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PHOTOS: IRIS WINSTON
Historic Places
Living history is about places and buildings, as well as people. This series highlights some of those special places.
Carp Agricultural Hall
BY IRIS WINSTON
A reminder of the village of Carp’s farming roots, the 111-year-old Carp Agricultural
Hall continues to be a focal point of the community. An indication of its importance
to the village is that both the hall and the annual fair are featured on the sign that
welcomes visitors to Carp.
The hall, which stands on one corner of the fairgrounds, was completed in time
for the 1897 village fair. (The exact date of construction is uncertain, though one reference
says that the building was finished in February of that year.)
A motion on the books of the Huntley Branch Agricultural Society — formed
in 1855 — notes that a motion made at the January 29, 1887, meeting required that
“an agricultural hall be built on the old grounds and that the committee appointed
at the last meeting have the same completed before the next annual fair.” The minutes
of that meeting also note that a “Mr. H. Gow produced plans and showed that
a suitable hall would cost about $1,100.”
Through the years, the Carp Fair and the distinctive Agricultural Hall — a
unique piece of agricultural construction — have been sources of civic pride for residents.
The annual Carp Agricultural Fair, in operation for well over 140 years, is
billed as “the best little fair in Canada.”
The fairgrounds are home to the Carp Farmer’s Market, as well as the centre of
numerous other events, such as the RCMP Musical Ride, Strawfest and the Garlic
Festival. The hall, which remains the home of the offices of the Carp Agricultural
Society, is also a regular meeting place for local residents.
The Carp Farmer’s Market has been a regular feature in the village for 28 years.
The idea was promoted by the late Hildegarde Anderson of Carp, who hoped to see
a market like those in her native Saskatchewan developed in the village. The
groundswell of support for the economic and social benefits of a country market
requiring all products on sale to be grown or made by the vendors grew. With the
backing of the Carp Agricultural Society, the Carp Farmer’s Market became a reality
in 1990. The first market, held on June 23 of that year, attracted more than 1,000
customers. Today, it is the largest producer-based farmer’s market in Canada.
The primary historical significance of the two-storey, octagonal building, which
houses the indoor section of the market, is that it was probably one of the first buildings
to serve what was to become the Township of West Carleton. (West Carleton and
the village of Carp became part of the expanded City of Ottawa in the amalgamation
of January 2001.) The red and white frame building was patterned on the Howich
Pavilion at the Ottawa Exhibition, a building that no longer exists. This makes the
architectural style of the Carp Agricultural Hall of even greater significance.
The 145th Carp Fair runs at the Carp Agricultural Hall and fairgrounds from
September 25 to 28.
Ottawa Page 8 Due West/Due East Magazine • Summer 2008