Written By Beverly Hughes, Middlesex Centre Archives
Beginning in 1851, the London Township Agricultural Society held fairs each Spring and Fall. The Spring Fair’s purpose was to encourage the importation and better breeding of livestock. There were also seed classes in clover, timothy and sugar beets. Spring Fairs were discontinued in 1917.
The first Fall Fair was held Tuesday, September 30, 1851 at James Goulding’s Inn on Highway 4 in Arva. In 1880, it was decided to hold the Spring Fair in Ilderton. That same year, the Board decided the exhibits of the Society would be held adjacent to the Village in Robert Little’s field and grove (near the United Church). Roots, vegetables and Ladies’ Work were shown in William Patrick’s grain store on the south side of Main Street near the railway tracks.
In 1883, E. Ironside offered the use of his hall for the display of Ladies’ Work. The Board started looking for permanent grounds in 1888. In 1890, it rented ground from Dr. McAndless (northwest corner of Main Street and the Hyde Park Sideroad) with the first building (24’ x 60’) being built there.
In 1912, eight acres were purchased from Fred Paisley west of the tracks and in 1924, an additional 5.5 acres were purchased to add a half-mile track. In 1914, a grandstand was built. The Society’s building was moved to the new grounds and for many years it housed the poultry show. By Winter 1908, it was flooded for an ice surface each year and named the “Crystal Palace”. This building was replaced with a larger structure in 1929 to house the growing displays of the Ladies’ Work, as well as an ice rink each Winter.
In 1968, the poultry show was moved to under the grandstand so the original smaller building was used to host dances and became known as the “Rooster Loft”. It sold for thirty dollars at auction in 1973. With the opening of the new arena in 1972, Homecraft took over the ice section and the Curling Club housed the commercial displays. A new AgriPlex was added to the grounds in 2004.
From 1916 to 1924 the Fairs were held on Friday. From 1925 to 1944 the Fairs were held on Wednesday. In 1945, the Fair was held on Saturday but the following year it was moved back to Wednesday. It wasn’t until 1955 that the Fair changed to always being held on Saturday.
In 1963, it was officially opened on Friday at noon and became a 2-day Fair in order to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of 4-H and host the Middlesex County 4-H Fair. It reverted to a 1-day
Fair in 1965, and the official opening was moved to Saturday, after the end of the parade.
From 1968 to 1972 a dance was added on the Friday night. Teen video dances were held from 2000-2004. The idea of adding Sunday was first discussed in 1971. In 1983, it was put to a vote and defeated. It wasn’t until the Fair’s 100th Anniversary in 2001 that Sunday was added to make it a 3-day Fair. In 2002, it went back to a 2-day Fair, but in 2003 it officially became a 3-day Fair. The Fair is always held on the weekend after the fourth Wednesday in September.
The early Fairs were primarily agricultural exhibitions. In 1890, foot racing and horse racing were allowed and continued until 1980. In the 1950s, a ferris-wheel and other rides were on the fairgrounds. The size of the midway continues to grow every year. The Fair also provides free activities for the children each year.
The highlight of every Ilderton Fair has always been the Saturday parade. From the one-room school children displaying their marching skills, to children decorating their bike or dressing as clowns, the parade down Main Street always draws a crowd
The Ilderton Fall Fair retains many of the same classes as it did in 1851. Always a barometer of what was happening in agriculture and society, the Ilderton Agricultural Society has retained its roots.
