History of The Fair
First Fair In Albany County Was Called the Agricultural Jubilee or Ploughboy’s Holiday
The year was 1819 and the event was Sponsored By The Albany Agricultural Society.
From then until 1892, fairs were held in Albany and other surrounding towns, such as Bethlehem Center and Slingerlands.
On August 6, 1892, a public meeting was appointed to investigate the possibilities of holding the annual fair at a permanent location in Altamont.
The Altamont Driving Park and Fair Association was incorporated on May 20, 1893. At a meeting held on that day, the Board of Directors voted to accept the plans drawn by Howard P. Foster for a Grandstand (which would be the first permanent structure on the fairgrounds) and also instructed him to draw up plans for a Front Gate. The Board also appointed a committee to purchase property for the permanent site of the Fair. The following information was obtained from the Society’s original minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors. Bids for the construction of the Grandstand and Front Gate were opened on June 10, 1893 and were awarded to the low bidder, H. P. Foster, in the amount of $1,975 for the Grandstand and $115 for the entrance gate, for a total bid of $2,090. The contractor was required to have work completed on these two buildings by August 20, 1893 and to prime them with linseed oil and yellow ochre upon completion. Although Mr. Foster was unable to complete the project, the minutes show that the project was completed on time. (The original Grandstand is now the Poultry Building and the two restrooms located on either side of the Grand Street gate to the fairgrounds are what remain of the original Front Gate. One of the buildings was the Secretary’s Office and the other was the Treasurer’s Office.)
On June 10, 1893 , the Board of Directors also approved the purchase 24.5 acres of land in Altamont originally owned by George Severson now held in trust by Isaac Reamer to be known as the “Altamont Fair Grounds.” This is the site of the present fairgrounds.
The first fair to be held at the Altamont location was from September 12 through 15, 1893. Admission was 25 cents for adults, and the net receipts for the four days was $884.13. A racetrack was built in front of the Grandstand, and horse racing was held at the first fair and continued at the Altamont Fair until the mid 1990’s.
In 1896 the Board of Directors appointed a committee to travel to the Cobleskill Fairgrounds to obtain plans and cost estimates of duplicating Cobleskill’s two story, 100’ by 80’ Fair Building to be used at Altamont for the “exhibition of Domestic, Manufacture Art and Fancy Work and Fruits and Vegetables.” While they were unable to obtain a copy of Cobleskill’s plans and specifications, the committee estimated that they could erect a a similar building for “about $2,000.”
On June `6, 1896 the Board accepted the low bid of $2,146 for the construction of the Exhibition Hall. The bid included the stipulation that the contractor uses the best quality of A#1 slate on the roof. On August 26, 1896 the Board examined the completed Exhibition Hall and voted to approve and accept the structure, which thy felt had been built with “superior workmanship.” This building is now known as the Flower & Fine Arts a Building and has recently been named to the State and National Register of Historic Sites.
In 1897, the Altamont Driving Park and Fair Association changed its name to the Albany County Agricultural Society and Exposition. Over the next 20 years, more property was acquired and more buildings were constructed, including the Poultry Building in 1899 for $1,322 and a Ladies’ Building (now the Vegetable Building ) in 1901 for $875.85. Many other buildings are mentioned in the old minutes can no longer be recognized.
Auto racing was first held in 1910, when the Fair held a five-mile race with purses of $25, $15 and $10 for the first, second and third place winners. This continued to be an important part of the Fair’s history for over thirty years. In 1915, automobiles were entered for the first time to compete for premiums.
The Altamont Fair Grounds Was Host To One Of The First Radio Broadcasts From A Fairgrounds
In 1922, The General Electric Company sponsored a special radio concert at the Fair
The Health Department ruled that for the 1916 fair no person under 16 could be admitted to the Fair. Deputy sheriffs and the “village sleuth” were stationed at the gates to prevent those persons under 16 from entering. No reason is stated for this in the minutes, but a resolution condemning the Health Department and the Village of Altamont was adopted by the Fair Board and was published in the Altamont Enterprise and other area newspapers.
The General Electric Company sponsored a special radio concert at the 1922 fair. This was one of the first radio shows to be broadcast from fairgrounds. It was also in 1922 that Schenectady County was invited to join the Altamont Fair. A great part of the Fair through these years was the cooperation from the D&H Railroad, which ran special trains from Albany and Schenectady to the fairgrounds each year.
In 1924 we held our first night fair. The power company installed lights to the 7 poles erected by the Fair. On the second night of this two-night fair, fireworks were shot for the first time.
In 1925 a new Grandstand was erected on the opposite side of the track from the original Grandstand at a cost of $18,600. This new structure lasted until November 1995 when it was completely destroyed by fire.
In 1942 and 1943 the Fair was not held due to World War II.
In 1945, Greene County became part of the Altamont Fair and we became the only three-county fair in New York State and one of the few in the country.
1946 saw another name change. The fair became the Albany , Schenectady and Greene County Fair Association.
In 1953 George Sawin gave the rights to what is now the main entrance road.
Auto racing was first held in 1910, when the Fair held a five-mile race with purses of $25, $15 and $10 for the first, second and third place winners. This continued to be an important part of the Fair’s history for over thirty years. In 1915, automobiles were entered for the first time to compete for premiums.
In 1971 the Hayes House was donated to the Altamont Fair. This fully furnished Victorian home was turned into a museum that was open to the public during the Fair and at our Christmas celebration. The fair continued to expand and concentrate on museum areas, which now include the Old Schoolhouse, the Auto Museum , the Farmhouse Museum , the Carriage Museum and the Farm Implements Museum . The Pepsi Building, which was built in 1968 and turned into our Circus Museum was destroyed due to the heavy snow load on the roof.
We have seen our fair time attendance increase and now have events scheduled on the grounds nearly every weekend during the summer months. We have purchased additional land, most of which is used for public parking. The total area of the fairgrounds is now 140 acres.
As a historical and agricultural society, we are committed to the preservation of the old traditions, yet we strive to keep current with evolving trends and exhibits in order to attract new patrons.
Our emphasis will continue to be on agriculture. This becomes more difficult each year as we see the surrounding agricultural community shrink and give way to housing developments and industry. Our goal is to make the Altamont Fair the best that it can be in terms of entertainment, as an educational experience and as a showcase for our history and agricultural traditions.
