“The horses are on the track!” Accelerating down grass runway 26 in his single engine carbon cub, Jim Crane can still feel it. The ethereal sense that before you were born, in this exact space, people, buildings, events, livestock and celebrations happened. An understanding that your plane is moving rapidly right now through 150 years of central Maine history
“And it’s a close race, folks!” The history of the Exeter Fairgrounds goes back to 1867 when a group of farmers pooled their money to buy a piece of land to build the fairgrounds. The main attraction of the Fair was always the horse races, and the first thing the Fairgrounds Commisson built were stables to house the magnificent animals alongside the 1/2 mile dirt racetrack. In the early 1900's midway rides were added and plane rides were offered.
The chairman of the committee that oversaw the construction of the fairgrounds was Ezekiel Crane, who later became the president of the local West Penobscot Agricultural Association for many years. Ezekiel’s son, Elbridge, was a decorated civil war soldier who succumbed to gangrene after being wounded at Gettysburg.
Jim Crane’s grandfather, George, was born around 1912 and spent his early years in a dramatically different environment: New York City. George Hunt left his two sisters and mother after his father was killed in the first ever recorded elevator accident in New York City. You see, George Crane wasn’t born a Crane: he was born a Hunt. When his widowed mother was unable to raise kids on her own, she put George at age three, on a Maine bound railroad car to live to with his Aunt, Katie Crane. Unable to have children of their own, Katie and her husband adopted George as their own.
“And they’re off to a fast start!” The Exeter Fair remained a mainstay in central Maine for more than 60 years, it’s essence captured by none other than Ernest Hemingway’s infamous wingman and celebrated international artist, Waldo Peirce. Peirce’s 1936 oil creation, was named “Trot Race: Exeter Fair.” For more on Papa and Waldo’s exploits, look no further: https://schneidersou.wpengine.
The fairgrounds closed during World War II, opened again in 1945 as “The New Exeter Fair”- only to close up shop for good in 1950.
“Coming around the outside, it’s a neck-and-neck race!” Beginning in 1952 and lasting 15 active years, the old Fairgrounds saw a new type of racing with the advent of dirt track racing for cars on the newly christened Exeter Speedway. The Red Garter Dance Hall was an on site popular weekend social event that allowed people to bring their own beverages, dance moves -and occasional rural fisticuffs. The old Fairgrounds were used for snowmobile races after 1967 when the local car racing scene shifted irrevocably to nearly Hermon, Maine. 
“They’re coming into the finish!” And then came the 9+ hour rock concert in 1978. Exeter’s answer to Woodstock- featuring dozens of local acts with classic rock staple Steppenwolf headlining the show and hits like “Born to be Wild” drawing the crowds from far and wide once again.
“And the winner is…” In 1976, at the age of 37- a successful local potato farmer, husband and father became the first person in his family’s history to earn a private pilot certificate. And thus began a family flying tradition that would span generations into the current day. That man’s name was Vern Crane
To be continued….
5 comments
Love reading about the history of places what a very good story. Really enjoy reading the history of other people in aviation and how it came about to them. It enriches our memories of the past as we continue the presence into the future.
Keep up the interesting stories of people and places and how it came about.
Great history and great information about central Maine. GOOD READING!
Starting in the late sixties I traded many many box cars of Maine potatoes on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 91 Hudson St.
I was at that Steppenwolf Concert.They didn’t have their original singer John Kay.The James Montgomery Blues Band out of Boston played too and were better than Steppenwolf.Still some great memories to say I saw Steppenwolf at Exeter Race Track. :)