Call me Quizzical called the people in Deer Island sore losers when the fair grounds was moved in to its now current site back in the early 1960's. In my opinion all the pople of Columbia County should of been furious when the fair was moved. Most people were mad as hell and tried to stop the county but the county like usual went ahead with another bad action regardless of what the PEOPLE wanted, nothing ever changes.

Many old timers talked about how the property went, the information that I remember was that Columbia county had a crooked commissioner and a crooked judge and one of their wives sold real estate and some one made a killing off the sale. Many people tried over the years to find the deed, which said the property could not be sold. And had to be used for the public. But failed because the deed was TORN out of the record book. And the sellers were long gone and no one knew where they went after so many decades. Some People that lived in Deer Island and had known the property sellers personally, and was involved in the deal tried to testify on behalf of the deed's terms but were not allowed. Funny how some certain records come up missing. Let me correct that statement the fair was not just moved but was sold or better yet STOLEN out from under the people of Columbia County for a mere $50,000. A far cry for what it was worth. And a terrible place for replacement where the fair sits now was purchased, bare land nothing else.

The history of the Old fair grounds and how it came to be.
Back around 1928 the Pamona grange thought it would be a good place for a county fair grounds, so the grange got a 1 year tax levy for 1 million dollars on the ballot, the voters of ALL Columbia County voted yes to the levy and it passed. The people that owned the property sold the property to the county for the 1 million dollars which was a bargain even then, on the grounds that the land would always be used for a fairgrounds and or public use. The construction of the buildings was started, each different event had its own building. The grand stands were magnificent, a concrete ramp brought you up to the grand stand level with walls on each side of the walk through, the stands were solid wood, with solid floors and completely covered, the arena was huge as well, with one whole side nothing but rodeo chutes, and a very nice announcers box. The fairgrounds had nice rodeo holding pens, and fenced pasture for livestock. The barns were grand as well, separate barns for pigs, sheep, goats, dairy, and beef. The horses had their own separate barns too.
There was plenty of room for the carnival and rides and there was enormous room for parking right off highway 30. Off to the North of the fair grounds was a nice area that had out door rock barbeque pits and a picnic area with tables surrounded by huge fir trees that provided adequate shade for the public.

The OLD Fair grounds was a going concern with huge attendance, barns full of animals from all over the county and all parts of the state, the rodeo was one of the top rodeos in the state and nationally too. Cowboys came from all over to participate in the Columbia County fair; offering a nice purse for the winners. We also had a big jr. rodeo.
There was model T races, chuck wagon races and model T greased pig races, and ad its own circle burner track which can still be seen today that is until Morse brothers gravel mine destroys it.
The parcel had 496 acres, a deep-water port, and had about 190 acres of class 1 soils great farming land, there is only 200 acres in the entire county. Had 2 aquifers with crystal clear water the top aquifer would pump an easy 600 gallons per minute endlessly, the aquifers are separated with a permeable clay layer but could both be used.

Later the chemical plant exchanged hands several times; the land was once again up for sale. The chemical plant wanted to keep only about 10-13 acres. The price in about 1996-97 was 1 million dollars.
I personally went to the county commissioners and asked that the county buy back the property and move the fair back, the answer was no, I suggested that the county put on the ballot a levy asking the people of the county for a one year I million buy back just like the 1928 deal. Giving the citizens the right to get their fair grounds back if it was their desire. I was told no way. In fact I was laughed at.

So then I proceeded to the Port of St. Helens and suggested the same thing, after all the property had a deep-water port on it and would have been a valuable asset to the port. Once again I was told no way. I regret not going after an initiative myself to give the people the opportunity to have the fair grounds back to where it belongs.
In the infinite wisdom of our elected leaders we will never have a decent fair grounds that could of made money for the county, instead we have a money pit. No deep-water port that would have been an asset, instead we have a Goddamn gravel pit that will leave us a useless gigantic water filled hole for eternity.

I guess in a way, some of us are sore losers about our loss of our beloved fair grounds at Deer Island we have every right to feel the way we do toward this issue. After so many years just talking about it leaves a sour taste in many citizens mouths.

Note: After I talked to the commissioners and Morse Brothers had bought the land for $1 million, the commissioners were in land use problems with Morse Brothers and actually thought about buying the property from Morse Brothers for a mere $10 million! Go Figure!