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A History of the Anderson County Fair
A study of the history of fairs in the Anderson, South Carolina area reveals that such events pre-date the founding of Anderson County itself.
Early records reveal that agricultural fairs began as early as 1816 in Pendleton, ten years before Anderson County was created in 1826. Under the sponsorship of the Pendleton Farmer's Society, these exhibitions operated for many years. Records further show that by 1840 fairs were being held in Anderson itself, centered in and around the courthouse. Both agricultural and home items were displayed in the corridors of the courthouse and a racetrack was set up around the building. These fairs continued at this location until six months after the War Between The States began in 1861.
In the 1870s, as the South began to recover from the war, there was a renewed interest in fairs. Grounds to accommodate such events were developed on North Main Street at what is now its intersection with Bleckley Street. Included were a large two-story building with provisions for display of exhibits on the ground floor and an open gallery upstairs from which spectators could watch the races outside. In addition, there were several other buildings including a bandstand.
Carnivals had not yet become a part of such fairs and the first one to appear in Anderson was not associated with the fair itself. It was not until 1901, that the City Council paid the Sturgis Carnival Company five hundred dollars to set up around the courthouse for one week. This show featured such star attractions as Speedy the High Diver, Esau the Sword Swallower, Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy and one of the most famous of all early show dancers, Little Egypt.
Residential growth eventually prompted relocation of the fairgrounds to north Anderson in 1902, where these fairs were held until 1909. During this period, Hollywood Park, later changed to Buena Vista Park, was developed just off River Street in 1905. For some years, fairs competed with carnivals and circuses appearing on a circus ground across the street.
Subsequently, fairs were moved outside of Anderson and for several years were held in Belton. Then in 1920, and under the sponsorship of the Anderson Chamber of Commerce, the fair as we know it today was established at Cater Park. Everything was under canvas. The livestock category consisted largely of hogs and poultry since the registered beef and dairy cattle, so numerous in fairs today, did not at that time exist in sufficient numbers to warrant display.
Over the years carnivals appearing at Cater Park have included such organizations as the Johnny J. Jones Exposition, Rubin and Cherry, Cetlin and Wilson, Dodson Brothers, James E. Strates Shows, Royal American and the World of Mirth Shows. In 1947, the Anderson Fair Association, as a division of the Chamber of Commerce, purchased the present fairgrounds. During the 1960s these grounds were sold to the then manager Mr. I. V. Hulme, who in turn sold the property to the James E. Strates Shows in 1982.
The Strates' organization immediately embarked on a program of improvement and expansion of existing facilities, a program designed to ensure the vitality and continuing growth of this once local fair which is, in fact, becoming one of the largest and most popular fairs in the entire region.
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