'Small Top' coming

The circus has come to town.

And not just any circus.

The Rager Brothers Combined Circus - a miniature creation by Portland's Phil Rager incorporating hundreds of tiny animals, performers, wagons, and more - will be on display during the Jay County Historical Society's Christmas open houses at the historical museum at the end of East Main Street in Portland.

The open house events are set for 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, Saturday, Dec. 13, and Saturday, Dec. 20.

Admission is free but visitors are asked to bring canned goods for the Helping Hand Food Pantry. Fourteen Christmas trees have been decorated for the occasion and visitors may vote for their favorite tree with their donated canned goods.

Rager's miniature circus has been growing now for more than 30 years. It began when Phil's wife, Sue, gave him an HO model train set. Once the train layout was completed, a circus soon followed.

"I've always just loved the circus," Rager told The CR in an earlier interview. "The spectacle, the enormity, the logistics of traveling to a new town every day and setting up for a new show.

Some of the pieces in the collection were store-bought kits, but many were built by Rager from scratch. Still others were kits that were modified or customized.

The museum display, which only represents a fraction of the Rager circus, includes not only a big top with three rings of action but a lengthy parade of circus wagons and vehicles.[[In-content Ad]]