During this decade the Selma Melon, Tomato and Better Baby Fair became a drawing card for citizens from miles around. This fair was held several times during the period including 1912, 1914, 1915, and 1917 as old pictures and handbills prove. A program for the 1917 fair called Monday, July 23rd, “Housekeepers Day” and the 24th “Wyatt Day.”
On the first day the meeting was held in the Municipal Building with J. A. Mitchener, first president of the fair, presiding. Mayor J. P. Temple welcomed the crowd and Messrs. Massey, Creech and others presented music. Miss Nell Pickens, County Demonstrator, explained the use of a Fireless Cooker and an Iceless Refrigerator. Exhibits for the fair were on display at the Rough and Ready, which was a renovated warehouse on the corner of Waddell and Raiford Streets where Mac’s Sundries is now located.
Wyatt Day featured a parade from Union Station along all the major downtown streets and to the Exhibition Hall. The Kenly Band headed this. Others taking part in the day’s activities were Mitchener, the Rev. C. K. Proctor, Temple. H. L. Skinner, J. H. Parker, who welcomed old soldiers; C. S. Powell, who responded for the soldiers; Mrs. W. H. Etheredge, Mrs. W. M. Sander, Mrs. D. H. McCullers, and the Honorable R. H. Sykes, assistant Attorney General of North Carolina.
The final events were a report from the committee on babies, the awarding of premiums and an auction sale of prize winning articles.
According to Mitchener’s history, at the first Fair little E. C. Deans, grandson of the originator of the Fair, and great great grandson of Mr. John A. Waddell, won first prize. Other winners during the years of the Fair were Hazel Irene Waddell, daughter of ex-Mayor John B Waddell; Ruth Hood, daughter of Alderman Fred Hood and the great great granddaughter of. Mr. S. H. Hood. From 30 to 50 babies were entered from the county only and no baby over 12 months of age was allowed to compete. Cash prizes were offered first, second and third babies.
From the History of Selma - Centennial Program.
On the first day the meeting was held in the Municipal Building with J. A. Mitchener, first president of the fair, presiding. Mayor J. P. Temple welcomed the crowd and Messrs. Massey, Creech and others presented music. Miss Nell Pickens, County Demonstrator, explained the use of a Fireless Cooker and an Iceless Refrigerator. Exhibits for the fair were on display at the Rough and Ready, which was a renovated warehouse on the corner of Waddell and Raiford Streets where Mac’s Sundries is now located.
Wyatt Day featured a parade from Union Station along all the major downtown streets and to the Exhibition Hall. The Kenly Band headed this. Others taking part in the day’s activities were Mitchener, the Rev. C. K. Proctor, Temple. H. L. Skinner, J. H. Parker, who welcomed old soldiers; C. S. Powell, who responded for the soldiers; Mrs. W. H. Etheredge, Mrs. W. M. Sander, Mrs. D. H. McCullers, and the Honorable R. H. Sykes, assistant Attorney General of North Carolina.
The final events were a report from the committee on babies, the awarding of premiums and an auction sale of prize winning articles.
According to Mitchener’s history, at the first Fair little E. C. Deans, grandson of the originator of the Fair, and great great grandson of Mr. John A. Waddell, won first prize. Other winners during the years of the Fair were Hazel Irene Waddell, daughter of ex-Mayor John B Waddell; Ruth Hood, daughter of Alderman Fred Hood and the great great granddaughter of. Mr. S. H. Hood. From 30 to 50 babies were entered from the county only and no baby over 12 months of age was allowed to compete. Cash prizes were offered first, second and third babies.
From the History of Selma - Centennial Program.
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