Day when the news broke in the Ter-
ritory newspaper,
Arizona Republic,
thatthePresidenthaddeclaredAri-
zona tobe the 48thState. Governor
Hunt immediately announced that the
yearly County Fair held in late Octo-
berwouldbe renamedThe Arizona
State Fairandwouldnotonlybe a
show of cattle and animal husbandry,
but would nowinclude attractions for
children, horseshoe games for adults
andIndianDancers.
Astar attraction would bea local
balloon pilot with his colorful airship
andhewouldgivetetheredridesto
the fairgoers who came from the four
corners of the State. And it was a Star
Attraction, for people waited in long
linestoclimbintothefour-person
basketandrise highenoughto view
the Capitol several blocks away. La-
dieswereassistedwiththeirlong
skirtsbygentlemenwhocarefully
avertedtheir eyesandeveryone had
their ascensionphotographed.
MyhusbandwasPresidentof
theHorselessCarriageClubof
America andwasaskedtoheadthe
50 thAn n iv ersaryparad eon
Valentine’s Day in 1962 in our 1910
Chalmers Detroit. Dressed in authen-
ticcostumeswe acceptedacopyof
the original charter fromthe Gover-
nor and thatafternoontooka ride in
alocalballoontore-enactthecer-
emony.
1912 State Fair
naut at the Arizona State Fair 1912.
