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Life on the farm was not all work; many farmers travelled to show off their produce and enter exhibitions. Grimsby and area farmers won numerous awards at local, regional and international fairs and expositions.

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THE COLOMBIAN WORLD EXPOSITION OF 1893

The Columbian World Exposition was held in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. from May 1 to October 30, 1893. The largest display of fruit in the Canadian exhibit came from the Niagara Region and included apples, peaches and berries. Many of the area farmers entered their produce in competitions hoping to win prizes.

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World's Colombian Exposition Catalogue Cover
1893
World's Colombian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America

Credits:
Grimsby Museum Collection

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List of Horticultural Awards Given at the World's Colombian Exposition in Chicago
1893
World's Colombian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America

Credits:
Grimsby Museum Collection

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The Ontario Exhibit at the World's Colombian Exposition in Chicago
1893
World's Colombian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America

Credits:
Grimsby Museum Collection

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THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION IN BUFFALO

The Pan American Exposition was held in Buffalo New York from May 1 to November 2, 1901. The Province of Ontario had an exhibition of fruit in the Horticulture Building which included a display of apples. The Exposition provided an opportunity to test the benefits of cold storage of fruit which were evident by the quality of apples exhibited from Ontario. Many fruit farmers from Grimsby and area exhibited their produce, winning awards

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Prize Medals Won at the Pan American Exposition By Linus Woolverton
1901
Pan American Exposition, Buffalo, New York, United States of America

Credits:
Grimsby Museum Collection

8

GRIMSBY'S BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

The tradition of celebrating blossom time in Niagara began in the 1920's. In May 1922 the "Grimsby Independent" reprinted an article from a Toronto newspaper questioning why the Niagara Peninsula had not followed the example of other fruit growing communities in Canada.

"No spot in the world is more edenic than the Niagara Peninsula in the month of May ...fruit growers are overlooking a golden opportunity. It's a wonder that Ontario has never adopted the custom of other Provinces ... in having an annual excursion to its famous fruit district when the orchards are in bloom. In the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia they have an annual Blossom Sunday... The C.N.R....makes special provision for the week-end traffic and hundreds of automobile parties leave Halifax and various other cities and towns for the occasion."

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The suggestion was acted upon and by the 1930's the tradition of a month of May Blossom Festival events was well established. In 1935, May 12th was designated Blossom Sunday. Mayor W. McPherson issued a proclamation calling on citizens to "show extra courtesy to blossom visitors and to consider themselves a committee to direct visitors to where the best showing of bloom may be seen". That same year, the Blossom Time Music Festival, then in its sixth year had a festival chorus of one hundred and fifty voices. The chorus was under the direction of George L. Eaton, director of music in Grimsby and district schools. This annual event was held at Trinity Hall (St. George Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church) and continued into the war years.

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"Peach Bloom" Grimsby Ontario Canada Postcard
20th Century, Circa 1930
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Post, Fred

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Blossom Time at Grimsby, Ontario Postcard
20th Century, Circa 1930
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Grimsby Museum Collection

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Movie goers in Canada had a chance to see the famous Grimsby blossoms in 1935 and 1936 when Fox Movietone News filmed the blossoms at several local farms. Jean Green, Mary Irvine, Thelma Swayze and Marion Stewart, all students at Grimsby High School, were featured in the 1935 newsreel along with Reeve Mogg.

A promotional pamphlet in 1937 contained a route map and enticed visitors with this description. "A close-up on the gorgeous panorama can be secured by following the highway routes as shown...down through Grimsby, hailed as the prettiest summer town in Canada...Distance lends enchantment, and if time can be spared, there is no view in America comparable to looking down from the escarpment either above Grimsby or from Queenston Heights on the orchards and vineyards below. It is an unforgettable pattern."

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1937 Blossom Time Route Pamphlet (Front)
1937
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Grimsby Museum Collection

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1937 Blossom Time Route Pamphlet (Inside)
1937
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Grimsby Museum Collection