Circus also got off at Pond St. railroad depot
To the editor:
May I add another event to the commerce conducted at the former Pond Street railroad depot as interestingly described by Joe Callahan recently in The Daily News.
The date was either late 1920s or early 1930s that a full-size circus rolled into the Pond Street depot. The entire company, after off-loading, assembled in parade formation, made its way to nearby High Street and headed south. A left turn was made at Federal Street, where it was downhill to Water Street.
Obviously the circus' visit to the city had been previously announced, as throngs filled the streets along the parade route. I recalled as a youth standing at the intersection of Federal and Water streets awed by the spectacle of wild beasts in their cages, zebras, camels, prancing horses and huge elephants with their handlers using sticks with sharp hooks to prod them on. Numerous clowns skipped and hopped along the way, often performing acrobatics.
It may be presumed that the circus route went through town and along Merrimac Street to Cashman Park, which afforded the required space for the circus performance.
Con Christuk
Newbury
