Janesville was the winter home of the Burr Robbins Circus. The circus wintered here from about 1870-1888. Mr. Robbins kept his circus in the Springbrook area. This area is near what is currently Dawson Field. He liked Janesville for his winter home because there was plenty of water for the animals and workers. Janesville also had good railroads. The tracks ran right by the fairgrounds so the circus could load and unload easily. The people of Janesville were treated to a circus parade about May 1st each year. It was a beautiful parade since all of the cages and wagons had new coats of paint. Many of the wagons had circus pictures painted on their sides. Mr. Robbins had many kinds of animals in his circus including elephants, sea lions, lions, tigers, giraffes, camels, and exotic birds. After the parade, the people of Janesville could buy tickets and go inside a tent to watch the circus people and animals do their acts. Children paid fifteen center and adults paid twenty-tive centers for their tickets. After the people of Janesville had viewed the circus, Mr. Robbins took it on the road. When winter came the circus returned to Janesville.
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