(EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a reproduction of historical newspaper clippings and as such contains language that is considered outdated and erroneous and would not be used in print today.)
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The upcoming fair
Henry Simmon’s band, which won the prize over several competitors for excellence and superior playing at the fair two years ago, has been engaged by the managers to furnish the music during next week’s fair. Henry has his boys in fancy dress and as they usually make great music, we can expect a treat every day during the fair from “color bar”.
The managers of the fair will arrange a fine baseball ground on which clubs hungry for distinction can practice. During the fair, a game was arranged between the Parkersburg Olympics and the Blennerhassetts of Belpre.
The Parkersburg Guard
September 11, 1775
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Baseball Club and the Fair
The members of the Parkersburg Base Ball Club, anxious to publicly strive for excellence, made arrangements among themselves to play a game during the fair. They have been advised by an officer of the Fair Directory that they will be accommodated in grounds and comfortable surroundings, and they want to work in earnest, intending to give the spectators one of the best games ever played in this county. To be sure, some of the members of the various clubs came out to the fair and helped prepare the field. But just as the grounds were in order, they were informed that they would have to pay admission to the fairgrounds, just like visitors and spectators. This set a new phase in affairs, and being unnoticed and entirely out of the ordinary order, they ceased the game and would not play.
The clubs did not play for a premium, none was offered, on the contrary, they added an interesting feature to the attraction of the Fair, and did it gratuitously, and it seems to us that to try to force them to pay admission to the grounds was an imposition. The club had problems preparing for the fight and now feel they were not treated fairly. Attendances would have increased if the match had gone ahead as the club had publicized that they would be playing and there was also a great local rivalry between the supporters of each club which would have attracted large numbers of people to witness the game.
The Parkersburg Guard
September 18, 1875
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Local issues
Alexander, the young man who was hit with a bat while playing baseball last year that fractured his skull and drove him insane, is dead. After his injury he underwent, under the supervision of Dr. R. P. Davis, one of the most delicate and dangerous operations known to the profession, and for a long time it was believed that he would eventually recover, but the injury was too big. It becoming evident that his insanity was incurable, he was removed to the asylum at Weston, where he remained until very recently, when Mrs. Alexander received word of his serious and perhaps fatal illness.
With a mother’s solicitude she hastened to Weston, traveling, in her eagerness to reach that place, from Clarksburg after nightfall. She found him alive, but lingered only a short time, and died shortly after her arrival, his death being attributed to the effects of the blow above mentioned.
In connection with his death, there are painful rumors about the carelessness and neglect of the young man on the part of the refugee authorities during the illness preceding his death.
The Parkersburg Guard
January 1, 1876
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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: [email protected] or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.