The Periphery of the Texas State Fair Never Looked Better
by Paula Bosse
Approaching the Fair Grounds…
by Paula Bosse
A couple of pretty, but unusual views of the fairgrounds, turn-of-the-century-ish. The message on the postcard at the top: “Carrie the fair was real good this year better than it has been for years. Edna”
And then there’s this view, “Fair Park Scenery.” Same period as the top one? Later? It shows the “Vehicle Exit.” “Vehicles” meaning buggies and wagons?
Leaving the Fair Grounds…
I think the top postcard shows the entrance — I have another view of the entrance that looks like this, from around 1900 (see it here). And the bottom card? “Scenery” near the Vehicle Exit. So … a parking lot? Or a road leading to the exit? Whatever it is, it’s not really all that “scenic.” Both postcards are fairly odd choices for picture postcards of the Texas State Fair, as neither one shows anything of the actual fair! But if people had fond memories of driving into or out of the State Fair, these were the postcards to buy!
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Sources & Notes
Postcards from eBay. The second one is a photo by Clogenson.
Top postcard’s 2-cent stamp was issued in Nov. 1903, per Wikipedia.
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Copyright © 2015 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
Flashback : Dallas 
The 1909 card ( in the State Fair-related piece for last October 18) does show that the kind of card that extolled the fair’s many delights was produced. Edna probably just got to the display rack late in the day, after the good ones had been sold, but really owed Carrie. Or maybe Carrie was a shrubbery person.
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[…] from 1900, the entrance to the fairgrounds. (It appears to be the same view as the top postcard here, just a few steps inside the […]
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