In June 1872, a man representing himself as the agent for a traveling circus, ordered 25 prepared dinners from the Freeland House, Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Based on the promise that the circus would arrive in time for dinner, Thaddeus Freeland, the hotel proprietor, had the meals prepared.
The circus, identified as Kleckner and Company, was playing various communities in the Lykens Valley area in June, 1872. Reviews of the performance were not so good. The Lykens Register, June 28, 1872, reported that when this circus performed in Wiconisco, the acrobatic acts were “equal to the average” but the animal show was “meagre.” In addition, the usual pick-pockets that frequented such events were out in force: “One of the victims of the light-fingered gentry at the circus was Mr. Crawford Wallace, we learn, who was relieved of his wallet containing about $15 and some papers of no value except to the owner.” On June 21, 1872, the Wilmington (Delaware) News Journal reported that one of the traveling members of the group had been arrested for rape.
The news article telling the story of the dinners that were ordered and most likely not paid for, appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph, June 26, 1872:
Early on Sunday a large group of men, women and children could e seen occupying commanding positions to see Kleckner & company’s circus and menagerie enter town, as was expected, but they were all sadly disappointed. Some of the more anxious remained watching for it until after dark.
A man representing himself as being an advance agent for this combination, arrived in town early in the day, went to the Freeland House and ordered dinner for twenty-five persons, remarking that they (the circus) would be in about dinner time. Accordingly the dinner was prepared, but no circus came. Just imagine the feelings of the proprietor about this time. Thaddeus [Freeland] is a very obliging and accommodating landlord, and also very good natured, otherwise he might have given vent to his feelings by some outward demonstration. The circus arrived in town about six o’clock Monday morning amid a drenching rain and considerably demoralized.
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The image from the top of this post is from the corner card of an envelope/cover mailed about the time the circus was performing in the Lykens Valley in 1872. The auction description of the cover noted that Kleckner & Company later merged with Conklin Brothers to form the Great Commonwealth Circus.
News article from Newspapers.com
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.