1 Circus Place

CurrOwner: Douglas R. Worple Tr.	Date Fr: 2006	DateTo:
OrigOwner: John Smith - settled on large tract of land (710 acres)	Date Fr:	DateTo: 1809
Owner1: Zacheus Biggs	Date Fr 1: 1809	DateTo 1:
Owner2: *Thomas R. Biggs (Zacheus' son)	Date Fr 2: 1854/5	DateTo 2:
Owner3: **House built before 1869 perhaps by 1854	Date Fr 3:	DateTo 3:
Owner4: Thomas R. Biggs Estate	Date Fr 4: 1880	DateTo 4: 1885
Owner5: James W. Sibley (deed recorded), lot 29	Date Fr 5: 1885	DateTo 5:
Owner6: Caroline Robinson (wife of John F. Robinson) (deed recorded)	Date Fr 6: 1886	DateTo 6:
Owner7: John G. Robinson (son of John F. Robinson)	Date Fr 7:	DateTo 7:
Owner8: Leonora Smith Robinson (widow of John G. Robinson)	Date Fr 8:	DateTo 8:
Owner9: Joe & Kate Miller	Date Fr 9: 1951/2	DateTo 9: 1967/8
Owner10: Flach & Angela F. Douglas	Date Fr 10: 1968	DateTo 10: 1987
Owner11: S. Kay Callaghan	Date Fr 11: 1987	DateTo 11: 2006
Owner 12:

Story 1:

Ohio Historic Inventory -
     This building originally consisted of one large central block with a one story high porch across the west facade. Wings were added to create a U-shape floor plan and other porches were also added. The front porch has been removed. Much of the original integrity of the building has been lost. The original bracketed cornice and some of the original shutters are still intact.
     This house stands on what was originally the Round Bottom Farm in the Thomas Biggs subdivision. Lot #29 was sold to John and Caroline Robinson in 1886 by James Sibley but it is believed that the house was already there, built by T. R. Biggs. Robinson owned a circus and the area around the house was used in the winter months for storing animals. He also owned and operated an opera house in downtown Cincinnati, built in 1872, razed in 1936. Robinson died in 1921.

Story 2:

Zacheus Biggs in 1808 married Elizabeth Wilson who died in 1865, aged 85 years. They had 7 children. Their son, *Thomas R. Biggs was born in 1821 at Round Bottom Mills and died in 1876. With his first wife Catherine he had an only child, Mary who was born in 1847 and who on Christmas Day 1865 married Charles R. Burns at Round Bottom Farm. Thomas R. Biggs' 2nd marriage was in 1851 at Soule Chapel in Cincinnati to Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" Langdon who was born in Cincinnati in 1828. They had 5 children. (1) Kate was born in 1852 and died in 1889. She was unmarried and died of cerebral typhoid fever. In 1854 the family "repaired to Round Bottom Farm:. (2) William Torrence was born in 1855 at Round Bottom Farm and died in 1856. (3) Margaretta was born in 1857 at Round Bottom Farm and in 1882 married Charles H. Miller. Their son was Stuart Read Miller who was born in 1884. Charles died in 1919 at the age of 65 and Margaretta died in 1921. The other two Biggs children were (4)Sally Laws (1860-1869) and( 5) Fanny who was unmarried. The Homestead was listed in Thomas' Estate (Mary E. Biggs, wife, administrix). Thomas Biggs died in 1876, aged 55 years. Mary Elizabeth Biggs died in 1900.

Story 4:

