The Kutztown Fair

By Brendan Strasser

Long known as "The Biggest Little Fair in the State," the Kutztown Fair had its origin in the Battalion Days reunions of former military veterans, dating to at least 1820 and said to be raucous affairs involving lots of toothless roustabouts drunkenly waving loaded firearms about and re-creating mock battles that period accounts render as one part Waterloo mingled with liberal doses of the Three Stooges.

The original Kutztown Fairground, a 16-acre tract of land bounded by S. Whiteoak St., Trexler and Normal Aves., and Baldy’s Lane, was instituted in 1870 and remained there until 1905, typically held over four days in mid to late September, with a 25-cent admission for adults and 15 cents for children. In 1905, a reorganized Fair Association, presided over by publisher Jacob B. Esser, purchased more than 30 acres from the Fairview Stock Farm, A. S. Christ, and George Heiser on the borough’s western edge, bounded by Deisher’s Lane (today College Blvd.), Vine and Baldy Alleys, and the dirt lane later known as Wentz St. Upon approval, the tract was improved by the construction of a half-mile track and grandstand, an exhibition hall, an office building, a poultry house, cattle sheds, horse stalls, and pig sty. Within several years, the annual late summer event was attended by thousands in search of a good time from throughout eastern Berks and western Lehigh Counties. This general view, taken from an aerial perspective from about where Beltzner Hall now stands, give some idea of the capacity crowds promenading along the midway and viewing the exciting horse races. Clearly the "country fair" was then an event requiring Sunday finery.

In the left background are St. John’s Union, St. Paul’s Reformed, and Trinity Lutheran churches.