North America's Leading Circus Fan Organization - Founded 1926
News Events Photos Resources About Us

Join
Renew Online
Circus 4 Youth Website
Grassroots.CircusFans.Org
 
wcs2015.com

WCS2015
Souvenir Merchandise!

Back Issues
Conventions
External Links
ShowFolks
AYCO
Circus Model Builders
Witte Museum
Windjammers Circus Music
Circus Historical Society
OABA Logo
FEEDBACK
Click HERE to e-mail your comments about our web site
 

Showmen's Rest - Part 1 

Submitted by Member on   5/8/2004
Last Modified

Showmen's Rest - Part 1

by Peter & Joyce Rosa
CLICK HERE to find the complete series


To All Showfolks and Fans:

Thanks to Teresa Murray's and Vern Mendonca's efforts, approval has been received from Barbara Miller Byrd to do a photograph series on Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hugo, Oklahoma. We appreciate Barbara Miller Byrd's approval allowing us to share photographs of the SHOWMEN'S REST section of Mount Olivet Cemetery which D.R. Miller made possible and we honor his memory with this photograph series.

Excerpt from THE SENATE OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 48TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

ENROLLED SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 43 By: Rabon

WHEREAS, Hugo, Oklahoma, the county seat of Choctaw County, is known as “Circus Town USA” as it is the winter headquarters of both the five-ring Carson & Barnes Circus and its sister circus, the Kelly Miller Circus. At one time five circuses claimed Hugo, Oklahoma, as their winter home. While every town has a cemetery, the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hugo, Oklahoma, has a special section known as “Showmen’s Rest”. It is a special section set aside as a final resting place for circus people. At the front is a huge monument topped by a dancing elephant and the inscription “A Tribute To All Showmen Under God's Big Top”. In 1961, after the death of his brother, Kelly Miller, D. R. Miller bought all the plots in this special section of the cemetery; and ...

Adopted by the Senate the 23rd day of April, 2002.

Presiding Officer of the Senate

We received a number of emails noting interest in seeing the gravestones of various showfolks who are interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The gravestones are very unique, as is the Circus Industry. Joyce and I took these photos in February 2003 while living in the Kelly Miller Circus winter quarters. We will scan the photos and send at least two or more per email over the next few weeks. The photos will be sent so they show in the body of the email. We will also attach them to the email so those of you who are able to open attachments can view them at full size. Also, we will note the text etched on each gravestone in case they are hard to read.

This series is being done because it is felt that many folks will not be able to journey to Hugo, Oklahoma to see these magnificent monuments. These monuments have been erected to honor the memory of those whose varied skills have allowed the circus-going public to view the wonder of the CIRCUS.

We would like you to note that all of the showfolks interred at Mount Olivet will not not be represented. Only those monuments that noted a circus motiff were photographed.

The first two photos are:


1. A photograph of one of the banners that were put up all over Hugo, Oklahoma in 2003, noting Hugo as CIRCUS CITY USA. Each was sponsored by a business or organization in Hugo.




2. A photograph of your hosts Peter and Joyce with sons Jordan and Justin in front of the monument that indicates the area known as SHOWMEN'S REST. The script on the monument reads: A TRIBUTE TO ALL SHOWMEN UNDER GOD'S BIG TOP

The monument has etchings of a Circus elephant doing a hind leg stand upon a bull tub and an etching of a 3 Ring Big Top.


We sincerely hope that this photo series will give you all an appreciation for the wonderful area D.R. Miller made possible to honor showfolks. We sincerely do this photo series to honor those showfolks whose monuments appear in this series and to honor all showfolks who have trouped under God's Big Top .

See ya down the road over the next few weeks.

Peter and Joyce Rosa

Your comments and questions are welcomed at: peterscircus@AOL.com

COPY OF PERMISSION TO SEND PHOTOGRAPHS OF MOUNT OLIVET CEMETERY:

Forwarded Message:
Subj: Showman's Rest Photos
Date: 2/6/04 3:23:23 PM Eastern Standard Time

Sent from the Internet (Details)

Dear Vern,

I spoke to Barbara and she said that it would be okay to put pictures of Showman's Rest and D. R. 's funeral on your list for all to enjoy.

Teresa Murray
Carson & Barnes Circus

Email This Resource



 


Copyright © 1999-2015 Circus Fans Association of America and Authors.
For more information view our  Copyright Policy & Privacy Policy .