Edward G. Brown, owner of a saloon and pool hall in downtown Medford, Ore., had an adventurous wife, Daisy, who in 1919 took one of the first commercial flights in Medford.
Brown had a special fondness for the circus, so when one came to town in April 1913, he attended, inviting some neighborhood children who couldn’t afford tickets to join him.
Nearing the circus tent, Brown noticed other children peeking through holes in the tent and invited them to join him. Suddenly they were surrounded by children looking lost and forlorn and all wanting to go to the circus.
Brown carefully counted his huge entourage and went to the cashier to buy 52 tickets. The manager realized what he was doing and quickly arranged for the huge bunch to sit together.
Inside the circus tent, with Brown sitting in the middle of his 51 new friends, they enjoyed the elephants and clowns. Observers noted Brown was the biggest and happiest kid in the bunch.
Source: "Fifty two Kiddies have Glorious Time." Medford Mail Tribune, 17 Apr. 1913.
