And so it began....

On February 15, 1915 at an Ionia Businessmen's meeting the "free fair" project was launched.  In early February of the same year the Ionia District Fair had been dissolved due to financial difficulties.  The idea for an admission free fair was proposed by Mayor Fred Green and a committee was assembled consisting of T.B. Preston, H.B Webber, Mr. Heath, Robert Beard, K. Bob Smith, F.A. Chapman, Fred Lange, Thomas McGannon, A.M. Welch and Thane Benedict.  The first meeting was held in March of 1915 and the dates for the first Ionia Free Fair were set for August 18, 19 & 20, 1915.
Pictured below (obviously not during the fair!) Fred A. Chapman, Fred W. Green and Clara and Henry Ford, taken in Ionia.