1911: THE NEW JERSEY STATE FAIR

In the early years it was known as the Interstate Fair. Indeed, over the years it has been known as "the fair," "the state fair," "George Hamid's State Fair," and I'm sure there are numerous other names that come to mind. We just called it "the fair." What a sad day it was when the fair left Hamilton Township and set up came in South Jersey. We lost a wonderful attraction that spanned the calendar year from January to December, with July 4th fireworks, the annual September fair, and of course, nationally televised auto races. 

1945: TRENTON SPEEDWAY AT THE STATE FAIR

The fellow in the photo was my racing hero back in the 40's and 50's. Of course we kids never had the money to gain legitimate access to the fair grounds grandstand area. That's where our dear old Klockner Road came into play. There was a side street, I think it was Smith Street that dead ended right in an area that gave us access to the "back track" at the speedway. The only thing between us and the race cars was a cyclone fence. It was a very dusty enviornment, but we loved it!

1888: THE INTERSTATE FAIR: IN THE BEGINNING

It has been a long time since the New Jersey State Fair was in operation in a huge spread of land bordered by Nottingham Way, Ward Avenue, E. State Street, and Klockner. Each of us with silver in his or her hair can tell stories of their experiences with that wonderful fall event. The fair, also known in earlier years as the "Interstate Fair." The Henry N. Smith referred to in the article was the site of Smith's "Fashion Stud Farm."

1894: THE GRANDSTAND AT THE FAIR

WHAT A TREASURE IT WAS! THE INTERSTATE FAIR WAS THE NATIONALLY KNOWN ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL OF NEW JERSEY BACK IN THE LATTER PART OF THE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY. EVEN THOUGH THE GRANDSTAND HAD GONE THROUGHT MANY STRUCTURAL CHANGES WHEN I WAS A BOY, THE BASIC CONSTRUCTION REMAINED JUST ABOUT AS YOU SEE IT IN THIS 1894 ENGRAVING.

1936: REMEMBER THOSE "MIDGET" RACES?

WHEN I WAS A BOY, THE RACES AT THE N.J. FAIRGROUNDS WERE A VERY POPULAR SPORT. WE NEVER HAD THE MONEY TO GO TO THE GRANDSTAND, SO WE WENT DOWN KLOCKNER ROAD AND STOOD BY THE FENCE AT THE END OF SMITH STREET (?). (I'M NOT TOO SURE WHICH SIDE STREET ENDED AT THE FENCE.)

1911 (circa 1911) Auto Show at the Interstate Fair

THANKS TO CLASSMATE ALICE SCHMIDT MULLEN FOR THIS GREAT POSTAL CARD PHOTO FROM THE INTERSTATE FAIR. IN LOOKING AT THE VINTAGE AUTOS, I PLACE THE YEAR AROUND 1910 OR 1911. GREAT SCANNING JOB, ALICE, AND THANKS!

WERE YOU A STOCK CAR RACING FAN? CHECK OUT WWW.WALLYCAMPBELL.COM

FROM JEFF HARDIFER, THIS INCREDIBLY INTERESTING WEBSITE ON THE RACING CAREER OF LOCAL RACING LEGEND , WALLY CAMPBELL. THANKS SO MUCH FOR TELLING US ABOUT THIS SITE, JEFF. I HAVE MANY HAPPY MEMORIES OF THE HOURS I SPENT WITH MY BUDDIES DON SLABICKI AND ERNIE PLAAG AT ROCKY DINATLE'S GARAGE HANGING OUT WITH THOSE MANY STOCK CAR DRIVERS. ATCO, PITTMAN, AND OTHER RACING VENUES WERE ALL A PART OF ROCKY'S INCURSION INTO THE AUTO RACING GAME. TO THOSE MANY RACING FANS WHO MAY VISIT THIS SITE, BE SURE TO ADD WALLY'S WEBSITE AS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITES. AND THANKS AGAIN, JEFF FOR THE HEADS UP. BY THE WAY, ROCKY'S LOVELY WIFE WAS "LUCKY LUCY," LEADER OF AN ALL-GIRL CONTINGENT OF "HELL DRIVERS." THEY PERFORMED DARING AUTO FEATS WHICH WERE EVERY BIT AS EXCITING AS JOEY CHITWOOD AND LUCKY TETER. UNFORTUNATELY, A VIEWER SENT ME SOME PHOTOS, BUT THEY WERE NOT RECOGNIZED AS VALID FILE TYPES. WHEN I LOST MY COMPLETE COMPUTER HARD DRIVE A FEW MONTHS AGO, I LOST THE EMAIL ADDRESS OF THE SENDER AND AS A RESULT, I HAVE NO PHOTOS OF LOVELY LUCY AND HER EQUALLY LOVELY FEMALE DAREDEVILS.
TOM GLOVER
WWW.WALLYCAMPBELL.COM

