NEWS

Sandusky County Fair weaves family together

Craig Shoup
Reporter

FREMONT – Nestled next to the Log Cabin Stage on the fairgrounds is a primitive village featuring log cabins and historic machines, with people making handmade items to show what life was like 163 years ago when the Sandusky County Fair first opened.

Celena Smith, of Lindsey, who makes cane chairs, said her week at the fair is always special because her grandfather, LaMar Gardner, works in the village caning chairs.

Caning is a weaving process to make a seat cushion using processed vine materials strong enough to last 80 years.

"It has to be wet so it is pliable to use," Smith said.

Smith, who has been caning for four years, said she picked up the hobby from Gardner because no one else in the family wanted to step up and take over the family business four years ago.

Gardner, 88, said he has been caning for 70 years and was happy to see Smith carry on the family business, saying caning has become a "lost art" as technology has improved. This week marks his 45th straight year working at the Sandusky County Fair and the 82nd fair he has attended.

The family's business, Smith said, is run through her home in Lindsey and contracts with Antique Furniture in Genoa to provide chairs and make repairs for customers.

"Most people want it repaired for sentimental value. It takes about 20 hours to make one seat," Smith said.

Working at the fair for the week, Smith said most of the items made in the cozy log cabin area take time to complete.

Don Leiser, of Oak Harbor, displayed his handcrafted woodcarvings at the fair, saying it can take nine days to complete one carving. The labor of love is worth it, he said after seeing the finished product.

"I've been carving since 1978. I used butternut wood because it is soft and gives a nice brown finish when done," he said.

The fair continues through Sunday evening featuring food, games, rides and entertainment such as Easton Mason.

The fair also featured The Rhinestone Roper performing three shows each day and two shows per day from the High Flying Pages trapeze act.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-334-1035

Twitter: @CraigShoupNH