Registered: Sep 2014
Location:
Posts: 231

When I was about 12 I went to Kenton for the first time. We left home about 6 pm and got to Kenton at 10pm that friday night of Labor Day weekend. WOW I was dumbstruck it seemed like hours stuck on the road that led from Kenton at the Cilos to the entrance gate. Jammed packed, all night long the traders row, carnvial, gambling, water races. It was a sight to see. Saw John Wick for the first time in a tent facing the main highway where the fence was. Selling his book and what not. Saw O. L. Beckham not to far from John telling stories and doing some of the most incredible tricks I ever saw. Wonderful memories were made every year till they closed it down. Whats your memorys?

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Registered: Nov 2013
Location: Convoy,Ohio
Posts: 1693

I've got many fond memories there,but the funniest was when I took my youngest brother with me,i think he was around 12 or so,,he and my huntin buddy decided to have a beer chugging contest,my brother won each one but man did he get drunk,,we were up front,I just bought him a new carthart coat,he wanted to go to car to sleep it off so I gave him my keys,,,it was pouring down rain that whole weekend and colder than all git out,when we got back to the car,he was passed out ontop his brand new coat in a very deep very big mud puddle,,after I got him awake I asked him what in the world was he doing,he said I gave him wrong keys so I got keys from him and showed him otherwise,then I asked him why didn't he just lay on top of car and cover up with coat,,he looked at me and said,,,I never thought of that,,,lol,,,that was my funniest time there. I will never forget that,and that was 30 years ago.
They have the trader days in Lima,oh now at the fairgrounds,I haven't been there yet,but I've heard it's super nice,usually I go to A.O. But this year I think I will head on over to Lima and see for myself just how nice it is.

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Willard Oh.
Posts: 1255

Had a lot of good memories of Kenton, used to go down with my granddad, uncles, cousins, brother and many friends. Some years I can remember well, others, well lets just say I had too much fun!!!! I sure have missed going. Had to pleasure of talking to O.L., John Wick, going out to diner with Seth Gault and Bert Oney, too many to list.

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Registered: Mar 2008
Location: Western N.Y.
Posts: 3995

Many great memories, had my first encounter with moonshine at Kenton, woke up the next mornin with the sole burnt off my boot from passin out a little to close to the campfire and a game chicken tied to my belt. I still have a collection of case pocket knives that were swapped for at Kenton, and a couple rifles.
They would lock ya up and throw away the key today for some of the things that went on there back in the 70s.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Cairo, Missouri
Posts: 756

My Dad, Uncle and a few of their buddies started going every year in the early 60's. They would always come back with stories to tell. Finally I went with my Uncle in 83 and 84 I was in my early 20's. What a deal it was, we pulled in on Thurs and setup camp. Then went around to the camps of folks that had been coming for years to say hello. Each place we stopped you had to have a beer or a swig of shine and my Uncle knew a lot of people. Met folks from all over PA, TN, NY, KS, IA. Probably one of the best memories was meeting some fellas from PA that camped next to us and we had a cookout in 84. They brought rattlesnake and I brought turtle meat. They even gave me a rattlesnake hide hatband for my hat. There is several memories that are a little fuzzy (see above) but it was always a good time.

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Registered: Sep 2014
Location:
Posts: 231

No doubt many stories can be told that are true to the tale. I have some crazy unbelievable stories before I got right with God.

Had a bow I traded for a brand new Pioneer radio in box. I had that bow for 3 years. 15 min after I traded I saw a guy walking back up my way with the bow. I called him over and asked him about that bow he had. He said he was selling it for a $150 and went on to tell me how he has killed 7 deer with it and its the real deal. I looked at him and asked him how in the world he could have done that because I owned that bow up till 15 minutes ago. He looked at me and laughed and said "You got me".

Yes many things went on inside that place that would get a man in big trouble. Guys those were the days when kids took knifes to school, you fought with your fist, and school shootings were unheard of. No gun laws at all except no live ammunition in guns. Makes me so sad to see how our world has changed for the worst, to the point that they closed it up due to insurance reasons. I been to the Trade days at Lima and its no compare to good Ol Kenton Nationals.

