GREENFIELD — When fairgoers arrive for the 177th Franklin County Fair in September, they’ll notice a new addition to the fairgrounds: a 5,400-square-foot, open-air pavilion.
The Franklin County Agricultural Society broke ground on the $150,000 project last week, and according to President Michael Nelson, the pavilion is set to be complete by the end of the month, weather permitting. This year’s fair, with a theme of “History Grows Here,” will take place from Sept. 10 to Sept. 13, and will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new structure.
“This is particularly exciting for me because it marks a transition in the fairgrounds,” Nelson said. “We just reached $2 million in investments in the fairgrounds and this is our first major investment that’s moving from addressing deferred maintenance to program and facility improvements.”
According to Nelson, this is the first time a new structure has been built at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in 40 years, when a grandstand was built in 1986. The work is being funded by a combination of grants and donations.
The historic 138-year-old grandstand was torn down in late 1985 after a building inspector and the fire chief determined it was a hazard and needed to be removed, according to the Greenfield Recorder archives. A new steel structure was constructed to replace the wooden one, increasing the number of seats from 900 to 2,500.
Nelson said a slew of buildings were constructed in the 1980s, but in the years after, care for the Wisdom Way fairgrounds declined. Since 2021, the Franklin County Agricultural Society has been focusing on addressing deferred maintenance, and Nelson said the society has caught up on those projects and can now look to improving the facilities for the future.
The 54-by-100-foot pavilion is being constructed in the infield, which Nelson said will provide a convenient, central location for fairgoers to get out of the sun and rest, particularly during events like the Green River Festival that are held in the summer.
“The primary purpose will be as a dining and shade area,” Nelson said. “We’ve had a lot of feedback over the years that it would be beneficial to have a shady place to sit and rest.”
In the future, Nelson said the Franklin County Agricultural Society may build additional structures, including potentially an enclosure within the pavilion for the city’s 1867 stagecoach. In a statement, he added that housing the stagecoach in the new structure would represent an intersection of Greenfield’s history and future.
“This project is about creating a place for people to gather while also preserving a piece of our community’s history,” Nelson said. “We continuously hear from guests that they want more opportunities to sit, relax, enjoy a meal, visit with friends or simply get out of the sun during events. This pavilion will provide exactly that while creating a beautiful new space that can be used by our community.
“The future inclusion of the stagecoach will make this not only a gathering place,” he continued, “but also a destination where visitors can connect with the rich history of Franklin County while helping preserve it for future generations.”
