Delaware in Delaware County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Delaware County Fair / Little Brown Jug

The Delaware County Fair Marker (Side A) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 28, 2008

1. The Delaware County Fair Marker (Side A)

Inscription.

The Delaware County Fair, also, Little Brown Jug. . Side A The Delaware County Fairground. June 28, 1833 a meeting of the citizens of Delaware County convened under an act of the Ohio Legislature to establish The Delaware County Agricultural Society. Officers were elected with Milo Pettibone being president, Wilder Joy, vice president, Frederick Avery, secretary and William Little, treasurer. It was resolved that there be an exhibition of domestic animals and manufacturers on the first Friday in October of 1854, and that premiums based on quality be awarded., The first home of the exhibition was on Delaware's east side, north of Central Avenue and west of the railroad. Numerous locations have hosted the event until its 1939 move to Pennsylvania Avenue. This annual exhibition continues to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of our community as evidenced by the merger of many other events from throughout the county including the Delaware Pumpkin Show, the Powell Fair, the Boys' Hog Show, the Rome Fair, and the Ashley Fair from which it inherited the oldest Junior Fair in the United States., The Delaware County Fair remains the longest-lasting and largest annual event in Delaware County., Side B Little Brown Jug . Thanks to the vision of founders Joe Neville and Henry “Hank” Thomson, the Little Brown Jug has become “America's Pacing Classic". R. K. “Rollie” McNamara led the construction that would become the world's fastest half-mile track in harness racing located on these fairgrounds., Ensign Hanover captured the inaugural Little Brown Jug Pace in four grueling heats on September 18, 1946 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. Delaware native and Hall of Fame horseman Wayne “Curly” Smart was the winning driver. Ensign Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoes Farms and owned by Castleton Farms., Since then, every September harness racing's top stars have come to Delaware, Ohio to compete in their sport's greatest event on the world's fastest half-mile track. In 1959, Pacing's Triple Crown was formed and the Little Brown Jug became part of the series along with the Messenger and Cane Pace. Sports Illustrated wrote, “The Little Brown Jug is one of the Top 100 World-Wide Sporting Events every sports fan must attend in their lifetime."

Side A
The Delaware County Fairground
June 28, 1833 a meeting of the citizens of Delaware County convened under an act of the Ohio Legislature to establish The Delaware County Agricultural Society. Officers were elected with Milo Pettibone being president, Wilder Joy, vice president, Frederick Avery, secretary and William Little, treasurer. It was resolved that there be an exhibition of domestic animals and manufacturers on the first Friday in October of 1854, and that premiums based on quality be awarded.

The first home of the exhibition was on Delaware's east side, north of Central Avenue and west of the railroad. Numerous locations have hosted the event until its 1939 move to Pennsylvania Avenue. This annual exhibition continues to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of our community as evidenced by the merger of many other events from throughout the county including the Delaware Pumpkin Show, the Powell Fair, the Boys' Hog Show, the Rome Fair, and the Ashley Fair from which it inherited the oldest Junior Fair in the United States.

The Delaware County Fair remains the longest-lasting and largest annual event in Delaware County.

Side B
Little Brown Jug
Thanks to the vision of founders Joe Neville and Henry “Hank” Thomson,

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the Little Brown Jug has become “America's Pacing Classic". R. K. “Rollie” McNamara led the construction that would become the world's fastest half-mile track in harness racing located on these fairgrounds.

Ensign Hanover captured the inaugural Little Brown Jug Pace in four grueling heats on September 18, 1946 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. Delaware native and Hall of Fame horseman Wayne “Curly” Smart was the winning driver. Ensign Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoes Farms and owned by Castleton Farms.

Since then, every September harness racing's top stars have come to Delaware, Ohio to compete in their sport's greatest event on the world's fastest half-mile track. In 1959, Pacing's Triple Crown was formed and the Little Brown Jug became part of the series along with the Messenger and Cane Pace. Sports Illustrated wrote, “The Little Brown Jug is one of the Top 100 World-Wide Sporting Events every sports fan must attend in their lifetime."

Erected 2008 by The Kroger Company, National City Bank, and the Delaware County Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Animals • Entertainment

Little Brown Jug Marker (Side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.

2. Little Brown Jug Marker (Side B)

• Horticulture & Forestry • Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Ohio, Delaware County Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1862.

Location. 40° 18.834′ N, 83° 4.574′ W. Marker is in Delaware, Ohio, in Delaware County. Marker is in the Delaware County Fairgrounds, next to the flagpole, about 200 feet NNW of the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Berne Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Delaware OH 43015, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. "Meet Me In St. Louis" Home (approx. half a mile away); George W. Campbell Home (approx. 0.9 miles away); Delaware County Jail (approx. 0.9 miles away); Delaware County War on Terrorism Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Opperation Desert Shield - Desert Storm (approx. 0.9 miles away); Co-Founders of Delaware, Ohio (approx. 0.9 miles away); Site of Pluggy's Town (approx. 0.9 miles away); Dedicated to the Korea and Vietnam Veterans (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Delaware.

Also see . . .
1. Delaware County Fair. Website homepage (Submitted on April 29, 2009, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)

The Delaware County Fair / Little Brown Jug Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 28, 2008

3. The Delaware County Fair / Little Brown Jug Marker

2. History of The Little Brown Jug. Website homepage (Submitted on April 29, 2009, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)

Little Brown Jug Winner's Roll image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 28, 2008

4. Little Brown Jug Winner's Roll

About 100 feet NNE of marker.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.

5. Delaware Bicentennial Logo

Credits. This page was last revised on June 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,762 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 26, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.