Column: More circus memories and the little fairgrounds train

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 14, 2002

My recent columns regarding a parade sometime between 1911 or 1912 and 1934 which resulted in a heavy circus wagon tearing up a portion of the creosote wooden block surface on Broadway Avenue has resulted in several comments from Tribune readers. And as a bonus, a reader even sent a letter with her memories of a specific circus which once visited Albert Lea.

There seems to be a feeling expressed by several folks that this street incident actually took place. One person suggested that East William Street may have been the place damaged. However, it wasn’t a parade involved, but the movement of wagons from the Rock Island Railroad side tracks to that day’s circus grounds on the city’s west side.

Another person thought maybe a circus, other than Ringling, put on a parade in the early 1930s as a prelude to the big show on the Spicer Farm site. This farm was then located directly across Bridge Avenue from the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

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It has been suggested to me that this street incident took place in 1931. Give me time and we’ll see if more information regarding this circus parade event can be found in the future.

The letter mentioned in the second sentence is from Shirley Kallberg of Albert Lea. She writes:

&uot;Talking about the circus – there was a circus in Albert Lea in the 1940’s &045; sorry I can’t tell you the exact year. Our family moved to 8th Avenue in the spring. Of 1941, and it was some time after that.

&uot;At that time, there was a huge fenced-in pasture between 4th Avenue and 8th Avenue, between Fountain Street and Clark Street (no homes or streets in that area yet). So the circus brought in their animals, tents, performers, and all of their finery &045; what a lot of excitement!

&uot;The carnival workers were enthralled by my mother’s gladiola garden, and they talked her into selling them many bouquets. Of course, she was thrilled to earn some money!

&uot;There was a humongous old camel who roamed the pathways through the circus grounds. He walked down the middle of the path with his head held high, and everyone had to jump out of his way because he was not about to give up his ‘middle of the road,’ and wouldn’t budge for anyone.

&uot;Late afternoon the elephants went parading. Each one would wrap his trunk around the tail of the one before him and they would form a long parade. Then they would turn and head for the slough area at the north edge of the grounds. There they would roll in the muddy water and bellow and perform, enjoying every aspect of it. Soon they would grab their tails again and go off to their quarters.

&uot;There was a huge old oak tree at the west side of the pasture. We had made a wonderful bag swing out of a burlap sack and stuffed it with straw, and we spent a lot of hours enjoying it. … all of a sudden my brother yelled, ‘Hey, the elephants are eating our swing!’ And they did – right to the last morsel!&uot;

Thank you, Shirley, for permission to share your circus memories with our readers.

Now, let’s shift our attention to what could be another memory of the past.

Not long ago I was asked to check into what happened to the small train on a circular track which was reportedly located near the water fountains at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. Frankly, I wasn’t aware of the fact that there was ever such an attraction for the children during fair time. Yet, these tiny trains are still being used in some parks.

I mentioned this train topic to several local residents with good memories of the past. They vaguely recall this attraction.

What would be super is to have a photo of this little train. That alone would verify its existence. Anyone having this memento from the past is encouraged to bring it to the Tribune newsroom.

Tribune feature writer Ed Shanon’s column appears Fridays.