Throwback Thursday is sponsored by Dresden Meat Packers:
This week’s Throwback Thursday is from the Wallaceburg and District Museum:
“Today in history – September 15th, 1885. The Barnum and Bailey Circus, after finishing up a show in St. Thomas, ON experienced tragedy. While returning animals to their enclosures at night, Jumbo the African Elephant was struck by a train and killed.
Jumbo was a male African bush elephant. He was known all over the world as he had provided rides to children at multiple renowned zoos before being purchased by Phineas Barnum to perform in his circus. His circus life gained Jumbo even more of a reputation.
After his death, many businesses picked up on “The Jumbo Craze” and used his legacy as a tool for marketing. Here at the museum, we have an example of that, with a bottle made between the 1930s-1950s for Jumbo Beverage Company, based out of Montreal, QC. It would have held 60oz of soda and had a cork top.
Today there is a life size memorial in St. Thomas dedicated to what happened to poor Jumbo.”
If you have an old photo, or video, that you would like to see on the Sydenham Current, let us know by sending us an email to sydenhamcurrent@gmail.com.
