Did you Know
Did you know that sometime in the early 1860’s, the circus came to Eastford? Posters and pictures were hung all over town in anticipation of this special event! When the Great Van Amburgh Circus marched into town, Warren Keith was one of the boys who followed the parade around the town. “I remember the lady sitting in a chair in a cage with lions and tigers,” he said. The “lady” Warren saw in the cage was likely Isaac A. Van Amburgh. Van Amburgh, an animal trainer, was the first to introduce jungle acts to the circus. He is also credited with being the first man ever to put his head into the mouth of a lion earning him the title, “The Lion King.” Van Amburgh wore his hair in a longer style and often wore togas in his act. This is probably why young Warren thought he saw a “lady” in the cage. The Van Amburgh name continued to be used by circuses until 1922, long after Isaac’s death in 1865 due to a heart attack. The Historical Society seeks community support in continuing its mission of collecting, preserving, and sharing documents, photos, and artifacts that help to tell the stories of Eastford’s unique history. Kindly consider supporting our mission through membership or donation to the Eastford Historical Society, P.O. Box 350, Eastford, CT 06242.