2-— Lancaster Farming. Saturday. July 26. 1975 Bigger and better than ever is their goal '• i. t Artist’s sketch of new Solanco community building By; Dieter Krieg QUARRYVILLE - The Solanco Fair Association evidently has considerable confidence in the future, especially as far as Lan caster County agriculture is concerned. The non-profit organization is in the process of constructing two new buildings at an estimated cost of $85,000 to 90,000. The new facilities are likely to make the annual event, which has grown at the rate of 40 per cent per year for the last several years, “bigger and better than ever.” Kenneth Rutt, in his eighth year as general manager of the fair, says: “We are striving for Solanco Fair s. -, * • *T, ■ • A* facilities to have county beef, dairy, horse and 4-H shows, and at the same time be able to serve foods and accomodate the public.” An exhibit building, measuring 58 by 110 feet, and a pole bam with dimensions of 46 feet by 150 feet, are expected to be completed in time for this year’s fair, which gets underway on September 17 and continues through the 20th. Rutt noted that the fair is open to anyone in or out of the county, and that those in terested in exhibiting should contact the association by September 1. The new exhibit building will have facilities for I' Workmen installed roof trusses on the new community building Wed nesday ending *90,000 ' “T* - y v •KV• • EB ,-Ug /. ‘ *'• cooking and eating, com plete with commercial-size stoves, dishwashers, serving room, and counters. Other rooms are designed for use as either offices or storage space, depending on needs at the time. The Fair Association had been spending $5,000 per year on tent rentals alone. While this expense will not be totally eliminated by the new buildings, they will reduce some of the expense and the work of putting them up and then tearing them down again. Rutt com mented that last year the dairy tent alone was 320 feet long and 40 feet wide - the m '* * p J* ' largest tent ever erected by York Tent Company. Using that as an indication of the size and continued growth of the fair, he believes the construction of permanent buildings is a step in the right direction. “Three additional pole barns are planned for the future,” he said, adding that they could be filled without difficulty. The cost for the buildings are being funded three ways. Donations are being ac cepted and welcomed. Heading the list of com munity-minded people who are contributing to the building fund is John C. Hoffman, well-known resident of Quarryville and former owner of the Lan caster Bone Fertilizer Company. He has dedicated the foundation and super structure of the exhibit building to his late wife, Sara H. Fuhrman Hoffman. Persons interested m donating money to the fund may do so by mailing their contributions to either Ken Rutt, general manager, Solanco Fair Association, Quarryville; or Mrs. Henry Rohrer, treasurer, Solanco Fair Association, hr im rovements /XT V Quarryville. The state has granted the association $15,000 towards improvements of the fiar, and an additional $30,000 was borrowed. Paul Risk Associates of Quarryville donated time for drawing the original plans and are in charge of building. Once completed the hall is expected to be used at times other than fair time. Planners would like to have the facilities benefit not only the southern end, but the entire county. In previous years the Solanco Fair rented a number of tents and several trailers to house exhibits. Starting this fall, and more so in future seasons, many of the dispalys, such as canned goods, flowers, and sewing projects, will be under one permanent roof. Most of the open area of the exhibit building could be used for that purpose, while at other tunes it would be suitable for holding large banquets for as many as 300 people. The multi-purpose structure is being built to have a rustic appearance, with a weathered cedar- •Kg fm AiMO»niw 2/A'l I m r -J • I * board siding and brown shingle roof. Although the new facility will not be completely furnished by fair time, most of it will be ready for use. The meeting room, for example, will have a crushed stone floor to begin with, until more money becomes available. It will not be used for meals this year, but the kitchen, to be furnished with used equipment out of a restaurant remodeled by Risk, will provide meals for “take-out”service. While the community building is getting most of the attention now, plans are underway for the livestock bam, scheduled to go up next month. Relying largely on volunteers to build it, the open-air pole bam should have room for ap proximately 120 cattle, sepepding on their size. Rutt commented that the Solanco Fair has had “good participation and the in terest of the community,” and with the new facilities that may grow even more rapidly than in previous years. The dedication ceremonies will be on September 14.
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