It’s that time of the year when we get to visit the 4-H animals, scream on breath-taking rides, try our skills with the carnival games, enjoy greasy french fries and/or deep fried pickles and hav
e our annual argument; elephant ears vs funnel cake. But while you are enjoying all the pleasures of the fair, don’t forget to be sure to stop by and visit the SCFB Antiques Museum, located at the south east area of the fairgrounds, just across from the poultry barn on the south and across from the Youth Park on the east. What’s that, you didn’t know SCFB had an antiques museum? Well then, let me give you a little history:
In July 1991, the Summit County Farm Bureau Board of Trustees completed construction on a 48′ x 80′ building on the Summit County Fair Grounds. This building was then officially dedicated to the Summit County Fair Board as a farm museum. By 2002, the 8,500 square foot Farm Antiques Museum and its contents were valued at approximately $100,000. (The land on which the museum sits was donated to the non-profit Summit County Farm Bureau by the county Fair Board).
When you walk into the Farm Antiques Museum, you’ll discover a wide variety of farming-related tools and implements, well-worn from use over the years, on display. In addition, generous donations have enabled the museum committee to a build a number of notable additions over the years, including a:
- One-Room School with a corner stool topped with a dunce cap. Ink wells sit on the desks and kerosene lanterns hang on the walls, alongside a blackboard from the old Stow High School.
- General Store, complete with baskets of corn, barrels, jars of penny candy, Ritz crackers, tobacco and a 1910 cash register. Shelves are filled with material, yarn, seeds, kitchen gadgets, pans, hats, and high button shoes. Adjacent to the store is a 1930s soda foundation from a local drugstore.
- Farm Kitchen and Dining Room. Here, you’ll be tempted to pull up a chair and have some pie – or at least lend a hand in baking – in this antique kitchen which includes a dry sink, a stove, a bread box and cupboards. The fireplace in the adjoining dining room display came from German Village near Columbus.
- Replica of a Coal Mine Shaft. This display features a coal mine entrance with rails and a car loaded with real coal that came from the old Tallmadge Coal Company. (Did you know that Henry Newberry opened the mine in 1825 and in 1855, the Tallmadge Coal Co., shipped 300,000 tons of coal to Cleveland via the Ohio Canal?)
In addition, the Farm Antiques Museum also features replicas of a:
- Cobbler’s Shop
- Blacksmith Shop
- Early Post Office
Of course, there is also a large display of farm-related equipment on display. For example, there are cultivators, ice cutters, hay forks, a cider and wine press, potato planter, a potato grader, a corn harvester, a wool tying table, a corn sheller, an old wooden truck, chicken coops, turkey and chicken hooks, and a wood grain drill. (To assist museum visitors, each item is tagged with its identification and the name of its donor).
Although historic farming machinery and tools were initially sought for the museum, the farm bureau has gratefully accepted a wide variety of antiques, ranging from vintage lawn mowers to old laundry machines to early modes of transportation. In fact, the Farm Antiques Museum has assembled a particularly fine collection of laundry machines and wringers – one of the largest collections of its kind in the state. One of the earlier machines is from 1857, but the collection also includes a later Maytag model, complete with motor.
When you visit the museum, you’ll also see one of Akron’s first 1875 taxi cabs, a Firestone carriage, and a horse-drawn school bus. There’s also a horse-drawn buggy and an early horseless buggy that runs on a single-cylinder engine. The buggy features a gas and brake pedal and steering wheel. (The propane tank is located behind and slightly below the driver’s seat).
