A new beginning for the Cookstown Fairgrounds
by Michelle Minnoch

Members of the Cookstown Agricultural Society (above) gathered at the Fairgrounds with members of council and the Library Board for a barbeque and to celebrate the new era for the grounds. photo by Michelle Minnoch

On Friday night, there was a gathering at the Cookstown Fairgrounds to say 'goodbye' to the past and 'hello' to a new beginning.

Members of council, the Library Board, Library Senior Staff and members of the Cookstown Agricultural Society (CAS) gathered to celebrate the new beginning of the Cookstown Library.

"I'm trying to think of another word than bittersweet," said an emotional Mike Elines of the Cookstown Agricultural Society. . "This is definitely a turning page for the Cookstown Agricultural Society."

He said the decision was hard, but it was made with future generations in mind.

He reminded the crowd of the names in concrete on the site, the names of those that fought hard and worked to take care of the Society and its grounds.

"It is those people who keep it green," he said, referring to the grounds area. "The concrete will go away, the names will go away, but the Fairgrounds will still be here."

This past weekend was the Wing Ding in Cookstown. Shoppers, vendors, garage sale enthusiasts and more were taking in all the festivities at this annual event. For more photos, see page 15. photo by Susan Stein

Of the sale, he said the Agricultural Society thought who else better to work with than the Town of Innisfil.

"They treated us with the utmost respect."

Mayor Brian Jackson said the deal was made with the co-operation and the means to do something.

"There was a lot of bending, moving and talking between the Library Board, Agricultural Society and the Town of Innisfil."

CAS member Bev Nix said it was an important piece of land in the Village of Cookstown.

Addressing the members of the Society she said, "I look at your faces and I know the love for the organization is in your hearts." She said they will continue to support the 4-H and endorse agriculture in the community.

Councilor Lynn Dollin told the crowd that it was called a new beginning born of a rich time and an honoured past.

"I know you could have gotten ten times what you got, but you dealt with the Town," she said. "The vision is to remain the heart of the community," she said of the Fairgrounds.

Councilor Dollin reminded those in attendance that the present Cookstown Branch is not fully accessible, and the new facility is somewhere people can gather.

"Right now there is nowhere in Cookstown you can even sit and read through a newspaper," she said. " Now you can."

She added it will always be, geographically and physically, the heart of Cookstown.

Library Board Chair Lillian Owen assured the Board will be good stewards.

"This event marks an end of an era, but a vision of a new beginning," she said.