SurfCutter
New member
As I have stated earlier Dad was very much involved with the 4H and he would tell of some of his and my uncles adventure from weathering the 1938 Hurricane in Springfield Ma. during the Big E and the like to later no doing the judging and announcing for the different showings at all the local fairs .the best part growing up was he would get free tickets to get in to the fairs and each year Growing up I looked forward to the new seasons . Dad did not like mid-ways and let me learn early on not to be drawn in to their game and false value ....
At first it was easy to hold back there lure , no money so no rides and no game playing ....that was fine with me as I enjoyed seeing the animals and the other exhibits both 4H and the state builds or better living building depending on the fair ....but soon the music and the lights would draw my attention but it was only later that when I had my own money I finished learning his lesson ..one of my first fond memories of the fairs or maybe embarrassments Took place at Marshfield Fair Marshfield Ma. Dad was doing the judging of the different classes of cattle and swine and sheep . Mom had dropped me off with Dad and he was to keep and I on me , being the sweet , well behaved and innocent child I was the fair staff gave me a ribbon just like my dads only it read Jr. Asst, Judge ...
What a deal for a 5year old to have and to be in the ring with dad as he did the judging and announced each winner
Well as things go I so tired of just watching and wanted to help so as the last walk around for one of the dairy classes was being done and they all lined up I pointed to the one I liked ....
Well that exhibitor started to bring their cow in to line with the others that my dad had already pointed to ....:blush:
well that upset the whole thing dad pointed them all back in to line and had to run them through again worst was the office took over the PA and made the announcement Pay Attention to the JUDGE and NOT the JR.ASST. JUDGE.....but all went well the one I picked out did get to place for a ribbon so I was not far off ...
Another memory for the fair was a bit of a shock ....to this day I can not remember just what far it was that it happened at but dad did not have to do any work at this fair that day but did have to meet up with some one I was about 8 or 9 at the time and was aloud to go off by myself to some degree and was soon happily watching one of the 4H demo's , Dad was off talking to someone at the other end of the ring ....
Well there was this light pole beside the ring and not really watch were I put my hand I put it out to lean against it well my little finger landed perfectly in a live OPEN light socket ....
It's a funny feeling to see and hear things and not be able to move ...it all passed very slowly to see and hear the announcer call out if anyone knows that child and to get their finger out of that socket ....
The next thing I know dad was grabbing me and just riped me up off the ground and out of that plug ...
I was a bit shaken up and do not know much of the aftermath other than the ride home and how the salt on the Fry's Dad bought for me to eat hurt the blackened spot on my finger . I don't think Dad
did any work at that fair again or if he did I never went ....
The chance to have money and go out on the mid-way came Weymouth Fair , Weymouth Ma. sadly this fair ground is no more and now a home association development , just think of all the old coins and stuff buried deep under the loam of all those yards . Well I was given a whole 5 dollars to spend anyway I wanted so of I went with 2 of my neighborhood friends well instead of going to the better living building as planned we head to the forbidden Mid Way .... it was not very long before one of the hawkers had me in their spell and was sucked in to playing a dart game ...dart easy right...hit the balloon 3 feet away get prize .....small prize .....very small prize well this fish was soon parted with said wind fall of cash and left with just a same amount of change and it was with heavy heart going through the better living building and seeing all the things I could have gotten if I had started there first it hurt even more that the younger brother of my friend who had tried to stop me in my folly knew at his younger age what I should have known it was rigged and a bad deal at the start ....live and learn ....
As for the rides at the Midway I figured that out quick after dad said , is it better to buy a 2 minute ride or save your money and buy the ride ?.... in this case a go cart and later due to good grades a mini bike ......
Bill G.
At first it was easy to hold back there lure , no money so no rides and no game playing ....that was fine with me as I enjoyed seeing the animals and the other exhibits both 4H and the state builds or better living building depending on the fair ....but soon the music and the lights would draw my attention but it was only later that when I had my own money I finished learning his lesson ..one of my first fond memories of the fairs or maybe embarrassments Took place at Marshfield Fair Marshfield Ma. Dad was doing the judging of the different classes of cattle and swine and sheep . Mom had dropped me off with Dad and he was to keep and I on me , being the sweet , well behaved and innocent child I was the fair staff gave me a ribbon just like my dads only it read Jr. Asst, Judge ...
What a deal for a 5year old to have and to be in the ring with dad as he did the judging and announced each winner
Well as things go I so tired of just watching and wanted to help so as the last walk around for one of the dairy classes was being done and they all lined up I pointed to the one I liked ....
Well that exhibitor started to bring their cow in to line with the others that my dad had already pointed to ....:blush:
well that upset the whole thing dad pointed them all back in to line and had to run them through again worst was the office took over the PA and made the announcement Pay Attention to the JUDGE and NOT the JR.ASST. JUDGE.....but all went well the one I picked out did get to place for a ribbon so I was not far off ...
Another memory for the fair was a bit of a shock ....to this day I can not remember just what far it was that it happened at but dad did not have to do any work at this fair that day but did have to meet up with some one I was about 8 or 9 at the time and was aloud to go off by myself to some degree and was soon happily watching one of the 4H demo's , Dad was off talking to someone at the other end of the ring ....
Well there was this light pole beside the ring and not really watch were I put my hand I put it out to lean against it well my little finger landed perfectly in a live OPEN light socket ....
It's a funny feeling to see and hear things and not be able to move ...it all passed very slowly to see and hear the announcer call out if anyone knows that child and to get their finger out of that socket ....
The next thing I know dad was grabbing me and just riped me up off the ground and out of that plug ...
I was a bit shaken up and do not know much of the aftermath other than the ride home and how the salt on the Fry's Dad bought for me to eat hurt the blackened spot on my finger . I don't think Dad
did any work at that fair again or if he did I never went ....
The chance to have money and go out on the mid-way came Weymouth Fair , Weymouth Ma. sadly this fair ground is no more and now a home association development , just think of all the old coins and stuff buried deep under the loam of all those yards . Well I was given a whole 5 dollars to spend anyway I wanted so of I went with 2 of my neighborhood friends well instead of going to the better living building as planned we head to the forbidden Mid Way .... it was not very long before one of the hawkers had me in their spell and was sucked in to playing a dart game ...dart easy right...hit the balloon 3 feet away get prize .....small prize .....very small prize well this fish was soon parted with said wind fall of cash and left with just a same amount of change and it was with heavy heart going through the better living building and seeing all the things I could have gotten if I had started there first it hurt even more that the younger brother of my friend who had tried to stop me in my folly knew at his younger age what I should have known it was rigged and a bad deal at the start ....live and learn ....
As for the rides at the Midway I figured that out quick after dad said , is it better to buy a 2 minute ride or save your money and buy the ride ?.... in this case a go cart and later due to good grades a mini bike ......
Bill G.
