BELLVILLE, Ohio — Every September, the Village of Bellville gets ready for the annual Bellville Street Fair and Homecoming with all 1,900 residents gearing up for the fun.
This year marks the 165th Bellville fair, running Sept. 16 to 19.
The popular Tractor Pull kicks off the fair at the Jefferson Township-Bellville Fire Department on Sunday, Sept. 13. The fire department is located just south of Bellville on state Route 13.
The Bellville Street Fair offers everything from livestock to needlework, agricultural displays to a kiddie peddle tractor pull, spreading from one end of Main Street to the other, including side streets.
The fair, brought together by the Bellville Agricultural Society, has a long history in the Clear Fork Valley and in the state.
There are only two Street Fairs left in Ohio; Bellville is the oldest. The only year Bellville didn’t have a fair was during World War II.
The origins of the Bellville Street Fair can be traced back to the mid-1800s.
For one year, it was the Richland County Fair, then became the Bellville Agricultural Fair. It’s always held in September, tied to the local harvest.
In 1895, the Bellville Free Fair was held on Sept. 25 and 26. Among advertisers were People’s Bank of Bellville and C.N. Ink & Co.’s Store, selling “all wool dress goods for 25 cents, yard wide.”
Also advertising was R.H. Robinson, Jeweler, Main Street, Bellville, “the best equipped Jewelry Store in Richland County.” The “lowest prices for the best shoes” could be found at J. Koerber’s Shoe House, Bellville.
Additional advertisers included Dr. J.P. Lowe, Dentist, Bellville, “the best tooth extractor and Plate Worker,” Samuel Oberlin, breeder of Improved Berkshire Swine, “David Palm, Tonsorial-Artist, Hair cut 15 cents, a shave, 10 cents” located over Walsh’s Harness Shop. J.A. Lee advertised as a “Veterinary Surgeon and Dentist” of Bellville.
Premiums included one sack of flour from J.E. Simpsons for the best loaf of bread. The Best Pair of Berkshire pigs, one year old, got the owner a premium order for a pair of $2.50 men’s fine shoes at C. Burt Hines’ Shoe Store.
Pott’s Drug Store, established in 1862 in Bellville, also advertised, along with the Bellville Messenger where a subscription cost $1.00 a year.
By 1933, the fair was bigger and so was the fair book.
Frank Bollinger of Bellville was advertising “Purol-Pep Gas and Oil, Sterling Oil and all kinds of auto repairing.” Stoodt’s Grocery advertised “fresh fruits and vegetables, extra special prices on glassware, chinaware and gifts during the Fair.” Guy Walker was a dealer in “scrap iron, rags, tires, batteries, metals of all kinds and junk automobiles; phone 62-Bellville, Ohio.” Phones 56 and 23 would connect you to Daugherty and Son Hardware in Bellville.
In 1933, if you had the largest onion, you got 50 cents cash; for the largest squash, you would get 75 cents in trade at Stoodt’s Market; for the largest Muskmelon, you would get a year’s subscription to the Bellville Star.
If you had the largest eggplant entered in the Fair in 1937, you got four tickets to the Park Theatre and the largest head of cauliflower got you a year’s subscription to the Bellville Star.
In 1938, the Park Theatre in Bellville featured Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper in “Treasure Island” plus an Our Gang comedy. Admission was 10 cents ages four-twelve; 15 cents ages 12-17 and “all others, 25 cents.”
The 1948 Fair Book had a full-page ad for people to “enjoy the cool comfort in our modern Air Conditioned store,” by Richard Hursh, Druggist, Bellville. Also included were ads by Meyers Furniture, now the Wishmaker House Bed and Breakfast, Snyder Funeral Directors, Bellville Foundries Inc., Ida’s Tavern and Pastime Cigar Store, all of Bellville.
The fair never really changed during the years but in 1974, the very first Fair Queen was crowned. The tradition continues today with a Fair Queen honored every year.
As the years passed, businesses changed, some stayed, some did not but the Bellville Street Fair, also known as the “World’s Fair,” remained constant.
The local 4-H clubs are a big part of the fair each year with tents set up on Main Street for everything from chickens to cattle on display.
Traditionally, Friday is “Kids Day” with school being dismissed early so the kids can enjoy the Fair.
By Sunday, the tents and rides will be gone and Main Street will return to normal until the 166th Bellville Street Fair opens in September 2016.
For a full schedule of events, visit their website.
