November 3,2005

Shirley spoke along with other members of the "SAVE THE TRACK FOUNDATION" - an organization formed to save the Lewis and Clark Fairgrounds Historic Race Track – the second oldest race track in the nation and one of only two - mile long race tracks West of the Mississippi – built for the Territorial Fair in 1870. The three L & C County Commissioners along with the Fair Board members have voted to destroy the racetrack by paving it for a roadway so that it can never again be used for any equestrian events. There have been two lawsuits filed against them in an attempt to preserve our Montana history.

Hello, I’m Shirley Herrin and as a little background I would like to mention that my Great-Great Grandfather Hardgrove arrived in Helena on September 15, 1864, just two months after the Four Georgians had discovered gold - so I have some very deep roots in this valley and I would like to address the issue of the importance of preserving the history of our state and our community.

Having walked the hallowed ground of Williamsburg, Virginia and sat in the same buildings that the forefathers of our country sat in, I cannot begin to describe the wonder and awe that I felt in being able to experience our nation’s history on a personal basis. I thank God that the people of Virginia and also those people throughout the eastern region of our country had the common sense to realize that those places were worth preserving for generations of Americans to learn about the American Revolution in the setting that our forefathers lived in.

Although we do not possess an historical site of that magnitude, we do have a unique treasure in our own Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds. It is interesting to note that according to the Helena Daily Herald the first steps taken to create a joint stock company to purchase land for a Territorial Fair were on July 8, 1870 and the fair began on September 26, 1870 - with exhibit buildings and a race track. Only seventy-eight days had elapsed since the inception - to the opening day of the fair and races. Yet in 2005 the Lewis & Clark County Administrator stated that the reason they have to move the arena that was built in 2004 - to the middle of the race track - is because they would not have time to build the grandstand and the 40,000 square foot attached Exhibition Building in the current location - in the time frame from the end of one Stampede to the next - so they would have to cancel the Stampede for one year. It doesn’t make sense to think that carpenters could do more in 1870 than they can do in 2005 with the power equipment we have available to us now.

In 1903 Helena was officially designated as the Montana State Fair and the State Legislature appropriated funds to organize the fair.

I would like to mention just a few examples of noteworthy events that make our Fairgrounds worthy of being considered a location of great historical significance.

First - on September 27, 1909 President William Howard Taft spoke to a crowd of over 10,000 Montanan’s from a stand erected on our mile long racetrack. Only five other Presidents have ever visited Helena - President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 – President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 – President Warren G. Harding in 1923 – President Harry Truman in 1948 and President George Bush in 1989.

Next - in 1911 Cromwell Dixon flew a plane from the racetrack, over the Continental Divide to Blossberg and back to Helena – THE FIRST FLIGHT OVER THE DIVIDE.

Then -during the State Fair in September of 1913 – Katherine Stinson, a noted aviatrix, was sworn in as a postal employee and delivered the first airmail in the nation. She left Lewis and Clark Fairground with some 1,333 post cards in a pouch between September 22 and 27^th and dropped them from the airplane at the Federal Building downtown. The stamps were cancelled with a special cancellation and sent on their way by rail and stage.

The route designation number 663002 was issued for the first airmail route in Montana and the west.

The fact that Lewis and Clark Fairgrounds boasts the second oldest racetrack in the United States of America - is reason enough alone to preserve our Fairgrounds as it is - with the arena left in its original location and the grandstand and Exhibition being built in the same location AS WAS PROPOSED in the brochure that was presented to the voters of Lewis and Clark County for the vote on the 5.7 Million dollar mill levy on June 8, 2004.

Should the historical aspects of Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds be destroyed, a great part of Montana’s heritage would be lost forever. We would never be as fortunate as we recently were with the restoration of Montana’s "Crown Jewel" - our state Capitol. During the 1960’s the Capitol just had to be modernized - and many of our historical treasures were thrown out. Brown and gold plexiglas was installed in place of the beautiful stained glass barrel vault window over the grand staircase. Thankfully, Charles Bovey had the presence of mind to save some of our precious artifacts in Virginia City and we were able to regain ownership of them so that once again we can enjoy the magnificent grandeur of our Montana Capitol.

In conclusion I would like to quote from "The Man in The Brown Derby" – Al Gaskill – from the Independent Record – February 7, 1960. And I quote - "It has been a long, long time since Helena had a fair.

PROGRESS CAME TO US AND LEFT MANY SCARS LIKE THE BROADWATER AND THE FAIRGROUNDS. SCARS THAT MAKE US WONDER IF WE REALLY HAVE PROGRESSED AND IF SO – IF WE HAVE NOT LOST A LOT OF LIVING IN THE PROCESS."

Shirley Herrin

703 Poplar Street

Helena MT

(406)442-8858