Special evening program June 2; RSVP by May 27 for meal
~by Chuck Offenburger for the Historical Society
Fayette Ludovic “Yankee” Robinson was one of the best-known and highest-regarded circus owners and performers in America in the mid to late 1800s. In the early fall of 1884, when his show was touring in west central Iowa, the 66-year-old Robinson took seriously ill, spent six days lingering in a Jefferson hotel room and died.
When the local Masonic lodge buried their “brother” Robinson in the Jefferson Municipal Cemetery, “he was the most famous person to die and be buried in Greene County,” says retired newspaper editor and publisher Rick Morain, “and he probably still is.”
Morain will tell the amazing Yankee Robinson story – and we haven’t even hinted here at the most amazing parts of it – at a special evening program of the Greene County Historical Society, to be held Thursday, June 2, at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson.
The story of Robinson’s death in Jefferson is well enough known in the circus industry today, and by many devoted circus followers, that Morain was invited to present it in the fall of 2014 when the Circus Fans Association of America held its national convention in Clinton.
The June 2 Historical Society program will be the first time Morain has told the story here, and it’s unusual for the group to have an evening event.
“The Historical Society offers great programs every month, April through December, and we’d like to include a greater audience,” said Ces Brunow, the organization’s chairperson of programs. “We’re anticipating that the evening timing and the appealing program will bring in those interested in local history but unable to attend our regular noon meetings. We’re hoping for a crowd.”
A light supper will be served at 5 pm in the Methodist Church hall, with the free program following at 6 pm. Historical Society members, who pay $8 for the meal, are asked to RSVP to their regular community contacts by this Friday, May 27. The public can also make supper reservations, for $10 each, by calling Brunow at 515-370-5531. Yearly memberships are $15 for individuals, $20 for families.
It will be a busy few days for the Historical Society.
After the Morain program on Thursday evening, the group will prepare for a Sunday afternoon, June 5, program that will launch a season-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of Jefferson’s bell tower.
“Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower: Past-Present-Future” will be presented at 2 pm at the historical museum in Jefferson. It will include an “appearance” by philanthropists Floyd and Dora Mahanay, portrayed by Don and Bonnie Orris, telling the story of why they decided to fund construction of the icon. There will also be an update on current happenings at the facility, and a presentation by the Bell Tower Community Foundation on the future. Then everyone will be invited to stroll two blocks and visit the tower.
Later in the month, on Thursday, June 23, the Historical Society will host a bus trip to Boone for a tour and program at the James H. Andrew Railroad Museum, named after the late Jefferson man who donated much of the collection. It is located at the headquarters of the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad. Introducing the tour there that afternoon will be James O. and Jacque Andrew, of Jefferson, son and daughter-in-law of the railroad museum’s founder. More details about that excursion will be announced soon.
