HAMBURG, N.Y. -- The newest exhibit at the Erie County Fair is really nothing new—and that’s the point. Inside the building, that’s stood on the Hamburg Fairgrounds since 1885, is the Heritage and History Center.
“It’s a new exhibit that really celebrates what’s old. It celebrates 177 fairs. The personalities, the events, the entertainment, the concessions. This is really where history has found its home at the Erie County Fair," said Marty Biniasz, Erie County Fair spokesperson.
There’s costumes from performers—like Ramblin’ Lou Schriver’s rhinestone suit and the getup warn by the Spirt of Youth.
“For 19 years, the Spirit of Youth was a troupe made up of high school students that toured all over Wester New York. They performed at the fair, it was a song and dance act,” said Biniasz.
If you stop by the Heritage Center for a history lesson, there’s a good chance you could bump into Jimmy Barrett, who’s been named the Ultimate Fairgoer for 2016. He’s been coming to the fair almost his entire life.
“The only two years I missed, I was serving my country overseas,” said Barrett.
That’s 64 out of 66 years. The Hamburg native lives in Baltimore where he has three rooms of his home dedicated to rare and valuable Erie County Fair memorabilia.
“I brought some of the rare pieces. There’s a silver goblet from 1879. One of a kind. I have two, from 1859 and 1860, two ribbons from the Civil War time. I have four Erie County Fair tickets from 1873 and 1883,” said Barrett.
If you get hungry, there’s no better place to load up on the eats.
Did you know the hamburger was invented at the fair? So says the great-grandson of its inventor.
“The hamburger was invented here for a couple reasons. None of the other claims can tell you why it was called a hamburger. My great-grandfather didn’t know what to call it so he looked up and saw a banner for the Hamburg Fair and he says the hamburger,” said John Menches, great grandson of the hamburger inventor.
The first-ever hamburger sold for a nickel.