The first Kendall County Fair exhibition hall was built in 1918 and had been the center stage of fair events and celebrations throughout the early years of the Kendall County Fair Association.
But a devastating early morning fire on Feb. 17, 1984, burned the 66-year-old building to the ground. Along with a structured history, a wealth of Kendall County Fair memorabilia and mementos were also destroyed.
Burned also, and never to be replaced, were 17 antique showcases that were stored inside the hall.
With a plea from the association to the community for donations of fair memorabilia and mementos, the association replaced many of the destroyed items lost in the fire. Only a few of the early president’s pictures and catalogs have not been replaced along with selected fair mementos such as trophies, ribbons, and pictures.
Shortly before the fire the exhibition hall had undergone a remodel and was electrically re-wired. With the remodel complete, the solid aged structure promised many more decades of usefulness.
The actual cause of the fire has never been determined. With the help of association members, women’s auxiliary, and community volunteers, the now-existing exhibition hall was built with donated funds and many volunteer hours.
With all this effort and pride for the Kendall County Fair Association, the newly built exhibition hall doors were opened for the 79th annual Kendall County Fair on Sept. 1, 1984.
From the earliest days of the Kendall County Fair, the exhibition hall was and is the heart of the annual fair. It continues to showcase the many talents of Kendall County citizens year after year.
Each year locals of all ages enter exhibits into judging competition against their friends, neighbors and even family members for a chance to win a ribbon, or the “Best of Division” Award for Best Overall Entry in divisions, from baking to taxidermy or maybe the “Best of Show” Award chosen from the “Best of Division” winners or an “Honorable Mention.” Showcases are brimful of fair memorabilia and mementos of the past and present. “The President’s Wall” atop the showcase displays pictures of the association’s presidents from 1949 to 2023.
Selected walls throughout the hall display pictures of fair royalty, projects, and celebrations. A wall of plaques, honoring association individuals, is displayed, listing their designated titles and years of service.
The exhibit hall will be open daily for fair visitors to enjoy the exhibits and take a trip down memory lane by viewing the history on display from the first exhibition hall to memorabilia of the Kendall County Fair Association since its first fair held in downtown Boerne on Sept. 4, 1905.
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