The Great Hagerstown Fair

The Great Hagerstown Fair. . The Agricultural and Mechanical Association of Washington County was chartered in 1856 and began holding annual fairs in "Heyser's Woods" (now City Park) in the years before the Civil War. The fairs were suspended due to the War, but when peace returned, the fair resumed at a new location off of Church Street in the west end of Hagerstown. In 1880, the fair moved to this site and was held at this location until 1980. Many celebrities of the time were guests or performers at the fair. In 1884, Col. Henry Kyd Douglas (a former Confederate officer) arranged for General "Stonewall" Jackson's horse "Fancy" (also known as Little Sorrel") to be transported to Hagerstown in a special rail car and displayed at the fair. Legend has it that the old horse was a popular attraction and his mane and tail were plucked nearly bare by those desiring a souvenir. An association with the Maryland State Fair Association was formed in the 1890s, and the Great Hagerstown Fair became a retional and multi-state event. Under the leadership of Civil War (Union) veteran John L. Cost, the poultry program of the fair became the largest in the world. A monument to Cost was erected here in 1913., The Keeper's Residence was constructed in the 1890s and the entrance building was constructed in 1913. The Keeper's Residence is believed to be the last 19th Century fair building remaining in Maryland. The grandstands were constructed in the early 1950s for the purpose of watching horse races which were held on a track in the center of the fairgrounds.