AREA HISTORY:  Fairs, Jefferson, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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OLD TIME FAIRS – Page 702

The fairs, as they were termed, which were held in Jefferson, were lively and 
interesting occasions to the surrounding populace for many miles distant.  
Tables, on which were offered for sale candies, cakes, jewelry and many other 
articles, including strong drinks, lined the streets for two days of each year, 
during the early summer.  Hundreds of people visited the village, and it was a 
season of great hilarity.  Michael Miller’s hotel was a great center of 
attraction.  All its apartments were crowded.  To the lively tunes of the 
inspirited fiddlers, the joyful lads and lasses, clad in linsey-woolsey and 
home-made flannel, joined in the merry dance all day long and a large portion of 
the night.  That every lad should “treat” his lassie, was absolutely necessary 
in order to keep her affections, and she demanded the privilege of stepping up 
to the venders’ tables and selecting what suited her best.  These fairs were 
kept up for a number of years, but were of no value, except for the amusement 
afforded.  One time some of the visitors became too boisterous and they were 
then discontinued.