SEMO FAIR BRINGS BACK THE MEMORIES: EXHIBITORS ENJOY THEIR ROLE AT DISTRICT FAIR

Cape Girardeau is observing a very important occasion this week, hosting the 136th Southeast Missouri District Fair in Arena Park. The theme of the 1991 celebration is "The Family Fair" and the title was wisely chosen because babies to senior adults have participated in the activities.

Today, the Pee Wees are showing their pets in the Pee Wee Showmanship class between 1 and 2 p.m. as part of the 4-H Shows. The Pee Wees are 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds and their entries are young cattle they have assisted in tending and training with the help of adults. The very young children are as interested and enthused in walking their entries around the show ring as adults, and when they receive a ribbon award, their excitement cannot be properly described in words.

This is an event that should be attended for it is extremely enjoyable. It follows the 4-H Steer Show at 1 p.m. today in the show barn.

Later in the afternoon, from 5-7 p.m., the Crossroads Band and Little Ole Opry will perform, and at 7:30 p.m. in the grandstand, Joe Diffie and Neal McCoy will be featured.

One teenager was heard to remark, "I just love the Fair! I grew up knowing about it because I am the youngest of nine children and my older brothers and sisters all belonged to 4-H and exhibited at the fair. When it was time for the district fair, our house buzzed with activity before daylight each day to late at night. We were so excited sleep seemed to be of secondary interest. On days when we were showing our animals, we slept all night in the 4-H barn, rolled up in our sleeping bag, lying on a bale of hay. It would get pretty cold sometimes, especially if it began to rain. We hated that. Then the grounds would become like a soaked sponge. ... It was difficult to get our show animals groomed to display them properly. But in spite of any trouble or the weather not cooperating, we had fun and we would count the months before it would be fair time again.

"Since there were nine of us, and it was an expense to eat at the fair for so many children with normal appetites, mother would prepare food for us and bring it to the 4-H barn where there was an electric outlet so the food would be warm. I liked to show my pigs. I won many prizes. But I entered other classes: cooking, sewing, crafts, just name it, I entered, and I always won prizes. Maybe not first every time, but a prize was always a thrill, even if it was second, third, or honorable mention. I'm so glad Cape Girardeau has the fair every year. It's fun!"

The enthusiasm of this teenager is typical of the feelings of residents throughout the district who have been fair sponsors, exhibitors and participants over the years of the Southeast Missouri District Fair.

Back when the fair began, it was not always an easy trip to Cape Girardeau from outlying places. The roads were muddy and if any early September rain turned the mud in to sticky red clay, horses had a difficult time pulling a wagon. That was when a farmer would decide to hitch up a team of oxen, and instead of returning home at night the family would remain in Cape Girardeau obtaining sleeping accommodations at a home that displayed a sign, "Rooms for Rent."

Sometimes the upper floor of a store building on Broadway (in the early years of the fair this street was known as Harmony) was opened to accommodate fair visitors. The Walters family did this for many years.

Farmers and landowners who had property bordered by a road to Cape Girardeau were required to keep the road repaired after rainstorms, or other conditions that interfered with travelers moving through the area. This requirement was part of the tax expected from the owner.

Creeks had to be covered with planks if they were thought to be dangerous when filled with water, and deep ruts and holes in the road were expected to be filled. Keeping dirt roads in condition was not an easy task and travel between Jackson and Cape Girardeau took a day instead of a few minutes as it does in 1991. Travelers did not attempt to make the journey after dark because it was too dangerous although the distance was not long.

In the city of Cape Girardeau, the streets were hard packed dirt for many years, even as late as when the street car tracks extended out Broadway to the Normal School, now Southeast Missouri State University.

Sidewalks were not hard surfaced until later. At first, large flagstones provided safe stepping so pedestrians could avoid the mud when it rained. Then wooden planks were laid called a "Boardwalk." No money was originally provided "for outlay" of building sidewalks, paving streets, building bridges, etc., when the young town of Cape Girardeau was laid out and organized in 1806. This came later and required levying taxes, never popular with the public, but necessary to operate the city.

Today, coming to Cape Girardeau to attend the district fair is no problem as to transportation, roads and hotel accommodations. Automobiles and buses, hard surfaced roads, and several large motels have erased three former problems confronting visitors. The district fair has become larger in every aspects, and thus attracts greater participation. It is more expensive, but that seems to be true with everything in today's economy. The public has become adjusted to that fact.

It is only in reading of how things were in the past that a full appreciation of today's achievements impress us. The growth of the Southeast Missouri District Fair is one example.