About 35 volunteers spent a morning last weekend at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds dimantling, building, cleaning and counting as part of an annual “workbee” a week before the official start of the season.
Home to the Tunbridge World’s Fair, the fairgrounds has a full calendar of events this year, ranging from the Vermont History Expo to the Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival to RV rallies (two of them) and shows for chickens, dogs, oxen and sheep.
Dismantling the dairy barn’s siding and stalls was the big project on this day. Project manager Shane Young, of Tunbridge, kept an eye on which boards were being removed as the building was prepared for its reconfiguration.
When the fair opens, on Sept. 15, there will be room for more cattle in a better lit and ventilated barn. Exhibitors, including the Top of the World Dairy 4-H group from Reading, Vt., pitched in to help.
On the backstretch of the track, the harness racing barns were being cleaned and maintained by volunteers who also have roles in the fair’s operation. Chris Howe, of Tunbridge, is on the board of directors and is the superintendent of concessions, but was repairing hinges.
“It’s a good start to the season,” he said of the extra help. “It’s a boon for everybody.”
On the other side of the fairgrounds, Antique Hill had several volunteers counting and describing pieces on display in the cool and dark barns.
Elaine Howe, of Tunbridge, held a trouble light as Pat Ladd, of Chelsea, wrote down dimensions and descriptions of tools used for working the land more than 100 years ago. The inventory was last done in 1971.
Just outside, Whitey Adams, of Tunbridge, directed a group of carpenters as they carefully sorted and added spruce barn boards from a Tunbridge barn Ben Tucker recently had dismantled. Aged from years of standing in the weather, the wood covered newer wood that had a modern stain.
In three hours, much had been accomplished. Then it was time for a lunch together of lasagne and salad.
“I was very appreciative of all who came,” said Rob Howe, superintendent of cattle. “It’s an expression of how much people like the fair and want to give back to it.”