Altamont Enterprise September 23, 1916
 

COMMUNICATION.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Because of the prevalence of infantile paralysis in some sections of the state, the Board of Health decided in August 1916 to prohibit children under 16 from attending the Albany County fair held in Altamont. Following the fair — which saw dramatically reduced attendance and income — the fair’s board of directors issued the following resolution and asked for it to be printed in The Enterprise.]

WHEREAS, Twenty-four years ago the Albany County Fair and Exposition was duly organized, pursuant to the statutes of the State of New York, and located its principal office in Altamont, N. Y., for the purpose of holding agricultural fairs, and since organization has purchased extensive grounds and erected suitable buildings at an approximate cost of $30,000, and each year has held an agricultural fair to promote and encourage agriculture and domestic arts, for the promotion of education along agricultural lines and for the promotion of the breeding of cattle, sheep, horses and other domestic animals, and during said time has distributed for the benefit of the purpose aforesaid, more than $225,000 without any personal financial benefit to its stockholders or officers, whose time and money have been free; and whereas, said Agricultural Society advertised and made preparations to hold the Annual Fair on its grounds on August 29, 30, 31 and Sept. 1, 1916, at a large expenditure of money, and upon opening our gates on August 29 for business we found large notices placed at the entrance of our grounds forbidding persons under sixteen years of age entering the grounds (signed by order of the Board of Health), also stationed at the entrance, deputy sheriffs and also the village sleuth dressed in uniform to prevent persons under sixteen from entering;

AND whereas, no epidemic of disease of any kind existed in this locality or vicinity, nor had a single case of disease of a communicable character been known of in this vicinity at the time;

AND whereas, the Fair was the only place of business interfered with on the part of the said Board of Health and village officers and its pompous, arrogant, uniformed police force, all other places of business being free from interference and annoyance, and any and all persons allowed to enter into and upon the streets of the village and all business places therein, except this single one;

THEREFORE, be it resolved by the officers and Board of Directors of the Albany County Agricultural Society and Exposition, that we censure and condemn the unnecessary action of the Board of Health, health officer, and village authorities of the Village of Altamont, N. Y., in the course they pursued toward our Society and its business affairs during the fair held August 29, 30, 31 and Sept. 1, 1916.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That by such action on their part they arbitrarily and willfully interfered with our legitimate business in such a manner as to cause a great financial loss.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That any inconvenience or loss caused to our patrons was not the fault or caused by any act or thing done by our Association or its officers, but was wholly caused by the unwarranted action of the Board of Health, health officer and village authorities, and that we hereby express our sincere thanks to our patrons who patronized us under such adverse circumstances.
 

VILLAGE NOTES.

The Altamont band, ably assisted by a band of willing workers, badly fractured the peace of our beautiful village Tuesday evening. The cause was the return of Elwood Pangburn and his bride. At the conclusion of the serenade Mr. Pangburn mounted the hurricane deck of his piazza and made a few feeling remarks in appreciation of his reception. Mrs. Pangburn was duly presented and then cigars became the order of the evening. Congratulations, “Dutch”!
 

McKOWNVILLE.

The annual clam bake last Wednesday night was the biggest success we have ever experienced. With Dr. Helme as chairman of committee, everything moved off in good shape, the net proceeds after all expenses were paid being $283.04. Over 300 people enjoyed the excellent supper.