Marvin Park! We all know where it is and have been there many times, but did you know that 100 years ago the village of Owego became its official owner? Before that the Tioga County Agricultural Society, who first used it for harness racing as early as 1869 on a fenced-in half-mile graded track, owned it. The track was known as the Driving Park.
During the summer months, fair exhibits were held inside the track. In the following years the society began to put more emphasis on the fairs and the park began to be known as the Fair Grounds. It continued with horse racing, but spent more on prizes and for paid performers like wild-west shows, high-wire acts, balloon ascensions and more. It was turning into a carnival atmosphere and as costs went up, the society sunk deeper into debt.
By the early 1920s, a movement began to sell the fairgrounds to the village of Owego, but it did not happen until July 21, 1924. Charles D. Marvin, an investment broker, philanthropist and the President (Mayor) of the village of Owego from 1920-1927, stepped up and made a proposal that solved the problem…