CANFIELD FAIR Ownership of grandstand is transferred

The county gained ownership of the grandstand in 1935 so a WPA grant could be obtained.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County commissioners did some grandstanding of sorts Thursday.
They transferred ownership of the grandstand at Canfield Fairgrounds from the county to the fair board for $1.
"This has been a long time coming," said county Administrator Gary Kubic.
Bev Fisher, fair manager, said the grandstand, and the property it sits on, were originally owned by the fair board. Ownership was transferred to the county in 1935, she said.
The transfer was required so the county could apply for a grant from the U.S. Works Progress Administration that was used to improve the grandstand then, Fisher said.
It stayed in the county's hands after that until around 1996, when commissioners intended to transfer it back. That was put on hold, though, because the fair board borrowed $300,000 from the county to make further repairs to the facility.
Last payment: The county agreed to hold on to the grandstand until the loan was repaid. Fisher said the last payment was made a few weeks ago.
"I think this is very honorable of the commissioners do to this for us," said Joe Dickey, fair board president.
Fisher said having ownership of the grandstand will make it easier for the fair board to now seek grants on its own for future projects.
"They usually don't want to give you money to put into something that you don't own," she said.
bjackson@vindy.com