a damper upon the number one of the private association would the call of newspapers and attraction of the Fair. Mahan receive nothing for their previous civic and business leaders and brought professional stunt investment and declare it to approved the bond issue by drivers that thrilled large crowds simply be a donation. nearly a two-to-one margin. The as they raced at 60-miles-per- Under the proposal, the city new partnership between the Fair hour around the half-mile track. would own the property and Board and the City of Oklahoma In 1916, 36,000 fans watched operate it for 11 months of the year City breathed new life into the “sputtering, roaring machines as as a park. The Fair Board would State Fair. they whirred around the track.” lease the grounds for one month During the next two decades, The strong suit of Overholser each fall to hold the State Fair. with bond money and city and Mahan perhaps was the Voters were asked to approve a and private donations, the ability to adapt to changing bond issue to fund the purchase Fairgrounds changed in times. They took advantage of of the property and needed appearance. Solomon Layton, a strong economy to invest in capital projects. Promotional an architect who designed capital projects. advertisements in newspapers the State Capitol, The Skirvin Overholser died in 1915, but declared that citizens would be Hotel, Central High School, and Mahan continued to manage paying only 27 cents per year on other landmarks, was chosen to the business of keeping the each $1,000 worth of property. build a Women’s Rest Cottage, State Fair’s books balanced and Occasionally, proponents of the a new grandstand, and the most continuing investment. Then, bond issue turned to scare tactics, expensive project, a Liberal Arts two events threatened to cripple “How would you like to go to Mus- Building. It was a one-story the annual event. In 1916, fire kogee to the State Fair in 1917?” brick structure that looked like destroyed the Grandstand, the City fathers and local a school. Its 37,000 square feet Concession Hall, and half the newspapers asked voters to contained 110 display booths that amusement rides. The following approve the bond issue. The Daily were fully rented to exhibitors by year, the state legislature passed Oklahoman editorialized: the next fall. a bill officially naming the annual It has won recognition As the thrill of flying became Fair in Muskogee the “State Fair as one of the first a larger part of American life, the of Oklahoma.” It was purely class agricultural and Fair Board added flyovers, mock political and, fortunately, did no mechanical exhibits of air battles, and hot-air balloon long-term damage to the State the country. It brings exhibitions. The Army sent Fair in Oklahoma City. There thousands of people here. eight Curtis R-4 biplanes for a was no state money for the It furnishes wholesome demonstration in 1917. As the Muskogee Fair and the legislative amusement. It provides planes arrived, the lead pilot stalled action increased Oklahoma City valuable instruction for high above the startled crowd and leaders’ civic pride and spirit of everybody. It is one of dove to within “100 feet of the competition. the great educational ground,” and ended with sizzling There still existed a weak institutions of the state loops. After the planes landed, the organizational structure of the and of this city. It is pilots were greeted as heroes State Fair, a private association therefore of substantial of the highest order. that was inherently underfunded value to every citizen Dick Mahan, who as the first and dependent upon the economic of this city, not only secretary and general manager conditions each year. In 1917, the property owner, but of the State Fair, guided the Fair the Fair Board offered to sell every man or woman who Board through turbulent times, the Fairgrounds to the City of makes his living here. died in 1923 and was replaced Oklahoma City. The stockholders On May 8, 1917, voters heeded with Ralph T. Hemphill. A former 20