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Moving - Timonium, Maryland

In 1878, after several unsuccessful attempts to establish an on-going fair at other locations around Baltimore, a group of Maryland businessmen operated a successful fair on a 4-acre site in Lutherville, MD. Despite it's success, the Lutherville Fair was short lived because of construction of the North Central Railroad extension.

Their success in Lutherville, however, gave the operators resolve to continue promoting a fair, and in June, 1879, they incorporated as the Baltimore County Agricultural Association. The corporation leased a 37-acre plot of land on the York Turnpike on what was then known as "the Timonium Estate". The first Fair at its new home was held that year from September 7 - 12. The North Central Railroad, cause of the closing of the Lutherville Fair, was now the primary source of transportation for fairgoers from Baltimore to the Timonium Fairgrounds during the rest of the century. Other fairgoers walked or rode horses, wagons, carriages and carts to the Fairgrounds using the Turnpike.

Late in the century the Baltimore County Agricultural Association faced stiff competition from the Pimlico Fair, also referred to as the State Fair, which was operated by the Maryland Jockey Club. Ultimately the two groups held joint fairs in 1894 and 1897. But by the turn of the century the Maryland Jockey Club had gained control of the Timonium Fair and both groups incorporated as The Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society. Their annual fair became known as The Maryland State Fair.

The early years at the fair saw tents and wooden structures in use to exhibit home arts, farm and garden products and livestock shows. Plowing and working oxen competitions were some of the popular but few attractions. Races were held at the track and results were forwarded to interested horsemen at Baltimore and Alexandria, VA, by way of carrier pigeon. Food concessions consisted of sandwiches made by the farmer's wives, and amusements involved side shows, sack races and greased pole climbing.

The Maryland State Fair grew and prospered, adding many attractions and exhibits. Of note was the 1918 Fair when the first air mail delivery in the United States was made at the Timonium Fairgrounds. The annual event continued until 1943 when the Fair was interrupted because of the war effort. The fairgrounds were leased to the U.S. Army for a storage depot and a vehicle repair center.

The annual event continued after the war. In the 1950's growth in Baltimore County flourished, and certain business interests wanted to purchase the Fairgrounds site for industrial development. The majority stockholder of the Corporation, the Maryland jockey Club, agreed to sell. However a group of agriculturists, business leaders, horsemen and bankers formed the "Save the Maryland State Fair Committee" which raised over $600,000 to purchase the fairgrounds, insuring that The Maryland State Fair at Timonium would continue to be Maryland's premiere event at the end of each summer.

Another crisis was averted in the 1970's. The Maryland Racing Industry took steps to have the Fair's thoroughbred racing dates transferred to other Maryland tracks. Fair Directors recognized that such a move would threaten the survival of the Fair. The "Committee of Friends of the Maryland State Fair", was established for the purpose of carrying on the cooperation between Maryland agriculture and horse breeding interests in the state that had been the tradition since the 1700's. The Committee was successful in convincing the public and the Maryland Legislature of the value in keeping thoroughbred racing a part of the Fair. The Committee also prepared expansion plans for the Fair which resulted in a $5 million grant from the State of Maryland for building, modernization and year-round use of the Fairgrounds.

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