Farming, Community, and the Legacy of The Suffolk County Agricultural Society's Fairs
Dr. Paul J. Carr;Georgette Lane Case
Synopsis "Farming, Community, and the Legacy of The Suffolk County Agricultural Society's Fairs"
A Lost Chapter of Long Island History, Finally Brought to Light.You have driven past the farm stands along Route 25 and Sound Avenue. You have tasted the award-winning wines of the North Fork vineyards. But do you know the story behind the agricultural tradition that shaped Long Island's East End for nearly a century? Until now, no book has chronicled the remarkable Suffolk County Agricultural Society Fairs held in Riverhead, New York, from 1865 to 1941. That gap in the historical record is finally closed.Farming, Community, and the Legacy of The Suffolk County Agricultural Society's Fairs takes you on a vivid journey through time. From post-Civil War farm competitions to Roaring Twenties auto races, from visits by Governor Theodore Roosevelt and President Roosevelt to balloon ascensions, diving horses, suffragist rallies, and the devastating Long Island Express Hurricane of 1938, this meticulously researched chronicle captures the fair as the social crown jewel of Suffolk County. Dr. Paul J. Carr and Riverhead Town Historian Georgette Lane Case bring decades of archival research, rare photographs, and community voices together to illuminate not just the fairs but the evolution of East End farming itself.Inside you will discover:• A year-by-year chronicle of the fairs featuring entertainment, agriculture, technology, and the personalities who made them unforgettable• The evolution of Long Island farming, from produce and livestock to oystering, sod, cannabis, and modern wine cultivation• An invaluable resource for genealogists, historians, students, and anyone passionate about preserving community heritageThis is more than local history. It is the story of how farming, community spirit, and a beloved annual tradition shaped the identity of an entire region. Read more
