The History of the Putnam County Fair
The Putnam County Fair has been
part of the fabric of the community for over 100 years. Although the current organization overseeing the annual fair
is in its 83rd year: the fair is actually much older. The first documented reference to a fair in Putnam
County took place on the last three days of September 1899. There may
have been some smaller exhibitions prior to this date. The fair was, as almost all agricultural continuing even today were
to promote the best in agriculture. This primarily meant home gardening, field crops, canning, farm animals, etc. . . .The
first fair took place near the courthouse, and in subsequent years in various locations near downtown Cookeville. It settled in the area on N.Washigton
Ave, near the railroad tracks just past 10 St. for many years. On Nov 30, 1923 the present Fair filed Incorporation files with the State of Tennessee. In 1927 the Fair had new Fairgrounds that opened in the
area just off of Freeze St.: East of Maple Ave. The fair would remain here until 1954 when a fire destroyed almost everything
during the fair. Several residents recall losing their items that had been entered.
The present Fairgrounds were opened in 1955. Many buildings and improvements have been added through
the years. The grounds that were once considered way out of town are now completely surrounded by and near the some of the
busiest areas of the city.
While the present
fairgrounds are landlocked, the fair continues its original purpose to provide an annual fair promoting agriculture and to
improve the lives the residents of Putnam County
