1935 Titus County Fair
The fair grounds were improved again in 1935 when local businessmen financed construction of a new grandstand at a cost of over a thousand dollars ($15,000 in 2007 dollars).
The old grandstand that had been used for baseball games and special events for several years was torn down on Friday, April 26. It was replaced with a new one patterned after the one at Paris, and compared with stands used by smaller league teams. The new grandstand was much larger and held about twelve hundred people without crowding. The seats and aisles were wider to allow people to pass without stepping on each other's toes. Visitors could come and go without interfering with other spectators. The ticket office and entrance were at the rear and customers could find seats easier.
Both teams had spacious dugouts, and the stands were designed so that only players and officials had access to the field.
The new grandstand was almost complete and hosted a game between the Moonshiners and Van's Pure Oil team on Friday afternoon, May 10, 1935.
In May the 1935 Titus County Fair was set for September 24-28 inclusive. The Centennial Exposition Shows were secured to provide amusements, and was a much better carnival than the previous one. They had all-new equipment and different rides, some of which had never been seen here. There were more rides than the year before, and the contract called for twenty concessions.
Beginning in early September, Mt. Pleasant was buzzing about the identity of the couple to be married in the public wedding to be held at the Fair on Friday night, September 27. Everybody connected with the fair was being questioned, but no one would say. The Mt. Pleasant Daily Times reported "It is now being realized that women can keep a secret, because several ladies are acquainted with the names of those who have consented to the public ceremony."
A big parade arranged by Mrs. S. H. Spurger and the Delphian Club wound through the business district to kick off the Ninth Annual Titus County Fair on Tuesday, September 24 at 5:30 pm.
The Mt. Vernon band led the parade, followed by about fifty automobiles and floats. The Fair Queen's car trailed the band, followed by other cars and floats. The East Ward school float depicting several fairy tale characters was the most unique. A CCC camp truck carrying several string musicians attracted considerable attention, as did the Demonstration Council's float with several ladies dressed in period costumes showing the evolution of ladies' clothing styles. Several other civic organizations were represented, along with businesses advertising floats. About fifty private cars and several people on horseback joined the parade which was almost a mile long.
The parade traveled south from the First Baptist Church to the corner of Madison Avenue and First Street by the Jefferson Hotel, turned east to the Confederate monument, and entered North Jefferson Avenue. From the monument, the parade continued to the fair grounds, pausing at Third Street for the band to play.
The Delphian Club also presented the program that took place before the grandstand at eight o'clock. Mrs. O. C. Lilienstern Sr. directed the coronation of Miss Catherine Florey as Fair Queen, and Mrs. Irvan Walyer and Mrs. Clayton Redfearn directed a musical program afterwards.
After a short concert by the Mt. Vernon Band, Miss Florey appeared with her court. Her ladies-in-waiting were Misses Louise Keith Moody and Beth Duncan, and the following Princesses: Miss Ruth Garrison of Pittsburg, Miss Neva Weatherford of Mt. Vernon, Miss Maydelle Barnard of Winfield, Miss Ida Wilt of Daingerfield, Miss Fae Davis of Omaha, Miss Edith Fulcher of Naples and Miss Mary Sue Taylor of Cookville.
They were preceded to the dais by pages Misses Mary Jane Lide and Bettye Jean Wilson and Clayton Gaddis representing Uncle Sam, Miss Daisy McFearin as Miss Texas and Miss Mary Temple as Miss Columbia. A large number of girls in colored costumes formed an American flag on the stage.
East Ward School principal B. C. Pierce gave a brief history of Titus County using excerpts from his Master's Degree thesis. Several pioneer county residents had places of honor in the grandstand during the program.
Next, a special program was presented in honor of the Queen and her court, interspersed with music by the band.
The grandstand was crowded to capacity. In spite of threatening rain, Tuesday night's attendance was at least five times as large as any opening night in the fair's history.
