The Summer Fair - A Century Plus Tradition
The Summer Fair - A Century Plus Tradition
By Judith Buswell
(Editor’s note – the Gilford Community Church, located in Gilford village, will hold its annual summer fair during Gilford Old Home Day. The church fair takes place on Friday, August 27 at 4 pm and on Saturday, August 28 at 7 am on the church grounds on Potter Hill Road. The following is a look back at the activities and history of the fair by author Judith Buswell.)
In 1922, the Gilford Community Church (GCC) annual summer fair was held on a Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon in the middle of the week. Why not Saturday? Perhaps the easy answer is that most women - the primary consumers, supporters, and organizers of church fairs - did not work outside their homes, meaning that these mid-week events would fit more comfortably within their household and farm duties.
By today’s standards, this summer fair held in the Town Hall over two afternoons and evenings, was simple and modest. However, the real lure of this event came from the bountiful social connections involved and the chance to share patterns for homemade aprons and recipes for home-cooked food. The evening musicales drew in the men-folk and others for a long-awaited and memorable mid-summer gathering of friends and families. Who did all the planning for this fair? Promotional materials indicate that seven women and one man managed this one event!
In contrast, by 1948 at the crest of the post-WWII surge in community energy, the Fair was organized and led by about 40 men and women. The event had been renamed the “Country Fair” and was held on a Saturday in late July so as not to conflict with the town’s yearly late-August observance of “Old Home Day”. Aprons and baked goods were still the major attractions, but this year the aprons were sold from the wrap-around porch and lawn of the Langill’s home right across the street, while the baked goods were the main attraction in the Town Hall. Other Fair venues included the Parsonage where a Fortune Teller consulted her crystal ball and ladies served late-afternoon iced tea, and the Archie McDonald Barn - part of the big white house next to the Town Hall - that provided shade and shelter for the Auction. Hungry fair-goers ate lunch in the Parish Hall and while the adults chatted, their children hustled upstairs for movies. Workers in the Grange Hall dished up a Baked Bean and Strawberry Shortcake supper, followed by a Square Dance with a live caller and an orchestra in the rustic hall at the Belknap Mountain Recreation Area. Scarcely a month later on August 21 before the ink had dried in the Summer Fair account books, the GCC ladies rallied again to run a homemade gift table as part of Gilford Old Home Day. The next day on Sunday, August 22, Rev. Paul Hostetter and the choir led a special “Old Home Sunday Family Service” in the GCC Sanctuary.
In 1949, The GCC Country Fair featured the sale of the cookbook, “Gilford Cakes”, a project of the Women’s Circle that included favorite cake recipes from members and friends of the Gilford Community Church, illustrations by Ellie Lindsay, and lettering by Barbara Smith. Copies of this small, spiral-bound book are still cherished and used by current church members.
In 1957, the summer fair was chaired by Seth Keller with co-chairs Fran Talbot
and Bob Hinds and some 24 committee
workers. Home-made aprons in an eye-catching display of color and fabric still captured the spotlight.
The 1962 church fair, chaired by Larry Guild Sr. with Iva Phelps as co-chair, was built around a colonial theme and included a delightful children's parade that opened the Fair. The apron table was still a feature but was definitely no longer the star attraction.
In 1971, Bruce Papps was Chair of the GCC summer fair. Earlier, town and church leaders had combined the church fair with the Old Home Day celebrations in anticipation of streamlined efforts and even grander outcomes.
In these initial years of collaboration, the church fair delayed its opening until immediately after the Parade, allowing Fair personnel to stand along the route and cheer on costumed nieces, nephews and neighbors as they marched by.
1971 was the rare year that Mother Nature interfered. Worried fair personnel had watched all week as Hurricane Doria slid up the eastern sea- board to arrive in New Hampshire just in time to swamp the day’s events, postponing everything until the following Saturday on September 4. Thus one week later than planned, the Fair was a success but the home-made aprons didn’t even rate a mention by the media, no doubt handily upstaged by the popular Chuck Wagon!
In 1975, and apparently every year thereafter, the GCC summer fair and the Old Home Day Parade both started at 10am, causing some dismay as fairgoers could not watch the parade and pick-up interesting items at the Fair at the same time.
Over the decades, the GCC fair with its differing themes, partners, dates, activities and venues has slowly evolved to reflect the current culture and priorities. Due to its numerous edits, this summer event continues to attract thousands of visitors from everywhere, all quite happy to spend the day and a few dollars in the charm of a country village.
As is true of many churches, the one consistent thread through all these summer fairs is the strong and enthusiastic leadership and the months of preparation by many dozens of people. And as much today as it was yesterday, the GCC Summer Fair still generates income that over the years has helped to pay the preacher, light the furnace, stock the pew racks with hymnals, and of primary significance, serve the community.