The Westchester County Fair
Cattle, dogs, horses and mermaids captured alive
Alex Q. Arbuckle
1900
The Westchester County Fair, held in various locations just north of New York City, first emerged as an annual summer tradition in 1694, when the villages of Westchester and Rye would gather to barter and sell their produce and livestock. It evolved from a simple farmer’s market into a more extravagant affair over the centuries, adding horse races, dog shows and carnival amusements such as fortune tellers and “live mermaids.”By 1885, special trains had to be scheduled to accommodate the thousands of visitors flocking from the city. In these photos from 1900, visitors from New York and the surrounding area stroll around the midway at the fair, inspecting animals, betting on races and enjoying a respite from the city heat.
