Monday, September 02, 2013

Peru Winter Quarters #1 (From Buckles)



Cheerful Gardner's 1929 H-W herd as listed in the Sacred Scrolls.

1. Betty
2. Dutch
3. Blanche
4. Lizzie
5. Jennie
6. Pearl
7. Modoc
8. Jewel
9. Babe
10. Mabel
11. Queen
12. Tommy
13. Prince

Posted by Buckles at 9/02/2013 05:58:00 AM

6 comments:

Chic Silber said...


What was the span in years that

this facility was used as a

winter quarters & by which shows

Were there other shows nearby

02 September, 2013 08:38
Chic Silber said...


The 1913 flood was unlike any
other flood in the history of
Peru Indiana
Two thirds of the city was badly
damaged or destroyed
The circus winter quarters east
of town were devastated
The industrial backbone of the
city was broken
The depth of the Wabash at Peru
averages 10 feet under normal
conditions
The 1913 flood pushed that level
to over 28 feet in a matter of
several hours
There were 11 known fatalities
100 years later there are 2,000
fewer residents than in 1913

02 September, 2013 15:08
Ole Whitey said...

Chic: What about the NINE elephants who met their maker that day?

02 September, 2013 17:14
Chic Silber said...


Sorry Dave but they didn't show

up in my history lesson

02 September, 2013 21:03
Chic Silber said...


Peru's Circus History 2nd lesson

Benjamin Wallace, a livery stable owner from Peru, joined with his partner, James Anderson, and bought a circus. They presented their first show in 1884. The show eventually traveled under the name of The Great Wallace Show. In 1890, Wallace bought out his partner, and in 1891 established the Wallace winter quarters on land purchased from Chief Godfroy. In 1907 the Carl Hagenbeck Circus became the property of Wallace and thus came into being the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus. After buying out the other partners, John Talbot was Wallace’s only partner. In 1913 (the year of Peru’s largest flood), Wallace suffered greatly financially and otherwise. He sold the show while it was on the road maintaining ownership of all the land and buildings. Members of the syndicate purchasing the circus were C.E. Cory, John O. Talbot and Edward W. Ballard. The American Circus Corporation was formed in 1921 with Jerry Mugivan, Bert Bowers and Ed Ballard as directors. During the 1920s Peru became known on the maps as the “Circus City”. John Ringling purchased the entire A.C.C. holdings, including the Peru quarters and farms in September 1929. In November 1941, 126 circus wagons were burned, effectively ending the old circus era in Miami County. The old winter quarters are now the home of the International Circus Hall of Fame.

03 September, 2013 06:46
John Herriott said...

They were heavy Grift shows even under Ben Wallace and of course we know of the ACC being grift shows untl late in his life Wen Mugivan got religion and it is said even had a catholic priest traveling with him. Later Terrel and Adkins, former ACC executives would famr Cole Bros. Circus and it would be a "Grift Show" untl Terrel sold it end of 48.

04 September, 2013 09:09

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