FIRST FAIR STAGED IN JENNINGS DEPOT

Staging a fair in a town of 150 population, with no meeting place other than the waiting room of a small railway depot — and making it a howling success is credited to E.R. Shankland and his loyal aides, who put on the first fair in Southwest Louisiana at Jennings in the year 1885. On August 8th, to be exact, according to records in the possession of Mrs. Laura Remage.

Mr. Shankland was a horticulturist from Iowa, who arrived as a colonist with a Cary homeseeker party in 1884. He immediately organized what was known as the Southwest Louisiana Horticultural Society, which organization, not only sponsored the fair, but the planting of many fruit orchards in this facility.

From the announcement, advertising the fair, an outline of prizes was given. A grand prize of $3 was allowed. For the best peaches, the prize was $1.50; figs, $1.50; pears, $1.50; grapes, $1.50, and plums $1.

The exhibits were displayed in the waiting rooms of the S.P. depot and it is related that the country people came in from miles around to see and participate. Mrs. Remage says that she and Mrs. Roberts and others sold coffee and doughnuts on that day the same as they have been doing at the newer and bigger Jeff Davis Parish Fair, and she says the coffee and doughnuts were equally as good or better then than now.