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Home : Quarterly Archives : Volume 42 |
Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society |
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Source: Summer 2005 Volume 42 Number 3, Page 104 Then... & Now 
The first Berwyn Fire Company fair was in 1947, shortly after the end of World War II, and took place in the then empty lot on Bridge Avenue across from the fire company. The fair had become very popular and around 1950 it moved to the fields behind the then Easttown Elementary School on First Avenue in Berwyn. More parking space was needed and was available on the farmland at the end of Bridge Avenue behind the fairgrounds where, in July, nothing was growing. Attendance was as high as 10,000 people. The fair featured nightly entertainment, rides, and a midway. Although no admission was charged, this was the fire company's major fund raising event. They made most of their money on gambling-type events: big wheels, bingo, and the raffling off of cars from local automobile dealers each Saturday night. It is said that in the old days net profit was around $14,000. It took between 70 and 80 volunteers to run the fair and the fire company ladies auxiliary did most of the work. The right edge of the poster to the left has an autograph that says “To the Berwyn Fire Company, All the very Best Wishes, Your Friend, Bobby Rydell.” In addition to Bobby Rydell, Sammy Kaye and his big band orchestra, Louis Armstrong and his orchestra, and the Lukens Steel Mill band performed at this Berwyn Fair. 
Times were changing in the 1960s. There were different kinds of musical performers. But the main reason the fair closed was that women were going to work in large numbers and the fire company no longer had the volunteers it needed to run the fair. The fire company still needed a fundraising event, so the fair was brought back in June of 2005. It took place at the Devon Horse Show grounds. It now charged admission. It still had the rides and the midway, but a new event was added on the last night, a wild west rodeo with steer roping, bronco bucking, and bareback riding. Volunteers now came from local boy scout troops, a local Kiwanis club, and other area fire companies and ambulance squads. Many local businesses sponsored the event. Country western singer, Ann Oswald, performed on Friday night and a nationally known magician, the Magic of Belmont, performed Wednesday and Thursday nights. |