The Technician has been running for nearly 100 years, with the first issue published on Feb. 1, 1920. Throughout the years, NC State has seen many different events, from great successes to terrible tragedies and everything in-between. Time, and language itself, has changed over the years but for almost every major event, Technician was there.
The North Carolina State Fair has been running since 1853. Originally, the purpose of a state fair was almost solely for promoting a state’s agricultural endeavors. Fairs were populated more with livestock and vegetable displays and less with carnival rides and games.
The first-ever mention of the North Carolina State Fair was in the Technician’s 13th paper on Oct. 15, 1920. It was in an article titled “Athletic Notes,” discussing NC State’s football game against Penn State.
“In the eyes of many this is the most important game of the year. On Thursday of Fair Week, October 21, we face our ancient rivals in Raleigh. Probably, the state championship hinges on this game.”
NC State lost the game, 41-0 but went on to beat UNC-Chapel Hill the next week. The first article ever to be focused on fair events ran in Oct. 6, 1922. The article, titled “The Pershing Parade,” discussed Military Day, a part of the fair that year. The article reported on a speech that was to be given at noon that day:
“In the eyes of many this is the most important game of the year. On Thursday of Fair Week, October 21, we face our ancient rivals in Raleigh. Probably, the state championship hinges on this game.”
Attached with the article was a letter containing drill instructions.
The fair has run continuously since 1853 with the exception of three gaps. There was a gap from 1861 to 1869 during the Civil War and the reconstruction period following it. The second gap was from 1926 to 1927 when the state fair switched operations over from the disbanded Agricultural Society and the state’s Agricultural Department took over. On the Technician’s Oct. 9, 1925 issue, there was an opinion column titled “Wants more Holidays During Fair Week.” The article advocated for students to get more time off, citing the educational value of the fair.
“State College, whose student-body is composed of men from every county in the State, is situated directly across from the Fair Grounds. These men will be allowed only one day to be absent from classes during the week of showing. If the Fair does so much good to business men, why wouldn’t it help the men who will be doing business in the State in a few years?”
The third gap from an otherwise continuous streak of fairs occurred from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. There was no fair coverage during this time. On Oct. 2, 1942, the Technician ran a five-page photo spread on war recruitment.
After the war, the fair returned to North Carolina and to the Technician’s front page with the article “Ag Fair To Be Held With N.C State Fair Next Week” on Oct. 11, 1946. In a postwar U.S., the tone was one of excitement and celebration.
“Fair week is here!! The carnival has come to town and all is hustle and bustle in preparation for the grand opening next Tuesday morning, October 15, out at the State Fair grounds. Yes, North Carolina is staging its first post-war fair and plans indicate that this year’s fair will be the greatest of them all.”
