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| Photo from WikiMedia Commons |
Woodlawn Cemetery near Chicago, IL is a large and well-known cemetery. Located in Forest Park, Woodlawn has existed since 1912. Among all the family graves there's also a unique 750 acre plot dedicated to deceased circus performers.
It all started in 1918 when the Hagenback-Wallace Circus was travelling by train through Indiana and was hit from behind by an empty train. The crash and subsequent fire killed 86 passengers of the circus train. Many of the victims were only known by a nickname, or a name wasn’t known at all.
The Showmen’s League of America bought a plot in Woodlawn Cemetery and 56 victims from the crash were buried in a mass grave. Circus performers have continued to be buried in the plot since and the Showmen’s League of America holds a yearly memorial ceremony.
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