|
The first attempt at a community fair in Silverhill was on November 3, 1917. It was a one-day, outdoor event on "the hill" at what is now the Silverhill Oscar Johnson Memorial Park. Everyone was requested to bring a picnic dinner.
|
Printed in The Fairhope Courier November 6, 1917.
(Select to read entire article and view in larger size.)
|
Printed in The Baldwin Times October 24, 1918.
(Select to read entire article and view in larger size.)
|
In 1918, the Silverhill Community Fair was to be held on October 23, 1918. However, a global pandemic of influenza refered to as the Spanish flu cancelled the fair.
|
November 28, 1921, the Silverhill Community and Fair Association organized. They continued holding the fair as a one-day, outdoor event on "the hill" at what is now the Silverhill Oscar Johnson Memorial Park.
The Silverhill School House, second site of the Silverhill Fair.
Click each picture to Enlarge.
In 1922, the fair was held in the colony-owned two-room school building.
The large crowds attending this event led to the addition of two rooms to the school.
|
In 1923, the fair was held in the new school auditorium which was built onto the back of the school house.
|
Silverhill Fair notice which was printed in The Onlooker newspaper on September 28, 1922.
Silverhill Fair Advertisement which was printed in the Foley Onlooker Newspaper on October 4, 1923.
List of Winners of the 1923 Silverhill Fair.
In 1924, the fair association and community patrons built the Community Hall for large public functions and the yearly fair. The Community Hall was a large wooden building, located where the fire hall was later built on 6th street. This was the third and final site of the Silverhill Fair.
April 8, 1924, the Silverhill Community and Fair Association incorporated. The incoporators were Henry A. Wilkes, Gust Sundin, and Gustav Hoff.
Click to read entire article which was printed in The Onlooker on May 1, 1924.
List of Winners of the 1924 Silverhill Fair.
A full page advertisement for the Silverhill Fair which was printed in the Foley Onlooker Newspaper on October 21, 1926.
Click to Enlarge.
Silverhill Fair Advertisement which was printed as a separate handout by the Fairhope Courier in September 1941.
Click to Enlarge.
The Silverhill Community Hall, third site of the Silverhill Fair.
Click each picture to Enlarge.
This picture of the Silverhill Fair was copied from Facebook. It is labeled 1924, but is most likely in the 1940s. Notice the addition to the south side of the building.
|
This view of the Community Hall is of the back of the building which was facing west. This was probably taken sometime from 1940-1950.
|
In 1950, the first annual Baldwin County Fair was held at the new Livestock Coliseum on Palmer Street in Robertsdale on October 24 through 28, sponsored by the Baldwin County Cattle and Fair Association, Inc. The county fair continued yearly at this site until 2008 when it was held at its new building at Fairground Road in Robertsdale.
For nearly thirty years, the town of Silverhill hosted the fair. It was not called the county fair as much as it was called the community fair. The Silverhill Community Hall, which was built for this purpose, was also used for other large gatherings. In 1929, the funeral for Mayor Oscar Johnson was held in the hall, with nearly a thousand people in attendance from the town and Baldwin County.
DEEDS
Oscar Johnson and wife Josephina Johnson transfered lots 8 and 9 in Block 11 in Silverhill to the Silverhill Community and Fair Association, Inc. on April 8, 1924, filed July 21, 1924.
View PDF File of the Document 
The Silverhill Community and Fair Association, Inc.
had taken a mortgage with the Silverhill State Bank for lots 8 and 9 in Block 11 in Silverhill on May 25, 1924, which transferred to The Consolidated State Bank, then turned over to the Superintendent of Banks of Alabama for liquidation for indebtedness, filed September 7, 1932.
View PDF File of the Document
Affidavit of Victor Olson claiming the Silverhill Community and Fair Association, Inc. had ownership for lots 8 and 9 in Block 11 in Silverhill on December 3, 1936, filed January 12, 1937.
View PDF File of the Document
Affidavit of Phil G. Armstrong claiming the Silverhill Community and Fair Association, Inc. had ownership for lots 8 and 9 in Block 11 in Silverhill on December 3, 1936, filed January 12, 1937.
View PDF File of the Document
Affidavit of Theodore A. Johnson claiming the Silverhill Community and Fair Association, Inc. had ownership for lots 8 and 9 in Block 11 in Silverhill on December 3, 1936, filed January 12, 1937.
View PDF File of the Document
OLD TIMER'S PARADE
Held at the beginning of the Fair in the late 1930's.
"Joe the Ox", Mr. Joe Kolmar
with his ox and cart.
The Peoples Supply building is visible in the background on the right.
Mr. Philip G. Armstrong
clowning around with his wheelbarrow.
Silverhill Fair of 1924
Silverhill Fair of 1925
Silverhill Fair of 1935
Silverhill Fair of 1936
Silverhill Fair of 1937
Silverhill Fair of 1938
Silverhill Fair of 1939
Silverhill Fair of 1940
Silverhill Fair of 1941
Please contact Debbie Owen, site manager, if you can indentify anyone in the photos or would like to share photos or information on the Silverhill Fair.
|
