Long before the days of the Gravitron and corn dogs, funnel cakes and the Himalaya, the Orangeburg County Fair was the site where farmers and their wives gathered to show off their produce, baked and canned goods and livestock.

The longest continuous running fair in the state, Manager L.C. Kissam said "The Orangeburg fair has got a rich history behind it."

When the fair began "It was an agricultural fair. It was a place for the farmers to come and show off their cattle and vegetables -- that sort of thing," Kissam said.

The first annual fairs in Orangeburg began in 1871 and were sponsored by the County Agricultural Society, according to a history written by the late Sam Fogle, long-time fair manager. The fair was located near the present intersection of Amelia Street and Summers Avenue and had exhibits and entertainment, much like present-day fairs.

However, in 1881, the fair was discontinued for economic reasons, Fogle said, and the building that housed it was used as a school (Sheridan's Classical School) until it was destroyed by fire in 1893.

Wishing to reignite the closeness such an event offers a community, in spring 1911, the Orangeburg Chamber of Commerce and the Orangeburg County Farmers' Union joined forces to present the first Orangeburg County Fair. A group of appointed leaders organized a fair association with a capital stock of $20,000, to be sold in 2,000 shares of $10 each.

The idea is said to have originated with the late L.A. Carson of Holly Hill at a Farmers' Union meeting.

"Orangeburg must have that county fair. It will bring town and county together," The Times and Democrat said on April 25, 1911, shortly after announcements were made of the collaborative undertaking.

The motion to form the Orangeburg County Fair Association, comprised of five members from the city and one from each township, was adopted unanimously just two days later at a joint meeting.

The late Judge Jerry M. Hughes served as the first fair manager from 1911-1970. The first fair association president was the late Col. James H. Claffy, also president of the Farmers' Union, who served in the post until his death in 1924.

An article on April 29, 1911 in The T&D urged the people of Orangeburg to "show (their) patriotism and love for Orangeburg" by buying at least one share of the stock, claiming, "There is no reason why this stock should not earn for you a dividend and it should at all times be worth par ..."

In June of that year, the land for the fair, which is still housed on its original property, was purchased for $4,000 from the late A.L. Dukes.

"Orangeburg County will hold her first fair this fall, and it promises to be a big and successful affair," The T&D reported on June 20, 1911. "Necessary buildings will be erected and a race tract constructed."

Visits to fairgrounds around the state for building ideas followed, and on Aug. 5, 1911, the newspaper declared that the Orangeburg County Fair would open Tuesday, Nov. 14 and run through Saturday, Nov. 18, 1911.

"The Times and Democrat believes in County Fairs, and it wants to see our first fair a grand success," the editorial said.

Plans in August included the construction of the main building, which was to house all exhibitions; a grandstand for auto, horse, mule, goat and pony races with prizes; a chicken house; stables for horses and cattle; and stalls for hogs and sheep.

The committee also considered bringing to its first fair an exhibit of aeroplane flights, multiple midway attractions, a football game, afternoon concerts and booths for soft drinks, popcorn, dinners and "quick lunch." A parade was scheduled as well.

Gates opened at 9 a.m. each day, with the first three days devoted to the white population and the remaining two days to the black citizens of the county. Admission was set at 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children 12 and younger.

Aspirations were high that first year, and a spring 1912 T&D article revealed that much of the planned fair infrastructure was not completed in time for the five-day event, including the proposed grandstand.

In anticipation of the first county fair, The Times and Democrat sent up a "County Fair Airship" from the rear of its offices on Oct. 13, 1911.

Two football games were booked for the five-day event -- the high school championship game between Charleston and Sumter high schools on Nov. 15 and a showdown between Clemson and Davidson colleges for the championship of North and South Carolina college teams on Nov. 16.

Students were invited to participate in Education Day at the fair on Nov. 14, with county schools being closed for the day so that youngsters could take part in spelling bees and athletic contests and witness acrobatic exhibitions and auto races.

Roads leading to the fair were widened and railroad fares were reduced for the first Orangeburg County Fair in 30 years.

Some 16,000 visitors attended the Orangeburg County Fair in 1911, overflowing the available hotels and boarding houses in the city. It was deemed a success, with only one break in the "good order" on the grounds, when a drunk man began shooting a pistol, slightly wounding a man and hitting several pigs, The T&D reported.

"The management of the Fair have every reason to be congratulated over the successful termination of the venture ... despite the fact that they had only a few months in which to get the buildings, the grounds, and every detail arranged. ... Praise has been universal. ... Financially, the Fair has undoubtedly done excellent for the first year ... there is no reason why the Fair should not only keep going and expanding, but at the same time be run at a profit to the stockholders. As an advertisement for Orangeburg, it is the best she has had in years," the newspaper said.

In fact, the fair collected a profit of nearly $4,000 in its first year of operation.

Through the years

The dwindling number of small farmers in the area has caused the fair to largely shift focal points over the years, but several agricultural, canning, baking and crafting competitions remain. Rides, local talent, a petting zoo, antique tractor pulls and motocross races are just a handful of the highlights for this year's fair.

Two of the original 1911 buildings are still standing and in use at the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds -- the main exhibit building and the poultry house, which now houses flower exhibitions.

Orangeburg County Fair Association President Charles L. Shuler, who only missed one fair since 1960, said he has seen many changes through the years, most notably the food served along the midway.

"You used to could come out and get roast chicken, turkey, barbecue dinners -- a real meal," he said. "It used to be called 'Restaurant Row,'" and meals were prepared and served by various schools and civic organizations.

The entertainment has also changed through the years, as football games are no longer played on the fairgrounds, and beauty contests, band concerts, horse shows, races and high school sporting competitions no longer have a showing at the fair.

Kissam said a lot of show business people got their start at the Orangeburg fair, citing Fogle's long-time friend and Orangeburg County Fair entertainer, comedian Jerry Clower. One of the first fairs he worked, he said, was in Orangeburg.

Additionally, "When people come to the fair, they come out to socialize with people who they may not have seen all year," Kissam said.

"We try to keep it as family-oriented as we can. That's our report card. When we see happy kids and families enjoying good, wholesome fun ... when I see that, it shows me that everything we've done throughout the year has been worth it," he said.

2009 Orangeburg County Fair

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