By William “Skip” Deegans
Shown in the photograph is John B. Sydenstricker who may readily claim the title as father of the modern West Virginia State Fair. Sydenstricker served as president of the Greenbrier Valley Fair that began in 1921 and evolved into the West Virginia State Fair. A group of stockholders pooled $12,000 to build the fairgrounds in Fairlea.
The site seemed advantageous because it was located along a “hard surfaced road and Electric Car Line from Ronceverte to Lewisburg.” The Lewisburg and Ronceverte Railroad passed through the fairgrounds.
For the first fair, the organizers built a “large and commodious grandstand” that had modern seats, eating rooms and lunch counters, and separate toilets for men and women. The ladies had a parlor and restroom. A half-mile track and barns for show animals and race horses were completed. Sydenstricker worked tirelessly to have the five-day fair ready for opening on August 22. Booked for the fair was Gloth’s Greater Shows that arrived in Ronceverte by its own special train with twenty cars. The fair boasted of having a midway with fifteen “highly restricted attractions and five of the newest and largest sensational riding devices in the world.” Among the rides were the Whip, Carousel, Ferris Wheel, Venetian Swings, and Sea Planes. In one of the tent shows were the Tennessee Troubadours, an African-American comedy troupe with 22 people, a beautiful array of scenery, “catchy” jazz music, costumes and electrical effects. There were fireworks at the end of three days. Season tickets cost $2.
On the last day of the first fair, the Greenbrier Independent wrote, “The Fair is a great, almost unprecedented, success and we believe it is already established on a permanent footing.” The newspaper gave special praise to Sydenstricker and William L. Tabscott, and fair association’s secretary. Acknowledged were the movers of the initial fair: the Sydenstrickers, Arbuckles, McLaughlins, Tuckwillers, Wilsons and Livesays.
John M. Sydenstricker was president of the old Lewisburg fair from 1892-1895. John B. Sydenstricker continued as president of the Greenbrier Valley Fair until 1943 by which time it had become the West Virginia State Fair. Tom Sydenstricker, son of John B. Sydenstricker and grandson of John M. Sydenstricker, served as President of the fair association until his retirement in 1974, when he was followed by Ed Rock.
Sources: Greenbrier Independent, Beckley Post-Herald.
