Fallen trees and time take toll on fairgrounds barns

Fallen trees and time have taken full toll on the nine paddock and horse barns on the near north side of the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. One set of paddock stalls was leaning so badly on the south side that maintenance personnel on Monday had to nail planks onto the side wall and install a post to keep it from collapsing.

These were the second set of barns ever constructed on the grounds. The first is thought to be the First Heat barn which stands across from the Labor Pavilion. Behind that was a mare's barn that burned.

Fred Huff, the fair's manager at one time who has a wealth of history on the fair, says an article in the Du Quoin Evening Call found by Galen Davis dates these barns to at least 1924. It cites W.R. Hayes as saying the interest in the Du Quoin State Fair at the time warranted the construction of these barns to take care of the "overflow."

Years ago there was a tenth barn. It was the stallion barn on the west end of this row that also burned. An upstairs apartment was at least a parttime home to trainer Kenneth "Pete" Pierson. Although in close proximity to what is now the Magic Mile most believe these barns supported racing on the half mile track.

The fair's signature the Rotunda Barn was destroyed in an August 1970 fire. The fire was always suspect. It is said that things happen in threes and it did--although years apart. 1964 saw the untimely death of Eugene Hayes., son of founder W.R. Hayes. 1967 saw the death of the other son Don Hayes and wife Ruby in a plane crash. 1970 saw the Rotunda barn fire. Yet, only weeks after the fire, the 1970 fair was one of the most successful in history with entertainers Steppenwolf, Jeannie C. Riley and Waylon Jennings, Roy Clark, Wayne Newton, Diana Ross, Bobby Goldsboro and Liberace. The State of Illinois constructed new barns on the site before the 1971 fair opened.

The barn to the east of the Rotunda Barn which still stands was used for many years as administrative offices. Those offices were more recently moved into the grandstand.