OCR Text |
Show Primary Fair By BETTY C. FISHER The original home of the first Primary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the setting for a very successful Primary Centennial Fair, staged by all eight wards of the Farmington, Utah Stake. Held at the rock church where the Primary began on Aug. 25, 1878, the various wards set up historical displays and activity booths; sponsored tours of the historic chapel; and served foods at truly old-fashioned prices. Food booths featured homemade ice cream, cakes, pies, cookies, doughnuts, candy and popcorn balls. The rootbeer was also homemade and was served along with a variety of other drinks, hot dogs, sloppy joes, salads and watermelon. And nothing cost more than 30 cents. There was square dancing, relay races, watermelon eating contests and dancing dan-cing around a maypole. Along with many other games and prize booths for the children, an innovative "walking fishpond" was a big attraction. Various officers and teachers from the Farmington First Ward Primary took turns donning an old-fashioned cap and an apron with pockets full of prizes where children could "fish" for their prize. "This way the teachers were able to mingle with the crowd and enjoy the Fair while still helping to bring in money for the building fund," June Fisher, Primary president of the First Ward, said. Harking back to the first Primary when the children were encouraged to raise gardens and do handiwork, many of such items grown or made by the Primary children, were on display. And some were sold in various booths at the fair. Then, for entertainment, each of the wards provided a special number every half hour on an open stage in the cool patio area of the rock chapel's grounds. All the proceeds will be used for the building fund when the historic church building is remodeled and expanded, leaving the original chapel, with its mural depicting the first Primary meeting, as a memorial chapel for all visitors. Photos by Etsil Fisher One of the displays set up by each ward in the stake showing items made or grown by the Primary children and telling some of the history of the Primary. , , ',.;f , r f J V i : ' One of the numbers on the Primary Fair's program was this group of children dressed in capes of red, yellow or blue (the Primary's official colors), singing several children's songs. They are members of the Farmington First Ward Primary. J f ' ' ' - ' -vh I . I1 4 t., . ;i s .. 1 biika Bailey, dressed in the "walking fishpond" costume, allows children to "fish" their prize out of one of the large pockets in her apron at the Primary Centennial Fair held at the rock church in Farmington where the Primary Association where the Primary Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints originated on Aug. 25, 1978. . ' ' .. .. i ' - f ' f W' O A Ji:- '"- ' , " -r v - ... 1 j . t I'A;-.,; I I . A A A A . ; i A Taking their turn at the mike are LaNore Espenchied, Blanche Miles and President Naomi Shumway, of the Primary General Board, who visited the Primary Fair at the Primary's original site in Farmington. . -. . - v i ? .. . . . wj. - - I " fx i L.wmSIsj . I Ito Farmington Stake Primary Fair held on the grounds of the old rock church owtI by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and is shown as part of the official tour of the historic church I :$AAi nr ;f i . I ' , 1 . 'A 1 Srlo7trGetera7d S?rS!tW?P 7 " are from left: Ruby Pauling, LaNore EsL r.i rUtah Stake Pril"ary Board dmE 'dRelief Society Kimball, Stake Primary PiStKwd' G'?eral President Naomi Shum ' 6 ?rimary Fair- They ent uorothy NieUon, Blanche Miles and LoU Fl J y Hanks' Myrlene |