To the Editor:

Was I the oldest visitor on the midway?

At 89-plus, I enjoyed an evening at the Altamont Fair, proof that people of all ages can enjoy the fair. I ran around the fair on my electric scooter for three hours, taking in the midway and historic displays.

It was fun to see my old boss, Jim Gardner, demonstrating hand-set type used to print The Altamont Enterprise over many of its long years of being published. It’s great to see two of Altamont’s historic institutions — the fair and The Enterprise — still flourishing.

I can remember coming to the fair in the 1930s and ’40s to see horse racing (trotters and pacers sulky racing). Altamont had a well-known half-mile dirt track for auto racing, too.

My mother loved the cars and my father loved the horses so I never missed the fair or special racing dates. Joie Chitwood and his “hell drivers” put on special shows at the fair. Altamont even had its own hometown Indianapolis 500 winner!

The historically registered Flower Building showed off Master Gardeners’ special blooms, flower arrangements, and art displays. Over the years, I entered both and once won an award for one of my watercolor paintings. That building still has art displays and, during the year, hosts weddings and other special events.

This is the tri-county agricultural fair so prized animals and garden produce are shown and judged; 4-H members get to display their efforts and cooks their best recipes.

And there is so much more. Now the fair is over for another year. I am looking for to 2018 and more memories.

Carol DuBrin

Altamont