The first record of local participation in agriculture and horticulture
was at the first Fair of the Northumberland County Agricultural
Society held in Colborne, 1829. Horticultural Societies were very
closely associated with Agricultural Societies until 1854 when
Agricultural Societies were organized provincially. Horticultural
Societies were organized provincially in 1906 and the Colborne
Horticultural Society was created.
The
Secretary and Treasurer were each paid up to $100 in the early
years to organize the annual fair competitions on land near the
site of the Keeler Centre. Monetary prizes were established for
categories such as dairy products, grain & seeds, roots, orchard
& garden, "ladies work", school children and in
1923 "fine arts" were expanded to include oil painting,
pyrography (burning designs on wood and leather), pierced brass,
basket weaving, pies, jams and jellies.
In
1930, financial problems began with prize money cut in half. Deficits
began to show. In 1936, the Fair was cancelled. In 1937, the balance
of the 1935 taxes was paid. Re-organization as the Colborne and
District Horticultural Society, occurred in 1965 as a result of
meetings by the local Centennial Planning Committee. In 2008,
we changed our name to the Cramahe Horticultural Society to recognize
amalgamation of our area.
©Copyright Cramahe Horticultural Society
