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Trudy's avatar

Excellent column, Jason. Both of my parents grew up in the Hartford area, and my 12-year-old dad was invited to go to the circus that day. Blessedly, he was already going to a Red Sox game at Fenway with his dad. The story has always intrigued me, because how could Little Miss 1565 go unidentified? She must have been someone's child. Sad.

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Jason A Clark's avatar

Wow. He must have thought about that many times over the years.

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Trudy's avatar

Every year! That's how I learned about it when I was a kid!

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Jim McCraigh's avatar

No one is guaranteed tomorrow... This was also illustrated with the deadly Texas floods this 4th of July weekend...

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Jason A Clark's avatar

Amen

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K Tucker Andersen's avatar

Your post brought back very mixed memories. I was taught about this tragedy when I was very young since we lived in Manchester, CT , a Hartford suburb and I had been born two years earlier and my sister was born in May , 1944., just before the fire occurred. If we had been a few years older we might have been in attendance. In fact, several years later before we moved we attended the circus there - it was the first time that I had ever seen a live elephant as well as lions, tigers, etc, but it was the elephants which capitulated me and which I love and respect to this day. One of the themes of the art and sculpture in our home celebrates their majesty. And their familial bonds and support communities as well as their long distance communication skills are truly amazing.

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Jason A Clark's avatar

Thank you for sharing this. One of the things I enjoy the most is hearing from readers who have a connection with the stories we tell.

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