10/07/2023
Owner Robert Davout
Charles Davout was a man trying to find his fortune in the world. It was in the early 1900s when this young man sought to make a quick buck as he floated from job to job, mostly selling things for other people. Any money he made, he quickly lost by investing in get-rich-quick schemes.
During his travels peddling metal cookware for a new company, Davout was in New York City when he saw his first circus. The thrill of seeing the acts inspired him, but even more, what caught his eye was the willingness of people, rich and poor, to give up their money for a brief moment of entertainment.
As he continued to make a meager means as a salesman, he marveled at the success of Ringling, Barnum and Clyde Beatty circuses. His job took him from town to town and introduced him to a variety of people, some with amazing talents.
Davout eventually began to organize these acts and convinced a small group of men to invest in his circus, he would later name “Davout’s Circus of Wonder”.
The circus enjoyed great success. Davout started out caring for his circus, but as he made money, his view of it changed. He allowed profit and greed to guide him in making decisions, which included cutting corners and delaying repairs of broken equipment, which sometimes resulted in disastrous consequences. He believed the “show must go on”, as was often said among performers. This caused him to make poor choices at times and insist his circus be open to the public even though it was not safe for the performers.
In the end, the Great Depression, and an unusually high number of “accidents' ' lead to the downfall of his circus. Davout was buried in this cemetery. Descendants of the performers believe his never ending pursuit to make money continues even in the afterlife and is what causes the magic every Autumn.
Davout’s final request, to have his remains encased in gold. He can be seen every year watching over his circus, never far from view of the take at the ticket booth.