The general exhibit hall was crowded with farm projects by noon. The agricultural exhibits featured the county's finest farm products, much better than the year before when the drought killed crops. Concord, Cookville, East Side, Farmers' Academy, Forest Grove, Green Hill, Monticello, Nevill's Chapel, Old Union, and Stonewall communities had farm exhibits. G. M. Scott, G. M. Scott Jr., Frank D. Newman, W. E. Wilson, W. M. Ferguson, Hi-Vue Farm, Blackstone Farm, C. A. Dalton, Rufus Payne, and Sunny Slope Farm had individual farm exhibits. The Titus County F. F. A. chapter also had a nice exhibit of farm products grown by the boys, and many Herford cattle were displayed in the livestock building.
The women's building was filled with hundreds of jars of fine fruits, vegetables, preserves, jellies and other canned foods. There were also an excellent art exhibit, pastries, breads, cakes, etc., quilts, fancy needlework and other articles to delight the ladies. The Girl Scouts had a very creditable display.
Judging began on Tuesday morning so the visitors would know the winners as soon as possible, and ribbons showing the exhibits' awards were placed on the items. Judges were hard-pressed to decide in many instances because the quality of the entries was unusually high.
On Wednesday morning, visiting County Agents judged agricultural products and beef cattle and said the exhibits were among the best they had ever seen. Wednesday was Children's Day, when all school children were admitted free until 5 p. m. Amateur night for entertainers took place at 8 o'clock.
Thursday night local merchants staged a big style show.
Titus County merchants gave away $100 (approximately $1500 in 2007 dollars) free each night.
On Friday night, Mildred Griffith and Fred Melton were married in a public ceremony before the grandstand filled to full capacity. The double ring ceremony was performed on a beautifully decorated platform with shrubs and greenery forming the altar's approaches and background. Designs were covered with smilax and ivy, with huge baskets of roses sat in vantage points on each side of the platform. Rev. George C. Moore, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church officiated.
Before the ceremony the Bridal Chorus from Lobengrin was rendered by Misses Margaret Rudd, Thelma and Edith Wilks, Ona Campbell, Katherine Moore, Mmes. F. W. Stephenson, Ewell McClinton and Bill Williams. Mrs. Annie Tabb accompanied at the piano. The Mt. Vernon band played processional and recessional music softly during the ceremony.
Webber Beall gave the bride in marriage. The bride's maids were Misses Almarie Moody, Hortense Spurger, Tillie Lilienstern, Marie Holland, Doris Combs, and Doris Cook. Miss Frances Ferguson was the maid of honor.
The groom's attendants were Morris Rolston, P. O. Wilhite, Jr., and J. O. Lawson.
The 1935 Titus County Fair ended its run on Saturday night, September 28. The Saturday night finale ended with a speech by Texas Governor James V. Allred, in his first visit to the area since his inauguration. Mr. and Mrs. Claude McDonald, who were his hosts while he was in Mt. Pleasant, met Governor Allred on Saturday morning in Longview.
After arriving in Mt. Pleasant, and accompanied by District Judge I. N. Williams, he walked the business district and talked to local businessmen, farmers, and residents. He requested that no public functions be held in his honor, and said he wanted to be treated like "one of the boys." His friendly attitude made him many friends.
The McDonalds held an open house in his honor from three to five o'clock so the Governor's friends could visit with him.
Governor Allred spoke at the fair at 8 o'clock. A large crowd overflowed the grandstand, with hundreds standing around the speakers' platform. Hiram G. Brown introduced the governor, and Mayor Earl M. Lide welcomed him to the city. He was also welcomed by Mt. Vernon Editor Charles Devall. Bascom Perkins and C. D. McDonald made short talks.
The Governor spoke on clemency and convict rehabilitation. He advocated a clemency board to hear all requests for pardons, stays of execution, etc., relieving the Governor of responsibility in the matters. He said that executions always affect the Governor's efficiency for several days.
He was also humorous at times, and told some good jokes on several of his local friends.
The 1935 Titus County Fair was the most successful in its nine year history, and drew one of the highest attendances that Mt. Pleasant had ever seen. Several people estimated at least ten thousand people were at the fair grounds on Saturday night, and gate receipts broke all records.
The fair exhibits were far above anything before, and exhibitors received over eight hundred awards.
