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Fairfield County Fair grandstand destroyed by fire to be replaced

A new building with open space, bathrooms, kitchen, amphitheater and seats could replace the historic old grandstand that caught fire last September.

LANCASTER, Ohio - Lancaster investigators are still searching for who is responsible for lighting a piece of history on fire.

When the old grandstand burned down on the Fairfield County Fairgrounds it devastated the community.

Now officials are talking about its replacement.

Fairfield County Fair Director Ted Poth said it does not feel like it has been more than 6 months since the fire.

Poth said he can still remember the smell after the Old Grandstand burned to the ground.

"It's kind of disheartening. You know I grew up at the county fair," Poth said.

When a piece of Fairfield County's history went up in flames last September, nothing replaced it. Now it is just gravel and a picture of what used to be.

"It was really sad that it burnt down and somebody was vicious enough to do that," resident Jayne Bryant said.

Poth says for the last few months a committee has been working on ideas to build something new.

"Small events could be held here and probably up to 100 people capacity in the building," Poth said.

A new structure with four glass garage doors, space, bathrooms, a kitchen, and even an amphitheater with seats could be the new building on the fairgrounds.

Poth said officials have about $130,000 to work with.

"I think it's a great idea. I mean as of right now, we sit over there to go to see the fireworks and we have to sit on the ground," resident Kathy Romano said.

But the community has not forgotten about what happened.

A $10,000 reward for any information about that night that could lead to an arrest is still available. Investigators ruled the cause of the fire as arson. Police are still looking for suspects.

Some hope whoever did this is caught so they can look forward to the future.

"When those kids grow up or whoever did it grows up there will be something that they remember and hopefully someone won't take it from them," Romano said.

"You can't replace it, but you can bring back some memories," Poth said.

Officials said they will have several meetings with the community before any project moves ahead.

If you have any information about the grandstand fire, call the Lancaster Police Department at 740-687-6680.

Donations to help raise money for a new building can be made at any Fairfield Federal Savings and Loan location.

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