We went to Danville Fair in yesterday evening and it was very nice to have it back on the Green.  The weather cooperated nicely, but it was a bit cooler than usual for this time of year.  Nobody seemed to mind, though, and I thought there was a really good crowd.  We took pictures, but we changed our camera recently and don't have the settings down so a lot of them didn't come out very well.  Fred was in town Friday morning and got this shot as people were setting up.  We arrived around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday - in time to grab some hamburgers and fries before the Hitmen went on stage.  I don't know why, but food at the fair always tastes so much better than the same thing anywhere else.  

My cousins from Barre were there, but we didn't connect with them for a while.  We hadn't agreed on time or place to meet and somehow in the crowd, missed each other until they spotted Fred down front taking pictures of the band.  In the meantime we hung out with Jamie and Marie and saw lots of folks we normally don't see - and quite a lot that we see regularly, especially those who are faithful workers every year at the fair, Jane Milne, Dot Larrabee, Kitty Toll, and others we know by sight but not by name.
 
Ted and Barbara Chase were there - Ted was hard to miss with his very appropriate shirt; a burst of color and factoid rolled into one undeniable message.

We were able to get a pretty good shot of the stage during the raffling off of prizes.  The huge gift basket contained no less than 16 bottles of wine donated by Tom and John at Diamond Hill Store, and was won by Lois White.  She needed a couple of people to carry it for her.

Tonight we got some rain, but fortunately the Fair closed without any weather problems, and I'm sure it must have been quite successful. 

Don't forget to pick out some items for the West Danville United Methodist Church Yard Sale going on next Saturday.  Items you no longer need or use but that have plenty of life left in them, antique items, collectibles or craft items you have made will all be appreciated.  Please get in touch with Jane Milne (684-3343) or Dot Larrabee (684-3620) for when and where you might drop things off.  And then be sure to stop by on Saturday.  You never know what treasures you may be able to find.  We hope the weather will cooperate for that event - it's very important as they are raising money for a new roof for the church.  Whatever you can do to help will be much appreciated, I'm sure. 

You may not know that until 1893 the citizens of West Danville had no church building in which to worship.  They held meetings and services in the school building and sometimes outdoors at George Cook's house.  Mrs. Sarah Rankin willed the Methodist Episcopal Society (M.E.church) $1000 in 1893, and that fall the Caledonian reported "The new church is all boarded and nearly shingled."  Preparations were made to celebrate Christmas in the new house of worship, and O. W. Merrill and A. Gregory set about buying a chandelier for the church and a pulpit, chairs and table, all of which the Ladies' Aid would pay for. The Sunday school students had "an exhibition" at the new church on Christmas Eve, but the first actual service wasn't until Sunday, December 31, 1893.  The building was finished except the seats had not arrived, so the official dedication wasn't until February 20, 1894.  The Ladies' Aid and the Epworth League worked diligently to raise money to keep the church operating, and regularly held suppers or other entertainment for the benefit of the minister, Rev. F. E. Currier, at the time the church was being built, and to keep the building in repair, such as painting it in the spring of 1895.

The above information comes from various issues of the Caledonian newspapers dating 1872-1922 which the West Danville History Committee is presently researching.