Circus History in Portage County
Many Circus performers and shows have called Portage County home over the years. The Barnsdale Family was showing films as early as 1903.
Another resident, Don Carlos Hall, became a famous showman around the turn of the century. He traveled in a private railroad car with his company. Hall and his wife are buried in Union Cemetery. The headstone bears a cameo-sized photograph of the couple - the only one like it in the county, according to local historian Malcolm Rosholt.
The Engford family may have the longest tradition of circus performing. Several were still semi-active in 2005. Members of this family have contributed the bulk of the Society's collection of circus items including a house known in Plover as "the circus house" now at our Heritage Park.
Local Circus History
- Robert Parkinson on Portage County Circus's.
- Old Time Circus Parades - by Casmir Sikorski
- Circuses And Carnivals Brought Summer Excitement To Town - by Dorothy Roshack Zmuda
Engford Family
- Genealogy - a brief family genealogy.
- Robert Engford and family.
- Engford Family Show.
- Truck -- 1921 Model "T" Ford Calliope Truck.
- Ruthie (Engford) and Frank Clark -- third generation of Plover Circus family.
Don C. Hall
- Obituaries -- two obits of Don C. Hall and one of his wife Clara.
- Books published by Don C. Hall.
Links to Circus sites
- Circus Web -- Great site for all kinds of information about the circus.
- Circus World Museum -- THE circus museum located in Baraboo Wisconsin.
- Circus Land -- Another site with information about acts etc. Also available in Russian.
- Circus Fans Association of America.
- Circus News.
- Ringlingville -- by Jerry Apps. Ringlingville USA is the story of seven brothers who started with next to nothing and became the most famous circus family ever known.