404 W. Main
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The Fairgrounds in Lowell
The national 4-H program reached Kent County in 1917-1918, and the first Kent County Youth Fair to be held in Lowell occurred in 1934 at Recreation Park which is south of Main Street between the Flat River and South Hudson. In 1931, Recreation Park had a ball field, racetrack, six swings, a teeter-totter, a sliding board, and a tennis court. The first fair lasted just 2 days. Still exhibits were housed at City Hall and the animals at Recreation Park. In 1938, two barns were built: a cattle barn (26 feet x 100 feet) and a round roofed Quonset building to house projects and a cafeteria. The Quonset building was demolished in 1988. In 1948, 2 more barns were added including an open-sided barn for sheep and hogs. The cement block building was built in 1951, with funds from Dr. Solomon Lee’s Estate and Showboat revenues. It was to be used for “the youth of Lowell,” 4-H exhibitions, stock sales, and indoor ice skating. The building was later named for and dedicated to the memory of Ernest C. Foreman, 1894-1970, “North America’s foremost poultryman” who operated his poultry business just west of downtown Lowell along today’s M-21. Other buildings that were added to the fairgrounds included The Richard Reath Barn for showing livestock and holding Livestock Auctions (1981), new housing barns for Beef (1960s), Dairy (1979), Swine (1988), the Wittenbach Horse Barn (1971), five other horse barns, a horse grand stand (1980s), a handicapped viewing platform for the horse arena, a small welcome center, and an office addition on the Reath Barn (1990s). A building was built by the City of Lowell adjoining the swimming pool to be used as a locker and bathroom facility in 1960. The pool, run by the YMCA, was filled in around 1990. The building was then named the King Building. It was remodeled to be a large restroom and shower facility for the fair (2000) as well as an air-conditioned special event/club meeting room. The final year that the Kent County Youth Fair was held in Lowell was 2022. The fair moved in 2023 to a new fairground built at 13801 Cascade Road on land that was formerly known as the Deer Run Golf Course. The new fairground is called “The Grand Agricultural Center of West Michigan” and now has plenty of room to expand on the 140-acre property. All of the fairground buildings at Lowell’s Recreation Park were demolished except the Foreman Building, King Building, and Reath Building. The land continues to be owned by the City of Lowell. Burch Field and Recreation Park continue to be used by Lowell Youth Football, Softball and Lacrosse teams. Images: Cattle barn, built 1938, and three livestock tents. Exhibition Building Exhibition of Canned goods (Foods), Sewing, Flowers and Vegetables inside the Quonset building, early 1940s. Ferris wheel on north side of quonset building where Foreman building was later built, 1940s. Aerial photo, 1950. Before the King Building & Swimming pool were built, the dormitory building was on that site (far left). Afterwards, the dormitory was moved ( marked with X) and used for Poultry Exhibition. Poultry barn with horse barn behind it, 1970s. Old Barns lining Bowes Rd. Wittenbach horse barn was built in 1971 New Dairy Barn, 1979 Ron Wenger Memorial Play Structure, built 1995. Map of Kent County Fairgrounds |
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