P.O. Box 342 • Lee, ME 04455 • For general information, call (207) 738-4134 • E-mail us

Fairgrounds located on Route 169, Springfield, ME (see maps below).



Don Hamilton and his team at the Springfield Fair

John Weatherbee in his younger days holding a horse ridden by Herbie Lyons at the Springfield Fair. The year is unknown, but look at the announcers' booth. John passed away July 19, 2006 at the age of 76. (Photo courtesy of Suzanne Weatherbee)

Gilbert Wiley with his oxen. Gilbert used to mow the fairgrounds. Photo donated by Dick & Marge Worster.
Eastern Maine Institute, Springfield, Maine
The following photographs of Eastern Maine Institute were taken by Ecla Hanscom Merrill, and were donated by Rebecca Briggs. EMI was completed in 1917. The photos showing the bell tower missing were taken the day before the building was torn down.

This photo of Springfield Normal School is also from the collection of Ecla Hanscom Merrill. The school burned in 1916.
Rebecca Briggs recently shared the newspaper clipping at left and the old photographs of the Eastern Maine Institute and the Springfield Normal School above with the Springfield Fair Association.

The clipping is from the Bangor Daily News. The date was September 6, but the year is not given. Louis Brann was governor of Maine from 1932 to 1937, and he died in 1948, so the clipping was published between 1937 and 1948.

Horse pulling is still a popular event at the Springfield Fair, but it has been some time since harness racing was held at the fair. The 1952 schedule of premiums below shows that racing was held then.

Click on the clipping for a larger version.

This clipping was donated by Dick & Marge Worster of Springfield. Click on the image for a larger view.

Elmwood Park is the former name for the Springfield Fairgrounds. The football game was probably played in the 40s or 50s.
Springfield Fair Premium Booklets
Penobscot Agricultural Association Ledger
1952
1953
1955
1890-1908
Click on the images above for PDFs.

Do you have any old photos of the Springfield Fair? We'd like to include more of the Fair's history on this site.
If you have pictures you'd be willing to share, click the e-mail link at the top of the page to contact us.