Remeber the 1/2 gallon of pee beer they would sell. And all the different crazy wheels that were made up to get around the campgrounds. People wouldnt believe us if we shared what we saw and what was done at Kenton. It was said there at Kenton if you needed something you would find it at Kenton. What I cant understand the amount of money that place made after the Old man died that owned it his kids closed it up.

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Registered: Dec 2010
Location:
Posts: 88

I set up there for years on the first row against the highway. I built the live traps and dog boxes. I was right down from the beer wagon. Man you seen about everything. Nothing like that around anymore .

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Registered: Dec 2010
Location:
Posts: 88

You could always buy a good one at the dog auction.

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Registered: May 2009
Location:
Posts: 293

This is a great thread. Saw a kid one time walking around with a log chain around his neck and 6 min kota trolling motors clankin. You could hear him coming way before you saw him. He walked by and about an hour later, came back carrying three bowling balls. About an hour later, came back leading a mountain cur. Then, came back with a rooster. I didn't even ask.

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Registered: Oct 2008
Location: chokeabitch river, michigan
Posts: 969

bought my first sunburst eagle in 1974 there from Jim Gallant's sunburst booth. they were set up across from the dog bloom booth. so many memories I can't pick a favorite. I remember that dog bloom booth being there every year. I never really knew what the dog bloom stuff was all about. I just remember the good lookin girl that was there at the booth, yr after yr.

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Registered: Aug 2006
Location: milan,mi
Posts: 1379

Man toe cutter that brought back a memory. I bought one of jim's first sunbursts. A metal box with the fold down door to get at the battery, and the spotlight stuck in the top opening of the box. Had a little walking light on it because ohio had a law at the time that night hunters had to have a light on at night, Thought I was really a cooner then with that light LOL

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Willard Oh.
Posts: 1255

micooner, I still got one of those early sunburst and it still works great, I just never use it but it is a spare in case someone needs it.

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Registered: Jul 2007
Location: WESTERN MARYLAND
Posts: 5946

KEEP THEM COMING LIKE READING ABOUT IT. NEVER ATTENDED MYSELF. WENT TO AO SEVERAL TIMES.

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Registered: Oct 2006
Location: MIFFLINTOWN,PA.
Posts: 564

That place was a trip! Wished it was still going on. One of many things I remember is the amish girl that had a little to many adult beverages pullin her dress up as people walked by what a site. And the basset hound I bought at the auction man did that thing destroy our motel room.

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Willard Oh.
Posts: 1255

remember when they had the games? My brother and a big ole college boy made a bet who would be the first to miss ringing the bell with the sledge hammer, they would go 3 swings at a time, well we had people running up betting all over and those 2 rang it so many times the place ran out of cigars, when it was all said and done it was way over 100 each before the other guy missed. my brother won the $50 bet but still lost money because it cost $1 per swing. We had women coming up giving us money for the entries. After it was all said and done those guys that were at first "cocky", ended up being good guys, and we sat around the fire til morning passing the "everclear" around!
Another year I was all fired up on beverages and we were in the midway, it was so crowded you could barely move, and the Sheriff was on horseback. I ask him "how I could not believe with all the people and noise how calm his mount was", He laughed and said they were trained real good", I turned to walk away and being young and dumb, I slapped that horse on the backside as hard as I could swing, they took off through that crowd and it looked like Moses had parted the Red Sea!

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Registered: Aug 2008
Location: SE Ohio, Glouster
Posts: 2244

Though I only live 3 hours away, I only went to the Kenton Nationals one time. The year was 1983. I remember going up with several friends and taking a pup up to try and sell. What I remember were the dog auctions where each dog was a powerhouse and the auctioneer would start out trying to get a bid of 100 - 200 dollars, but would end up taking a 5.00 bid and usually selling the dog for 10-12 dollars. I remember on every corner was someone playing music, I remember seeing the ditches running over with empty beer cans by Saturday night, and somebody passed out lying in those ditches every where you turned. My most searing memory was that pup I took up to sell. A man came along and said hey there sonny, how much you asking for that there puppy. I said $200.00 sir, (this pup was about 3 months old) He said my gosh boy, I can buy every pup here on the grounds for that much money, would you take 25.00 for her. I said nope sir I won't, I said this pup will be treeing its own coon by November. This Ole fellow just laughed at me and said Ok buddy, guess you will just have to keep her. I said OK, I guess maybe that is just what I will do.

