Instead of just being sad about not having the fair, our Directors decided to pour their love of the fair back into our Hall. Though the Stisted Agricultural Society was first formed in 1885, they commissioned the Ashworth Hall to be built for community uses a few years later, and that Hall has been used for the fair every year since 1890 (according to Chronicles of Stisted Township by Marjorie Demaine). Today, lots of improvements were made with everyone pitching in as a great team! Jim, Heather, and Gail gave the cork boards a facelift with some new paint. Pamela put a staircase together. Patty, Dana and Diane replaced boards in the kitchen ceiling and put in a trap door. Patty was a machine, relentlessly cutting, measuring and directing helpers to get boards to Roger who was fearlessly banging on boards at a great heights. Fran and Sherri were putting their rope knowledge to great use securing the legs of our exhibition tables. Mary Ellen, Barb and Jeanine stained the concession with motor oil, just like they did in the old days! And, possibly most importantly, Terry, Billy, Mark, Roger, Rylan and Dean secured the base of the main Hall so it will stand strong for the next generation. It was good to gather, though socially distanced, for our common love of the fair, as our ancestors have before us for 135 years. Alhough you could not join us, we kept you in our minds and hearts. Take care all!
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This is an old photo we found of the ladies at the "Ashworth" (a.k.a. Stisted) fair in the late 1800's and early 1900's. They would have cooked breakfast for the Judges and provided a hot, pot-luck style lunch to all their families and neighbours at the fair. It would've been a lot of work on a wood stove and without electricity! The lady at the far left is Amy Smith, one of the main cooks for many years, and her great granddaughter is our current Secretary and her great great granddaughters grew up going to the fair every year and are Associate Directors to this day. Do you recognize any ancestors?
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