P. T. BARNUM'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Bethel adopts a circus atmosphere to celebrate P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday

Vinti Singh, Staff Writer Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Rosalyn Donofrio, of Bethel, cuts the cake at a town party for the native son P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday outside the Bethel Municipal Center on Monday, July 5, 2010. Photo: Michael Duffy / The News-Times

BETHEL -- More than 1,000 people attended P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday celebration Monday evening in front of the Bethel Municipal Center, an event that featured an animal
menagerie, reminiscent of the Bethel native who founded the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
"People (who went to the circus) were used to seeing barnyard animals, but not animals from around the world," said Ted Krogh, who brought his camel to display. "We all try to emulate him. He was in the business of making people smile."
Barnum was the man who brought the world Tom Thumb, the Fiji Mermaid, the Bearded Woman and other oddities.
Monday's event included live music, acrobat performances, belly dancers and clowns, and a cowboy ninja. People walked around wearing red foam noses and tried walking on mini stilts.
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Bethel residents Rebecca Wild and Kendra Belleflew, both 10, jump for joy while the band plays at the celebration of P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday at the Bethel Municipal Center on Monday, July 5, 2010. Photo: Michael Duffy / The News-Times

Jen Cody, 18, and Andrew Baumgartner, 16, of Bethel honor the circus with clown noses at the birthday celebration of P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday at the Bethel Municipal Center on Monday, July 5, 2010. Photo: Michael Duffy / The News-Times

The celebration of P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday at the Bethel Municipal Center on Monday, July 5, 2010. Photo: Michael Duffy / The News-Times

P.T. Barnum sculpture David Gesualdi, left center, points out a structural detail to home owner Paul English, left, in the room of Barnum's birth, during a tour of the house on Monday, July 5, 2010. Mary English is right center, and Terri Kowwicz, is next to her. Molly Layda, 8, is with her grandparents, Richard and Pat Layda of Newtown. The P.T. Barnum house was on Richard Layda's paper route when he was a boy. Photo: Michael Duffy / The News-Times