Carnival on Clinton Street

For many years, Lloyd V. Tuttle contributed historic photos and information to the Defiance Crescent-News for his column: "A Backward Glance."  This article was dated October 31, 1963, but the date of the carnival itself is unknown.  They seemed to be most popular in the early nineteen hundreds.

"THIS PICTURE, loaned by L. W. Burrell, 509 Ravine Ave., dates back to the days when carnivals pitched their tents in the downtown section of Clinton St.  The date is not known but the picture depicts one of the finest free acts ever brought to Defiance by a carnival company.  The woman ascended the looped runway by turning the ball on which she stands with her feet.  Here she has reached the top and waves 'Old Glory."

It was a long time ago as you can see a one story building at Clinton and Fifth Sts.  It was torn down at the order of the state fire marshal, George (Spot) Smith, who was then chief of the Fire Department.  Next to it is another frame building and then the two story pressed brick building at Nolan Bros. Grocery which was a new building.  Adjoining, was the three story Blanchard Building which was razed to make room for the Strand Theater building, now converted into business rooms." 

Many of the newspaper correspondents from around the county mentioned people from their area who had attended the street carnival in Defiance.  The carnival usually lasted a week and was loved by all.  The Defiance-Express had this to say on August 16, 1902:

By about 1915, nothing was found in the newspapers on the street fair which had given way to the circus and various festivals and carnivals held by groups in the city.