Prince Albert Historical Society
The Exhibition has rolled around once more, as it does every year. Well, not quite every year. The first summer fair, or exhibition, held under the auspices of what is now known as the Prince Albert Exhibition Association, occurred in 1884. Every year since then, there has been an exhibition, or fair, with the exception of 1895. And although there was no exhibition that year, it was still a red-letter year for the local Society.
In 1881, the Governor General of Canada made a tour of western Canada and, during his stop in Prince Albert the local area citizens displayed their agricultural and horticultural competence in what might be considered to be the first Prince Albert summer fair. As well as the animals and grains, there was also a display of First Nations finery, tanned animal skins with intricate beadwork and porcupine quill embroidery. But although the following years saw similar exhibitions, it was not until 1884 that the fore-runner of the Prince Albert Exhibition Association, the Lorne Agricultural Society, came into being.
The weather during the years 1882 and 1883, heavy rains and severe early frosts, were difficult for the area farmers, but there was little appreciation displayed by the Federal government. This resulted in a public meeting, held in May 1883, in the home of Thomas Scott at which discussions occurred regarding the farmers’ plight and the possible measures which they might take. A comment which had been made in the Territorial Council by Edgar Dewdney, Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Territories, caught the attention of those in attendance. He had suggested the establishment of Agricultural Societies to promote the interests of agriculture and to enable the government to collect reliable statistics regarding that industry. The farmers seized upon this idea establishing polls throughout the district to gather the necessary statistics which provided sufficient pressure to garner some support from the Territorial government.
Thus was founded the first Agricultural Society in Saskatchewan.
At a further meeting in 1884 at the Ridge School (also known as the Pocha School), William Miller (of Miller’s Hill fame) moved that the Society be known as the Lorne Agricultural and Industrial Society (the district in which Prince Albert and the surrounding area was located was known as the Lorne District). This name stuck until the Society’s incorporation in 1887 when it became known legally as the Lorne Agricultural Society. In 1905, when Saskatchewan became a province, the name was amended to the Prince Albert Agricultural Society and remained as such until 1971 when the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly passed legislation changed the name to the Prince Albert Exhibition Association.
The exhibition you attend this year will be located on the grounds east of 6th Avenue East, west of 10th Avenue East, and south of 7th Street East. This has been the location of the annual summer fair since 1896. However, from 1884 until 1894, the summer exhibition did not have a permanent home. For example, in 1885 the exhibition was held on the site of the old Kidd Mill. In 1886, it was held on the Maclise grounds and in the McKay Building, with the sporting events held on the Hurd and Baker Estate. In 1887, the fair was held east of the current Prince Albert Baptist church (formerly St. Paul’s Presbyterian church) on what is now 12th Street East, and in 1891/1892 it was held on the property and in the curling rink on 10th Street West. Then, in 1894, it was held in the vicinity of where the Carlton Apartments are now located on River Street West.
As noted above, there was no exhibition in 1895. The money which might have been expended holding the fair was used instead to purchase land from the Hudson Bay Company, the current site of the Exhibition Grounds. The price paid for the 24 acre property was $1,000 (slightly under $38,000 in today’s terms).
You might, when you attend the exhibition, visit the Octagonal Building. This is a Municipal Heritage Property which was built in 1905. Andrew Holmes, a local contractor and strong supporter of the Agricultural Society, was hired to build “a suitable building for various small products and the excellent ladies’ work”. Besides its practical purpose, the building was to be designed to add architecturally to the structures built in the City of Prince Albert. The contract specified that the building was to be two stories high, that the interior was to be finished with lumber from British Columbia, and that the body of the building was to be painted white with dark red trim. Originally known as the Agricultural Building, it later became known as the Agricultural Hall, but has for years been known as the Octagonal Building.
During the fair, the building was originally used for the Ladies’ Section, Dairy Produce and Agriculture, grains, grasses, and Horticulture. Prior to, and after, the exhibition, the building was used for dances organised by the Ladies of the Society, the proceeds of which assisted in the payment of the building.
Speaking of which, although women have supported the Society throughout its years of existence, both by participating as exhibitors and by assisting in the set up and maintenance of the facilities, it was not until 1982 that women were elected to the Board of Directors. In that year, ten women were elected.
You may also attend one or more offerings of the Grandstand Show. If so, you will be seated on what amounts to the sixth grandstand. The first grandstand was a south-facing facility, built in 1898, along with a barn, for a cost of $2,500 (about $100,600 in today’s terms). Fire destroyed that facility in the early 1920s and it was replaced in 1925. That grandstand was demolished in1928, and replaced with a north-facing grandstand. In 1955, another fire caused considerable damage, resulting in its replacement in 1956. Again, fire resulted in that facility being replaced in 1963/64, this time by reinforced concrete on the identical site.
Of course, many of those attending the fair will be visiting the various animal exhibits. There are still classes for horses and cattle, but if you wish to view the oxen exhibit you will be too late. The last oxen class was held in 1896. It was discontinued in 1897 as there were too few entries. The same thing goes for the sheep exhibits. Although the 1917 sheep class included sheep belonging to the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII, the king who abdicated) from his ranch in southern Alberta, sheep exhibits fell off through the years until the last class was dropped in 1972.
You will still be able to wander down the midway, and through the exhibits, eating cotton candy, a sugary treat which first made its appearance at the summer fair in 1906, two years before the first fire-works display was held.
Even if you do not attend the Exhibition itself, you might take in the Exhibition parade. This annual event is a continuation of the parade which used to occur when the circus animals were a large part of the Exhibition. Arriving by train, the animals would be paraded from the railway siding down Central Avenue and then east to the Exhibition Grounds. This was obviously a good way to promote the Exhibition, as well as an inexpensive way to move the animals from the railway siding to the fair grounds. When the animals were moved by truck, the Travellers’ Association took over sponsorship of the parade. Other organisations have, through the years, sponsored the parade, which continues to be one of the City’s most popular summer activities.
Hoping that you enjoy this year’s Exhibition!
fgpayton@sasktel.net
