A Taste of History

Annual event takes attendees back to the 18th century

By MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-Herald
JOHNSTOWN — Johnson Hall’s annual Market Fair Saturday was a pleasant stroll through a bygone era, and the event continues today at the state historic site off Hall Avenue.

The annual weekend is free and conjures up sights, sounds and smells of 18th Century Colonial times. With the great weather conditions this weekend, fairgoers will encounter many re-enactors, minstrels, pipe-smoking colonists and others whistling, singing, cooking, drinking and using a loom.

Market Fair continues today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“This will be my last one,” says Wanda Burch, site manager. “I have mixed emotions. I love Johnson Hall.”

She will be retiring from state service next year, after having been at the 1763-era site since November 1974.

Much of the public also seems to love the old baronial home of Sir William Johnson as well.

Visitor Ralph MacLachlan of Glen was inside the home Saturday with his daughter, former Johnstown resident Mary Beth Gehring of Newfield. Both were admiring the artwork.

She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and is visiting Johnstown this weekend.

“We’ve been supporters of Johnson Hall for a long time,” MacLachlan said.

The fair includes sutlers, encampments, music, hayrides, reenactors, Punch & Judy shows, food, magic, stiltwalkers and more.

Burch said Market Fair was one of the first events Johnson Hall ever conducted. She said she remembers the original fairs were much more scaled down, though, with only hayrides, crafts, a pie contest, face painters and only two reenactors.

Those attending this weekend’s fair will discover numerous reenactors more than willing to tell you their life story and why they dress the way they do.

For example, there’s Richard Gaydos of Fort Plain — a member of the Tryon County Militia. He was dressed as a typical farmer of the day and wearing a red outfit, with 18th Century short britches, plaid shirt and a musket at his side.

He said he’s been helping out as a reenactor for many years.

“I go back to the [nation’s] Bicentenial from [1976] ,” Gaydos said. “I enjoy it. I like the period. We’re trying to maintain a period in time people have forgotten.”

Ray Hauley of Hauley Music in Valatie was offering the public his tuneful wares such as various fifes and whistles. He said it was his 10th year at Johnson Hall’s Market Fair. He said his mother wanted him to take piano when he was kid, but she didn’t think he practiced enough, so he joined the Delmar Village Volunteer Fire & Drum Corp.

Hauley said his fascination with old-time musical instruments continues to this day.

There’s all sorts of stories at Market Fair, like Gary DiMaio of Beaver Valley, who this weekend is selling various traditional garb and period leather hides. He said the public can take his products and make their own mocassins, pouches and other goods.

“I do it for the hobby,” DiMaio said.

Market fairs were introduced by the Dutch into the colonies to provide places and times for buying and selling livestock, grain, or other goods. By 1692, fairs were ordered by law and the charters of large cities, such as New York City and Albany, provided for them.

Sir William Johnson applied to Governor William Tryon in the summer of 1772 for two annual fairs, spring and fall, and a weekly Saturday market in Johnstown. A ruler or rulers of each fair who had the authority and responsibility to hold courts of powder anglicanized from a French term loosely translating Court of Dusty Feet where disputes arising from the fair were settled by fair justice.

Today, Market Fair is just as delightful.

There’s Robert Olson from Putnam, Conn. standing by a tree Saturday.

He portrays Mr. Baylay, doing his 18th Century magic shows. He mixes folksy humor, wit and a curious British accent to create the characer Baylay, who he said was a real person in history.

“The magic show begins in less than one miunute, whether you want it to or not,” bellows Olson — a character in his own right.



Michael Anich covers Fulton County and Johnstown. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.