By: Stan Jordan
The above picture is of an old circus wagon, it belongs to our Chief of Police George Clemens.
Let me tell you a little bit about its life.
This wagon had a soul, it was darn near human. It carried a steam boiler and was big enough for three steam kettles. That was to feed the circus workers three times a day, and even had some hot water for dishes and for cleanliness.
It was painted bright red and white, with the Cole Brothers Circus ads all over it. Even the attendees and the children loved this wagon as it went by in the parade. It also had some blue and orange colors.
Now this happy wagon with its 3 soup kettles fed these people for years until Cole Brothers Circus folded up in 1951.
This wagon was pushed off back in the back yard of the Paul Kelly farm. It sat there for years and slowly settled into the earth and weeds and vines grew up around it.
What an end to the Cole Brothers Circus #2 Cook House Boiler Wagon. It sat there for years in the Peru area. They had an auction in 1996 for the equipment but the wagon didn’t sell. It just settled deeper into the ground.
Mr. Clemens went to Peru and actually dug it out of the ground. He couldn’t stand to see that grand old wagon that fed the people for years, just rot and rust away. The chief has been an animal lover all his life. On his farm he has all kinds of wild life with a license for all. He has somewhat restored the #2 Cook House, so far it is enjoying a retired life out at the chief’s place. The chief will not part with it. It is quite a valuable relic.
George has been interested in this type of relics for sometime and he just wants to keep it and it blends in with his wild life. He has a lot of animals in his Hillbilly Acres, as his friends call it. It is situated on Twp. Rd. 21 just off of 424.
See ya!
