History of Reedsburg and the Upper Baraboo Valley, by Merton Edwin Krug, Publ. February 1929 by the author. Printed by Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis., Page 118-120

Alexander P. ELLINWOOD, one of the most prominent characters in the pioneer history of Reedsburg, was early instilled with the desire to improve the swamp and lowlands west of the river, and after his return from service, honorable and heroic during the Civil War, began to make definite plans for the acquisition of a tract of land in that region. The land lying due west of the river was originally entered by David C. REED, but was soon held by Alfred MOTT, who came into possession also of land east of the stream. That east of the river was early laid out and platted as Mott's First Addition, while that lying west of the river was call Mott's Second Addition, but no improvements were made and it was considered of little or no value. But Mr. ELLINWOOD thought otherwise, and in 1871 purchased two acres of this Second Addition, which was afterward called "Ellinwood's Frog Pond." Immediately he went to work and within a few weeks had it in a very presentable condition. All that remained to do was to convince some one of the fact!

About this time some family had become destitute, and were thrown on the town for support. To Mr. ELLINWOOD, as chairman of the board, fell the task of finding a home for its members. This circumstance caused Mr. ELLINSWOOD to erect a dwelling on his West Side property, and the unfortunate family was invited to move into it. That building, later known as the Town House, was the first on the West Side. During the next four years Mr. ELLINWOOD made frequent additions to his property and in 1875 he owned two hundred acres west of the river. To convince others of his faith in West Side real estate, in 1872 he built a dwelling house for himself and family on his land, one of the finest in the town at the time.

A part of his property lying west of Babb's Creek being level, in 1873 Mr. ELLINSWOOD decided to establish a fair for Reedsburg, and began immediately the improvement of a fair ground tract. During the summer of 1874 a race track was completed, which for many years was considered one of the best in this section of the country. On October 6, 7, 8, of that year the first fair was held, and succeeded beyond the highest expectation of any one. From then on Ellinwood Fairs were annual events, and grew in attraction until it was one of the best attended fairs in the state. The age of race horses brought many famous trotters, pacers, etc., to the town and the tremendous success of Alexander P. ELLINWOOD and his West Side adventure was no longer an uncertainly.

Upon the death of Mr. ELLINWOOD in 1991, the fair grounds were taken over by several businessmen of the community, and fairs were held,under various management until 1919, when, on account of inclement weather, it was necessary to cancel it. Ill weather for several consecutive years had discouraged the managers, and another fair was not attempted. The grounds stood intact for two or three years, but were later sold. So the Reedsburg or Ellinwood Fair, which for nearly half a century had been an annual event, passed into the pages of history.

Mr. ELLINWOOD's wife, who was an enthusiastic supporter of the fair project and superintended the halls for many years, was formerly Miss Hannah COTTINGTON, daughter of Jesse COTTINGTON of Winfield.
Submitted by Carol