Jumbo fans gather to pay tribute to the famous elephant on the 140th anniversary of his death

He’s gone, but he wasn’t forgotten Monday evening by the two-dozen people who gathered on Woodworth Avenue by the CN railway tracks to remember Jumbo.

Monday, you see, was the 140th anniversary of the great elephant’s death on the evening of Sept. 15, 1885, in St. Thomas. The famous pachyderm was run down by an unexpected freight train a little bit east of Woodworth as he was returning to his circus train following a performance.

Wearing an “I (heart) Jumbo” T-shirt, local historian Steve Peters, a self-admitted “Jumbomaniac,” shared the story of Jumbo’s demise, observing as a timely Formet truck-frame train released its brakes with a loud crash as it passed: “That must have been what it sounded like when Jumbo got hit.”

Joining Steve was Dariusz Korbiel, guest curator of Jumbomania, the current Elgin County Museum exhibition at the Elgin County Heritage Centre.

It’s an “amazing” show about the life and legacy of Jumbo that Steve urged his audience to see.

“If you haven’t had a chance to see it yet, you’ve got to get out to check it out.”

It’s advice onlookers John Heidt and Chris Smith planned to take.

Chris said they turned out for Monday’s commemoration because Jumbo “is part of my city heritage.”

Concluding the 25-minute tribute in front of the  Jumbo historical marker at roadside, Steve and Dariusz cracked two cans of ales, locally brewed by Railway City Brewing and named in honour of Jumbo, and poured the suds on the ground.

“So if the premier can dump a bottle of Crown Royal in front of a whole bunch of reporters and not get in trouble, I think Dariusz and I can have a toast to Jumbo and dump a can of Dead Elephant and Double Dead Elephant,” Steve said.

“To Jumbo,” he said.

“To the memory of Jumbo and the legacy he left behind,” Dariusz said.

It will be a happier sound than that train Saturday at the Elgin Heritage Centre.

An afternoon of activities in connection with Jumbomania and this week’s 140th anniversary includes a program of music written to celebrate Jumbo.

Scouring the Library of Congress and other libraries and archives in the U.S. and England, Dariusz discovered the music for 12 songs about the circus elephant. (A 13th is known to have existed, but the music is lost.)

Dariusz says the music goes to show how much of an impact Jumbo made on the popular culture of the day.

“To have 12 songs written about you in a couple of years is phenomenal.”

Dariusz is to introduce the exhibition at noon, and musician Andrew Petrasiunas and vocalist Kate Milner will perform about eight of the works from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The museum also is setting up its green screen for souvenir photos of museum-goers with Jumbo.

The day is free.

And on Wednesday next, at 7 p.m., Steve will talk about the life and times of Jumbo in an Elgin Historical Society evening. All are welcome.

It’s lights, camera, St. Thomas.

The director of CBC TV’s........

© Sarnia Observer