Now, what day would you like to visit the 2018 Summit County Fair, July 24 till July 29? Need help deciding? Below is the schedule of events to help you out …
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
FAIR ADMISSION – $3 till 3:00pm & SENIORS DAY – $2 admission
Rabbit & Cavy Judging starts at 9am
Poultry Open & 4-H Judging starts at 9am
4-H Saddle Horse Judging starts at 10am – Judging ALL DAY
Opening Ceremonies – Main Gate Entertainment Area at 12:30 pm
Pig Racing & Petting Zoo – 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm
From 1:00pm to 7:30pm: Jurassic Kingdom Youth Park, Puppet Shows, Magic of Dan Walker, Karaoke, Meet the Breeds – dogs, Super 3-ring Circus, water balloon toss, and other special games
Grandstand Event: OMA MOTOCROSS race at 7:30pm
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
VETERAN’S & FARM BUREAU MEMBERS DAY – Grounds admission $2
4-H Livestock and Saddle Horse Judging shows start at 9am
Pig Racing & Petting Zoo – 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 5:30pm, 8:30pm
From 12:00pm to 8:00pm: Jurassic Kingdom Youth Park, Lemon Eating Contest, Hula Hoop, Meet the Breeds – dogs, Magic of Dan Walker, Karaoke, Super 3-ring Circus, Rock N Country Cloggers, and other special games
4-H Bake Auction at 3:30pm
6:00 – 8:00pm: 4-H Show and Showmanship
Grandstand Event: THOMPSON ELECTRIC DEMOLITION & COMPACT DERBY at 7:30pm
Thursday, July 26, 2018
FAMILY DAY & SAFETY DAY – Free Grounds Admission ages 14/under; Discount Ride Pass $10
4-H Livestock Judging shows start at 9am
4-H Saddle Horse Judging – ALL DAY
Pig Racing & Petting Zoo – 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 8:30pm
From 11:30am to 8:00pm: Jurassic Kingdom – Youth Park, Pizza Eating Contest, Sack Race, Water Balloons, Magic of Dan Walker, Straw Money Hunt, karaoke, 4-H Rabbit awards, Summit Up Cloggers and other special games
Grandstand Event: THOMPSON ELECTRIC – KOI DRAG RACING at 7:00pm
Friday, July 27, 2018
AKRON CANTON FOOD BANK – bring in a canned/boxed item until 3pm, receive ground admission for $2
Also: Donate to Alex’s Lemonade Booth at the main gate and receive $3 off admission (ONLY ONE OFFER PER PERSON…CANNOT COMBINE OFFER)
4-H Livestock Judging shows start at 10am
Saddle Horse – all day in Show Ring A
Pig Racing & Petting Zoo – 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 5:30pm, and 8:30pm
From 2:00pm to 8:30pm: Jurassic Kingdom – Youth Park, Pet Parade Judging, Square Dancing, Pie Eating Contest, Puppet shows, Straw Money Hunt, Stick Horse Races, 4-H Saddle Horse Awards, Sack Race, Karaoke, Super 3-ring Circus, Magic of Dan Walker, Pet Parade, horse pulls
Grandstand Event: THOMPSON ELECTRIC – Truck Pulls 7:30pm
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Akron Roller Derby Expo Games at 9:00am – ALL DAY
4-H Saddle Horse Judging start at 10:00am – ALL DAY
Draft Horse & Pony Hitch – Old Show Ring at 10:00am
Kiddie Tractor Pull Registration at 12:00pm; Kiddie Tractor Pull at 1:00pm (3-8 yrs. of age)
Pig Racing & Petting Zoo – 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 8:30pm
From 12:30pm to 8:30pm: Jurassic Kingdom – Youth Park, Super 3-ring Circus, Lemon Eating Pie Contest, Karaoke, Puppet Shows, Magic of Dan Walker, pickle Eating Contest, Beard in the Barnyard contest,. Scavenger Hunt, mini Horse Pulls
4-H Small Animal Livestock Auction – Livestock Barn at 5:00pm
4-H Large Animal Livestock Auction – Livestock Barn at 7:00pm
Grandstand Event: THOMPSON ELECTRIC TRACTOR PULLS at 7:00pm
Sunday, July 29, 2018
4-H Saddle Horse Judging starts at 10:00am – ALL DAY
Church Service – HAMETOWN CHRISTIAN CHURCH at 10:30am
Registration for Baby & Toddler Contest at 12:00pm
Car Show at 1:00pm
Baby & Toddler Contest at 1:00pm
Pig Racing & Petting Zoo – 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm and 6:30pm
From 12:00 Noon to 6:30pm: Jurassic Kingdom – Youth Park, Super 3-ring Circus, Goat Relay Race, Karaoke, Magic of Dan Walker, Akron All Breed Demonstrations
Livestock Release at 6:00pm
Grandstand Event: THOMPSON ELECTRIC ROUGH TRUCK at 2pm