Information from the book "Give 'em a John Robinson" with additions.
John Robinson from Aberdeen, Scotland, married Nancy Boyd.
These were the father and mother of the circus clan.
They had four known sons:
   A. Boyd Robinson
   B. James Robinson (1811-1908)
   C. Alexander Robinson, also a circus owner.
         1. John A. Robinson - killed in 1866 Crittenden KY.
         2. Others
   D. John Robinson (1807-1888), known in circus circles as "Old John" or John I
         Married Elizabeth Bloomer (1815-1878)
         They had 5 sons and one daughter:
         1. John F. Robinson (November 4, 1843-April 30, 1921 at Miami),
                     colloquially known as John II or "Govenor".
               Married Caroline Heyward (April 2, 1845-August 6, 1889) in 1866.
               This couple had one son and five daughters:
                       a. Blanche L. (1867-1868)
                       b. Maud V. (1869-1875)
                       c. John G. Robinson (1872-1935), referred to as John III,
                                and was the last operator of the Robinson Circus.
                            Married Leonora Smith (1872 or 4-1964), sister of Kessler at 906 Stanton
                            They had twin daughters and one son.
                                     1. Leonore Robinson (1891-1929?). Born 6:00AM, 1st twin
                                          Married Krehbiel and had one son
                                                    a. Gordon (1910-1955)
                                      2. Ellanora (1891-1938). Born 6:15 AM, 2nd twin
                                          Married Patterson and had one daughter
                                                     a. Ellanora Rose. (2 daughters: Deborah & Lee)
                                                          (605 N. Sierra Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210)
                                      3. John Gilbert IV (1894-1954) an attorney
                                           Married Judith Silcott and had a daughter Elizabeth.
                       d. Kate (1874-1902) married Crone
                       e. Pearl (28 November 1877 - 8 October 1918) married Lamkin
                       f. Caroline (1882-1952) married Stevens
              Married Maud Logan (1879-1920) in 1908. She was his nurse.
                       They had no children.
         2. Gilbert N. Robinson (1845-1928), author of "Old Wagon Show Days"
              Married Emma Lake, equestrienne with Buffalo Bill, billed as "Emma Hickok".
                       "Wild Bill Hickok" was Emma's mother's 2nd husband
         3. Charles Robinson married twice. Both wives were equestriennes.
         4. James Robinson (1847-1880)
         5. Frank Robinson
         6. Katie Robinson (1851-1874)

Story 5:

The 1930 Census shows the Corwins living in the house. Caroline Burger in Story 14 tells us the Corwins lived there as caretakers after the Robinsons left but did not sell the house and grounds. Tom Proctor says that Hume Corwin's father (probably deceased by 1930) built the wagons used in the Robinson Circus.

1939 Map:	Map does not cover the area
1942 Map:	Barnes - renters? (address on Elm)
1951/3 Map:	Barnes - renters? (address on Elm)
1959 Directory:	Joseph & Kathryn Miller (address on Elm Road)
1960 Directory:	"
1962-63 Direct:	"
1963-64 Direct:	"
1965-66 Direct:	" (Joseph E. Miller died June 15, 1966)
1967-68 Direct:	Mrs. Kathryn Miller (address on Elm Road) (moved to 613 Wooster)
1969-70 Direct:	Flach & Angela Douglas & Mary Rogers Fossit
1971-72 Direct:	'' '' (moved from 723 Floral)
1973-74 Direct:	'' ''
1975-76 Direct:	''
1978 Directory:	''
1980 Directory:	"
1982 Directory:	"
1984 Directory:	"
1986 Directory:	" (Angela died 1985; Flach moved to Milford in 1987; 1990 to 625 Miami)
1988 Directory:	Michael & Kay Callaghan
1990-91 Direct:	"
1992-93 Direct:	"
1994-95 Direct:	"
1996-97 Direct:	"
1998-99 Direct:	"
2000-01 Direct:	"
2002-03 Direct:	"
2004-05 Direct:	"
2006-07 Direct:	" Worple (moved from 206 Stanton) (Sold 2006)
2008-09 Direct:
2010-11 Direct:

STYLE	Ranch:	Split:	Colonial:	Victorian: Y	Trans:	Trad:	Other: Y
	CapeC:	Bung:	Eng:	Dutch:	Cont:	Misc: Greek Revival/Italianate

CATALOGUE	Sears:	Gunn:	Pease:	BH&G:	Pattern:	OtherC:
MATERIAL	Siding:	Brick: Y	Stone:	Stucco:	Br&Sid:	OtherM:
ROOF: flat, metal					Stories: 2

CHANGES	AsBuilt:	AddTo: Y	SubFrom:	Replace:
1972 - Flach Douglas erected a car port. 1972 - Flach Douglas added a 28' x 11' porch. Callaghans had the garage built and a back porch added.

