the town, but for the last -seventy years they have been
held in Victoria Park, a park possessing natural beauty. Exhibits
and prize lists have changed in keeping with agricultural develop-
ment and specialization. Our pioneers exhibited the good producl:s
of their farms for the benefit of the community. The prize list no
longer contains a classification for the 'Best Yoke of Oxen", but in
its stead we find the tractor, the combine, the pick-up bay and
i
x CEREMONY of the
to the Ingersoll. North
the opening of the fair
gar pylon presented by the Ontario Department
West OxfordAgricultural Society was a featu,
esterday, 'Unveiling the plaque are Mrs. f
and Miss Edn Cur ` .-representing North
ord. Watching the ceremony is W. P. Watson of the Ontario Department of A
iFL
w,ho opened the fair. —(Staff
40