1915: "DAREDEVIL SCHREYER" AT THE FAIR

IN THE FALL I WILL BE DOING A KUSER MANSION MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION AND NARRATIVE ON THE GLORIOUS HISTORY OF HAMILTON'S LATE, GREAT N.J. STATE FAIR, KNOWN IN THE EARLY YEARS AS THE INTERSTATE FAIR, AND IN MY BOYHOOD YEARS AS "THE FAIR." WHAT AN EXCITING LINEUP THEY HAD OF DEATH DEFYING DAREDEVILS IN THE EARLY PART OF THE 20TH CENTURE! THE ABOVE ILLUSTRATION DESERVES CLOSER INSPECTION. CHECK OUT THE DIMENSIONS ON THE SKI SLIDE TYPE OF INCLINE AND LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD. I WONDER HOW DEEP THE WATER WAS IN THAT POOL. THERE WERE MANY EXITING FEATURES BACK IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE FAIR.......DARING AIPLANE PROGRAMS, THE AUTO HELL DRIVERS, AND MANY OTHER INTERESTING PROGRAMS. MORE WILL BE POSTED AFTER I PRESENT THE PROGRAM AT KUSER FARM.

THE LATE GREAT INTERSTATE FAIR

THIS FALL I WILL BE DOING A "SHOW AND TELL" PROGRAM AT KUSER MANSION ON WHITE CITY ON ONE EVENING, AND THE N.J. STATE FAIR (OR AS WE REFERRED TO IT, "THE FAIR.) THIS GRAPHIC WAS ORIGINALLY A BLACK AND WHITE 2 COLUMN INCH AD IN THE TRENTON TIMES. THANKS TO THE MAGIC OF COMPUTER IMAGING, I HAVE TURNED IT INTO A HANDSOME BROADSIDE. THE AD IS UN-DATED, AND I GIVE IT A CIRCA 1938.

INTERSTATE FAIR: AN AUTO SHOW

This is one of the graphics I will use this fall when I present a presentation on the late, lamented N.J. State Fair. From its inception in the 1880's up to its demise in the 1960's, "the fair" was a very popular destination for people from all over the tri state area

1940: The Late, Great N.J. State Fair

The preceeding scan relating to the General Motors plant and the accompanying graphic relative to the late lamented New Jersey State Fair stand as mute testimony to just a few of the very valuable resources we have lost in the Mercer County area. One of the more interesting folders in my Local History Collection at the Hamilton Library are the many articles and ads which illustrate the early years in Hamilton Township. One of the programs I will be doing at the Kuser Mansion this year, is a thumbnail history of that great old institution. There will be a digital "slide show" of the many interesting events which occurred there over the years from "Lucky Teter" to horse racing, midget car racing, etc. Keep an eye out for announcements here and in the local press.

THIS GRAPHIC COURTESY OF A 1940

TRENTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE "TRENTON" MAGAZINE

Circa 1900 New Jersey State Fair

The "Interstate Fair" was established in 1888. This post card view is a very early photo of the grandstand area as it appeared in the early part of the 20th century.

1933: The State Fair

How I miss the New Jersey State Fair! From the fireworks on the 4th of July, to the Sunday afternoon auto races, to the annual "Childrens' Day," the state fair was a magnet for many citizens of the tri state area. The "INTERSTATE FAIR" folder in the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection has many files on the fair from opening day in 1880's right up to the 1940's. The graphic accompanying this post was originally a small 2 x 3 inch black and white ad in a Trenton newspaper. Through the magic of computer graphic software, it has been enhanced and colorized.

1907: The N.J. State Fair Under Fire Again

I often wonder what the generation of 1907 would think if they were to take a peek at the decadent trash being put forth by today's telelvision, motion pictures, other venues. The Midway and the saloons controversy referred to in the accompanying article seems very tame by today's standards.

1946: Stand aside, Nascar, Here are the Midgets!

How I loved to watch those little race cars slipping and sliding along the dirt track at the New Jersey State Fairgrounds race track! My hero was Ted Horn. I can still hear those "Offey" engines roaring past us as we watched from the Smith Street area of Klockner Road.

1891: The Grandstand at the Interstate Fair

I indicated in an earlier post on Trenton's N.J. State Fair that it was a great loss to Hamilton when the property was sold and developed. This beautiful old photo of the first turn of the track was taken from the Nottingham Way side of the track. I and many others spent hours along the fence watching the midgit races back in the 1940's.

1929: The Interstate Fair

One of the very unfortunate losses Hamilton Township experienced was the loss of the N.J. State Fair. Many of us have fond memories of that old institution. Over the years, the "Fair" was the venue of Stock car racing, midgit racing, horse racing, "Lucky Teter," "Joie Chitwood's Hell Drivers." The "Fair" was an annual fall event which was attended by thousands of citizens from all over the area. The Hamilton Library's "STATE FAIR" folder includes material dated back to the establishment of the organization in 1888.