Story 9:	Information from a Village Views article by Stan Miller (not entirely accurate): "John H. Robinson started the whole business, perhaps around 1824 but even Gil Robinson, a brother to our John F., did not relate much of the early action in his book published in 1925. The whole shoot 'n shebang was moved here around 1857 after a purchase of a sufficient amount of space (winter quarters for the Robinson Circus) from Thomas R. Biggs, owner of many acres along the Little Miami at the time. I am suspicious that the original portion of the home was built by Mr. Biggs, however, the Robinson family added to and renovated the anti-bellum mansion until apparently 17 rooms were available to entertain their hosts of friends in and out of circus business."
	"The home was occupied by the Robinsons until 1916, when the circus was sold, but still remained with a caretaker until purchased by Joe and Kathryn Miller after the demise of the last three elephants in 1941." "Joseph E. Miller died June 15, 1966. He was a plumbing contractor and bought the property 10 years ago and it was to be auctioned off Saturday but postponed because of his death."
	"I think it is interesting to note that after John G. III's passing, the property was left to Leonora S. Robinson, his widow. She was the sister of Kessler Smith, long a resident and the only one at the lower end of Stanton Avenue. Kess told me his father was once mayor of Cincinnati. Leonora resided at the Gibson Hotel and even in my time as clerk, she asked if she would be able to contribute a flag or benches to the Village Green, which was gratefully received. John G. III did not quite make it for the 100th anniversary of Robinson Circus." (Stan Miller)(Stan said John F. but it should be John G.?)
	"All Robinson's posters and other printing were done by The Enquirer job department until the plant was burned along with Pike's Opera House in 1866. He then organized his own printing company whose descendents include the United States Printing Co., and the United States Playing Card Co."
	Flach and Angela Douglas did a lot to preserve the Robinson Circus House. More information is available in this article concerning the circus and especially the Robinson Circus in Terrace Park. Perhaps more research should be done about the Robinson family and their circus since some of the information in this article does not totally match with other information above. (See also an elephant story at 101 Miami.)
Story 10:	The Miller children were Ronald Joseph, Nancy Jo, Melanie Kay, Kathryn Matilda & Melissa Ann. Melanie and Kathy said (2004) their parents must have bought the house in 1951/2c. They came from Madisonville and bought 19.6 acres including the house and many other circus outbuildings where Wrenwood and Robinwood are now. They sold it in 1967/8 after their father's death in 1966. Joe Miller's company was Tri State Sanitation. (For more information see Melanie & Kathy Miller's 2004 Oral History.)

Story 11:	All the articles quoted from above are in the Building Survey or "House" notebook. Also there are historic pictures of the house including one with Pearl Robinson and 2 dogs.
Story 12:	More information both in the "House" notebook and in the "Robinson Circus" file. Also pictures of moving Tillie's tomb stone to new location in front of 1 Circus Place. Melanie & Kathy Miller said (2004) they remember when Tillie's burial stone was moved from near the Elephant House to in front of their house.
Story 13:	This home was on the 1990 TP Garden Club Homes for the Holidays.
Story 14:	Caroline Burger says the Stumpf family lived in the house as caretakers after the Robinsons. See732 Miami. Also Hume & Velma Corwin and other of his family members lived there as caretakers.
Story 15:	There is a framed 3D plan of the Robinson Circus Site on the wall at the Terrace Park Historical Society (2004). It was done by Bill Graver (at Cincinnati Museum Center with maps) who is the father-in-law of John Maggard (102 Marian Lane). John is a 2nd cousin of Will Hillenbrand (808 Lexington). The latter two are Terrace Park artists. Bill Graver went to school (Withrow HS) with Al Nelson (735 & 700 Franklin) & worked with Al McAllister (835 Douglas).
Story 16:	Some clarification based partly on information from Richard E. Conover's book "Give 'em a John Robinson": The Robinson Circus did NOT start in 1824. That was a myth started much later to make the operation seem older. The correct date is 1842. Performances lasted through the 1911 season but the assets were not sold until 1916. However, 1842 to 1911 "holds the record by a wide margin for the longest single-family management in American circus history".
	The Robinsons bought what is now known as the "Circus House" in 1886, well after the Civil war, which is no doubt when Terrace Park became the winter quarters of the Robinson Circus. Tillie died January 17, 1932 and the school children were let out of school to attend the funeral. Elephants Tony, Pit and Clara remained here several years longer.
Story 17:	Probably in 1967-8 Bill Stevens put an ad in the paper for West Shell to try to sell the Circus House, then listed as #4 Circus Place. The ad states: "All brick - 107 yrs old. Historical French Manor. 13 ft ceilings, ornate molds. 3 marble & 3 carved fireplaces. 44 ft. center hall. Living room 14x36 - Dining room 14x26. Library, family room, study. 5 bedrooms & 3 baths. View lot - Mariemont Schools. Asking $17,900 but expect to spend $20-$30,000 more to create a truly gracious home." At the same time just below that ad is another by Bill Stevens for West Shell, "Building Contract. We are now planning 4 new homes for Circus Place off Robinwood Drive. Your plans or ours can put you in your dream home by Spring. These View lots close to the swim club are best suited for $36-$42,000 homes and we can guarantee the sale of your existing home if it qualifies" In fact just 3 were built on Circus Place.
Story 18:	See e-mail from a relative, Pamela Carter (or Ward), in the archives.

Terrace Park, Ohio Building Survey