TOWNSHEND — Revenues for the 60th Grace Cottage Hospital fair, held on Aug. 7, came in at a little over $75,000.
According to fair accountant Mike Adrian, that's a slight dip from the all-time record last year of nearly $80,000, which was a 23 percent raise over revenue in 2008.
“It was less than last year because the auction did not do as well this year,” said Townshend's Stan Holt, who runs just about everything that's fair-related. “When all the receipts are in, he said, the take will be close to last year's record.
Expenses have not yet been tallied for 2010, but the gross in 2009 bottomed at about $50,000 net.
The big-draw auction, with Kit Martin and Art Monette cajoling the bidders, raised about $36,000, a $6,000 decrease from 2009.
They were shy of big ticket items - like good cars - but even so, they were pleased by the totals. Monette gave a thumbs up when asked his opinion.
Martin and Monette own the Townshend Auction Gallery and donate their services on fair day. All the money goes to the hospital.
The food booth triumphed this year with a before-expenses gross of $6,000, its biggest year. Last year, the gross was $5,500. Barbecue sales were steady at $2,500.
The first-time-ever costume-jewelry gallery, organized and run by Walter Meyer, netted a surprising $2,000. All the jewelry was donated and it promises to be an annual event.
The white elephant booth took in $3,081, Holt reported, and bingo earned $1,000. “A huge number of used books sold this year, taking in about $4,000,” Adrian said.
The $1,000 Hole-in-One competition, donated by Entergy Vermont Yankee, proved too difficult for fairgoers again this year, so the money stays home at the hospital.
Raffle winners were Jackie Stein of Lakewood, N.J., who bought the winning $1,000 ticket. Frank Peckham of Winchendon, Mass., won the two nights at the Maine bed and breakfast and Laura Dauchy of Jamaica won the quilt. Hannah Greenwood of Townshend took the bear family home.
Fair officers who asked to be nameless said they just couldn't estimate the number of visitors and they always say 3,000 and everyone seems to be okay with that.