Another One for the Times Have Changed File.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I really enjoy looking through the archive of Snohomish Tribune newspapers we have here at the Snohomish Library.

I thought I would write this blog about Labor Day and decided to look through some old Tribunes to see how it was celebrated in the past. Instead, I was quickly distracted by all the articles that I found about the county fair.

September 22, 1911 Snohomish County Tribune
Main building of the Snohomish County Fair 50X300 feet with Ell 30X50 feet

What caught my attention as I was looking through the September 1911 and 1912 issues were the articles about the "Baby Show" competition.

Now it has been awhile since I have been to the fair, but I don't recall ever seeing a baby contest. Do we still have them? If not, I wonder when and why the tradition died off?

I find it very amusing in 1912 alongside Dr. H. K. Stockwell's winning White Orpingtons and Anna Martel's prize for pumpkin pie we have Mrs James Moore's baby winning the "Fattest baby under one year" contest.

It makes one wonder if she and her baby trained for the event.

In addition to what appears to be overall winners in certain age groups, a sample of the winning mothers from 1912 are:

• Under two years of age and whose birthday is nearest to May 24. Mrs. G E Weasman (This one confuses me. Not sure what is significant about that date.)



• Prettiest blue eyed baby under two. Mrs . Allen Huntley



• Prettiest girl baby under one year. Mrs. Rees Jones



• Prettiest curly haired baby under two years. Mrs. Cecilia Levy



• Blackest eyed baby under two. Mrs. Fred Smith



• Baby boy under two with reddest hair. Mrs. roy Durr



• Stinkiest diaper under two. Mrs. Barry Schmelly (OK. I made that one up.)

While reading through these articles I was thinking I really would not have wanted to be one of the judges. My thoughts were echoed in the article about the 1911 Baby Show. In that article it states:

"During the show one old gentleman was heard to remark to another, 'Well I'd sure hate to be one of the judges and have to face them there women with kids that didn't get prizes.'"

September 22, 1911 Snohomish County Tribune

The photo above is the only picture I could find about this event. However, it appears to be from a similar event from the prior year.

Nate - Snohomish Library Reference