Written By David Gomez
GLENCOE — Nearly six decades of research into the Glencoe Fair have been brought together in a new book by local historian Harold Carruthers, launched as the community prepares to celebrate the fair’s 150th anniversary.
Harold presented The History of the Glencoe Fair 1848–2026 during a gathering at The Archives in Glencoe on September 16, sharing some of the discoveries behind a project that began long before the anniversary was approaching.
His interest dates to 1967, when historian and former fair board president Mungo Leitch published a history of the fair. Harold decided to investigate further, beginning at the registry office (where the Archives are currently located) before spending many hours examining historical newspapers and records at Western University and elsewhere.
“I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as I did, doing it the past 59 years it took me,” Harold told those gathered. He credited his daughter, Natasha Carruthers Kalita, with helping bring the project together, along with Bill Simpson—Glencoe & District Historical Society member—, who assisted with publishing.
The book includes approximately 70 to 75 photographs and traces the fair’s roots to 1848, when an early fair was held in Strathburn.
Harold’s research also documents generations of local agricultural history, including spring and fall fairs, horse racing from 1879 into the 1960s, tractor pulls beginning in the 1970s and the popular teen dances held at the fairgrounds.
Those dances also returned to the spotlight during the launch, with Jamie Pole recalling organizing weekly events for 12 years and estimating that roughly 600 bands came to Glencoe during that period. He praised Harold’s work, calling the finished publication “an amazing book.”
Fair board president Jeff McCallum closed by thanking Harold Carruthers, the Historical Society and the community members whose support has sustained the fair across generations.
