It was a perfect weekend in Milford. And the 2023 Milford Fall Fair, held annually since 1946 on the second Saturday in September, had something extra to celebrate.

Council passed a motion earlier this month returning the Mount Tabor Playhouse and the Milford Fairgrounds shed over to the newly created South Marysburgh Facilities Management Association (FMA).

MAINSTAY- The Fraser family and their 1928 Buick McLaughlin are always a welcome sight at local fairs and parades. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

At the heart of the motion was an agreement between Council and the Marysburgh Mummers to install a fire suppression sprinkler system that will keep the Playhouse in the good graces of the Ontario Fire Marshall, and ensure the building’s survival. The system is expected to cost between $50,000-$100,000 and the expense is expected to be split between the municipality and the Mummers. The local theatre group will fundraise for their share of the project.

Councillor John Hirsch, also President of the Milford Fall Fair Board, noted the creation of a direct governance model to oversee operations at Mount Tabor and elsewhere was an initiative almost two years in the making.

“This FMA now has the ability to book the buildings, take in the rent money, look after and promote the buildings. Many of the people we had on the local board in its previous incarnation have returned along with some energetic newcomers so it’s an exciting time.”

What better way to celebrate the return of local oversight than with the 76th Milford Fall Fair.

Eyeing the fairgrounds, Councillor Hirsch estimated last year’s 1,7000 attendees had been topped. Warm smiles, hugs and handshakes marked the occasion, as friends old and new gathered to talk about the crops and the happenings in the County’s southeastern ward.

“Looking back, people have always gathered for and supported institutions like Mount Tabor and the library; the enthusiasm for the South Marysburgh community is contagious and tremendous and you see it today at the fair,” said Mr. Hirsch.

At the produce table, Shannon Desjardins took the 2023 Barry Laramy Memorial Award for best vegetable in what celebrated market gardener Vicki Emlaw noted was a tough season.

“The growing year was actually pretty challenging in South Marysburgh this year. We missed those million dollar rains in June and early July and then, when the rains finally came at the end of July, they never stopped,” Ms. Emlaw said. “I was planning for an Heirloom Hurrah on Labour Day and we just didn’t have the tomatoes. Things are looking a lot better now but we struggled and wondered for a long time if we were going to produce anything at all.”

GOOD CITIZENS- Flanked by Murray Clapp Memorial Citizenship Award committee members John Hellam and Joyce Minaker, 2023 award winners Don Farrington, Jacob Found and Cath Collins were presented medals for their community efforts at the 2023 Milford Fall Fair. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

The fair board honoured local residents of significance who have dutifully served their community by way of the 2023 Murray Clapp Memorial Citizenship Awards. Mr. Clapp started recognizing contributions to the former township in 1988.

Volunteer firefighter Jacob Found, long-time fair board member Don Farrington, and Cath Collins, a volunteer with the Hospital Auxiliary’s Perfectly Preserved group, as well as a host of other community initiatives, were all celebrated by Awards chair Joyce Minaker. Retired firefighter Glendon Walker was also announced as a 2023 Clapp Memorial award winner but was unable to attend the ceremony.