I took that same pup to the 1984 English Days at Smithfield Ohio. This was her first UKC hunt ever. I could only afford to go one night, so I went up on saturday. This pup went on to win High scoring English female on that Saturday night. I was so very proud of her, and to think I almost sold her at the only Kenton Nationals event I ever attended.

That was my memory Of Kenton. I never went back, as I could tell right up front it wasn't for me as it wasn't so much about coon hunting as it was about one BIG PARTY and flea market, where you could find anything under the sun to buy (if you wanted to) anything but a good coondog, LOL!!

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Registered: Sep 2008
Location: Rochester Indiana
Posts: 72

We had same lot for over 50 year my grandfather went every year till die it was fun in 60s and 70s when dog trader control it we had lot #11so I seen all the action it was fun late 80s till they move it to Lima just a big yard sale drunken party for some biggest thing i remember to stud dogs there I would go looked at them every year I thought them dogs to big to hunt they both grand night picture of coon they tree and story to go with it so one year I had enuff money to get a pup I would have better off and buy a trade dog from my grand father at less i would have got cheated by family that my story it was fun and I learn all about breeder's

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Registered: Oct 2008
Location: chokeabitch river, michigan
Posts: 969

lol,, a lot of people came away thinking they were actually auctioning off dogs..
all the auction was for was the swim race dogs.
you didn't actually buy the dog.
you just won some cash if that dog won that race.
kinda like the Calcutta pot in $kc.

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Registered: Sep 2008
Location: Rochester Indiana
Posts: 72

on sunday70s and 80s those years i'm sure of they auction off dogs on sunday afternoon the lab truck bought most of the dogs someone made them stop not for sure who it was

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Registered: Oct 2008
Location: chokeabitch river, michigan
Posts: 969

ok,, I don't remember or just never saw those ones.. I only seen the swim dog auctions. I do remember the lab guy hanging around to pick up the dogs people just dumped and left running around, I was usually already headed home by sunday morning.

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Registered: Aug 2006
Location: milan,mi
Posts: 1379

Your right Herbie they would have an auction when you crossed the ditch coming from the "midway" They would sell new tools and other things from the box trucks then on sundays have a dog auction.

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Registered: Jul 2007
Location: WESTERN MARYLAND
Posts: 5946

KEEP EM COMING FOR US WHO NEVER ATTENDED. WHAT WAS SOME OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES LIKE. I REALLY LIKED THE DRUNK AMISH GIRL FLASHING. LEBANON LEVI WOULD BE PROUD. HEARD YOU COULD BUY ANYTHING FROM "A" TO "Z" NOW WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE.

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Registered: Jan 2004
Location: Greenville, Ky
Posts: 4139

I remember the first time there, I was like 10 yes old. I saved all my snow shoveling money and was gonna buy a few dozen traps. Seemed like miles and miles of people selling things. I remember I found a wallet on the ground and went to pick it up and there was a string tied to with some old guy on the other end. Lol. We bought a hound there that year and named him Baptist Bob, he was out of that Ozark Preacher. Nice hound.

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Registered: Aug 2012
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Posts: 29

I went to my first Kenton National in 1971. What an adventure that was! I attended Kenton every year for many years. I could relate lots of stories about what went on there; but, many would be hard to believe. It was one of those deals where you just had to be there. There are a couple of other trade type events going on these days. They are fine; but, they are not a pimple on Kenton's butt.

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Registered: Feb 2012
Location: airville,pa
Posts: 2078

i went but it wasn't for me. party pooper i guess. found nothing, lost nothing didn't go back.

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