J.R. Kennamer Attends 1893 Chicago World's Fair

In his memoirs, J.R. Kennamer writes of his experiences growing up in Kennamer's
Cove.  The following are his own words:

The Chicago World's Fair, 1893

     The greatest trip I ever made was in May and June, 1893 to the World's Fair in Chicago, Ill.  I went with Prof. Herbert E. Sargent of Nat, his wife, and Miss Nettie Knowlton. Mr. Sargent knew Chicago fairly well and got us all rooms not very far from the fair grounds near the Chicago University.  Money was worth more then and prices of everything were not so high in those days.  I got a meal ticket for 21 meals for $4.00 and a bed for 75 cents a night at a Mr. Swatz.  I spent 8 days in the Fair and 3 days in the city of Chicago seeing Lincoln Park, the great packing houses and slaughter pens, Marshall Field store, and attended church at the Congregational house on Sunday.

     I saw my first horseless carriage, or automobile, in the city in 1893.  I saw many wonderful things in the Fair.  I saw the great Ferris wheel turn over the first time, as it had not been completed until then.  To build this wheel,  they dug down 35 feet for the foundation; the wheel was 250 feet in diameter, and was 15 feet above the ground.  A man looked no larger than a boy up near the top of this wheel.

     My trip cost me only $50.00; I paid $29.00 of this amount for railroad fare.  My father always gave a horse, saddle and bridle, to each of his children when he or she became 21 years old.  I chose to take $50.00 instead and used it on this trip to Chicago.  I have never to this good day regretted doing so.  I was the only person from Woodville or Kennamer Cove who attended this Fair.

4