“Nothing pleases the average New Yorker better than an accident of some sort.”

So said the New York Herald on April 4, 1893, in reference to a Barnum & Bailey show in which two riders took a tumble mid-performance. No mention is made of serious injury, but the writer did go on to say that, thanks to the accident, the crowd “got their money’s worth.” A morbid sentiment, perhaps, but not an altogether uncommon one, and circus history certainly has its fair share of these moments—and those eager onlookers. Now, with a new digital history project from The Ringling Museum online and up-and-running, folks today can take a peek into the past at notable incidents and accidents from these traveling shows.

Entitled Slips, Falls, Mishaps and Tragedies: Mapping Circus Accidents, 1893, the project maps the course of five traveling circuses (including the Ringling Bros.) in the year 1893, marking every stop and each recorded accident along the way. Created by Joy Feagan, a public historian and summer intern at The Ringling, the end result is an interactive website that allows the user to take both a broad look at the paths taken by these railroad-hopping shows and zoom in on particular incidents.

The year 1893 was chosen due largely to availability of resources in the Ringling Archives, including a series of “route books”—written records kept by each circus of notable events on that season’s tour. These events are divided into a series of categories based on the nature of the mishap, including troubles mid-act, accidents while traveling, animal escapes, weather misfortune and even crime. Find stories of overzealous re-enactors hurting their fellow performers, trains derailing in the Allegheny Mountains, escaped jungle cats in the woods of Pennsylvania and even Pinkertons taking on pickpockets in the swelling crowds.

“The darker side of history is a little less explored for most subjects,” says Feagan, who not only conducted the research in the archives but also created the intricate website layout. She admits to a bit of morbid curiosity in the project’s DNA, but emphasizes a greater takeaway than mere time-traveling rubbernecking. “It really increased my appreciation for circus performances,” she says, “reading what they had to go through just to get to these towns every day.” And, importantly, viewers will note that circus professionals brought it all off without a hitch, more often than not, despite traveling at breakneck pace with practically an entire town’s-worth of people involved. “These people were incredible,” Feagan says. “They worked so hard and the scope is incomprehensible.”

Now online, explore Slips, Falls, Mishaps and Tragedies: Mapping Circus Accidents, 1893 at the website below. 

Pictured: Joy Feagan searches The Ringling Archives for circus-related mishaps.

Slips, Falls, Mishaps and Tragedies: Mapping Circus Accidents, 1893

The Healthcare Foundation’s mission is to ensure that Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has the resources it needs to provide outstanding medical care, delivering high-quality care benefits not only current patients within the hospital but also throughout the community.

Grants in Action is an opportunity to highlight our community’s ongoing commitment to raising the standard of healthcare. Over the years, the generosity of our donors has enabled the Healthcare Foundation to provide grants that funded lifesaving technology, programs, facilities, and staff education. Recent grants have supported the upgrade and modernization of critically important trauma services and respiratory and cardiac technologies.

The Healthcare Foundation recently awarded four grants totaling more than $1.5 million to fund respiratory ventilators, mobile X-ray imaging, medical simulators and cardiac care equipment. Nearly $185,000 in grants allowed SMH to purchase six Drager V500 ventilators which support breathing in the most critically ill patients—from premature infants to elderly adults. Modernizing the ventilators will improve patient comfort and lead to better outcomes.

Funds raised at the 2018 Hospital Gala will be used for the purchase of a Mobile Dart Evolution MX8C mobile X-ray imaging system. The emergency and trauma program needed an additional mobile x-ray system to accommodate its growing patient population. Having an imaging system on wheels allows medical staff to take X-rays without having to move seriously ill or injured patients.

Another $400,000 funded the purchase of simulation equipment for the SMH Emergency Medicine Graduate Medical Education program, which will launch in July. Simulation is a critical part of medical education. Having a model on which to practice diagnostic and surgical techniques gives physicians-in-training a chance to improve their skills without compromising patient safety.

Finally, the Healthcare Foundation awarded nearly $792,000 in grants for the Cardiac Care Program to purchase new equipment. Thanks to this grant, cardiology patients will benefit from new ultrasound machines, transport ventilators, defibrillators and other state-of-the-art equipment.

To learn more about Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation grants or to donate, please visit smhf.org. 

Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation

Gulf Coast Community Foundation is now accepting applications for the Fall 2019 Gulf Coast Board Institute. Gulf Coast will select up to 24 applicants to participate. The group will meet for four consecutive Fridays, from October 4 to 25, covering topics such as the fundamentals of nonprofit board governance, financial and legal oversight responsibilities, and how to create a highly functioning and engaged board. Training is led by professional, BoardSource-certified consultants who are part of Gulf Coast’s Invest in Incredible nonprofit capacity-building initiative.

Gulf Coast provides all training and resources at no cost to participants in exchange for their commitment to serve as advocates for good board governance in current and future nonprofit board roles. Applicants must be currently active board members at a nonprofit in the region to be considered. The deadline to apply for this high-level governance training series for nonprofit board members is August 16. The online application is available at the website below. 

2019 Gulf Coast Board Institute Applications

Many area teachers are using their own money to buy school supplies for their classrooms. WWSB ABC 7 and Gettel Automotive are partnering for a back-to-school crusade collecting school supplies for the 2019-2020 school year. Gettel Automotive is currently accepting donations at any of its six Bradenton and Sarasota locations through this Thursday August 8, 2019, looking to fill five more trunks by that day. Cash donations are currently nearing $5000, and funds will be matched by Gettel Automotive and presented to The Education Foundations of Manatee and Sarasota counties. Visit the GoFundMe page below. 

Back-to-School Fundraising

Meals On Wheels of Sarasota donated hundreds of lunches for the 11th annual Days 4 Hope, hosted by Hope 4 Communities. The back-to-school events held at local churches made it possible for children in need to get new backpacks, uniforms, shoes and school supplies; personal care items; dental, medical and vision exams; haircuts; and child and family portraits. Among the many services and school supply stations, there were activities for children like face-painting, and representatives from organizations that provide support for families were there to speak to parents.

For more information about the services of Meals On Wheels of Sarasota visit the website below. 

Meals On Wheels of Sarasota

Suncoast Humane Society, a regional nonprofit humane society in operation since 1971, is expanding its thrift store at Palm Plaza, a premier shopping destination owned by GK Development Inc. Construction is slated to begin this month on the store renovation and scheduled for completion in fall 2019. The shop will grow from its current 7,500-square-foot space to approximately 12,000 square feet. All sale proceeds support the nonprofit’s services, programs and its animals.

Suncoast Humane Society is one of Florida’s few “open admissions” animal care facilities, where no animal in need is ever turned away—regardless of health, temperament, breed, age or size. Each year, the organization helps more than 50,000 animals and people through its programs and services. Suncoast Humane Society reaches over 450 square miles and 11 communities, including Charlotte and Sarasota counties, Boca Grande and beyond. 

Suncoast Humane Society