Cascade City hall

Welcome to Cascade, Iowa—a town that helped create what became the ‘Greatest Show on Earth,’ the Ringling Brothers Circus! This is a local legend that is near and dear to the hearts of Cascade residents, and it’s a story that has been passed down through generations.

Let’s travel back in time to 1880. The Ringling family had seven brothers, five of whom went on to start the world-famous Ringling Brothers Circus. As children, they loved performing and pretending to run a circus. Eventually, they took their talents on the road, performing in small towns across the Midwest. But it wasn’t an easy journey.

While traveling through Iowa, a terrible storm destroyed their tent, ruined their equipment, and left them broke. The brothers couldn’t even afford food for their animals, and some were taken as payment by a feed store. In desperation, they walked through the mud from Onslow to Monticello, hoping to perform and earn some money. But Monticello required a performance fee, and the brothers were too broke to pay.

That’s when they heard about Cascade, a town known for enjoying good entertainment. Al Ringling came here and met Isaac Baldwin, the town’s mayor and newspaper publisher, and R.J. McVay, a local banker. The people of Cascade stepped up to help. The mayor gave them a permit to perform for free, printed posters to advertise the show, and allowed them to pay later. Mr. McVay provided them with money for supplies and transportation, and local boys even helped carry their equipment and animals through the muddy roads to town.

After a few days of preparation, the Ringling brothers performed their first show in Cascade. The tent was packed for the afternoon performance, and the evening show was even more crowded—so full that not everyone could fit inside! The money from these shows helped the Ringling brothers pay off their debts and gave them the fresh start they desperately needed. From there, their circus began to grow, eventually becoming the world-renowned ‘Greatest Show on Earth.’

Although the circus couldn’t return to Cascade once it began traveling by train, the brothers never forgot the town that helped them. Years later, Al Ringling even gave a shout-out to Cascade residents at a performance in Monticello, telling the crowd about how this small town had stepped in to save them. He made a promise that anyone from Cascade would always be able to get into their shows for free, no matter where the circus performed.

Cascade’s kindness and generosity helped save the Ringling Brothers Circus and made a lasting mark on history. It’s an incredible story about how a small town made a big difference!

And speaking of Cascade’s rich history, you might also be interested to know about the gym here at City Hall. It was built by the Works Progress Administration, a federal program  during the Great Depression in the 1930's. The gym still serves the community today, hosting basketball games and other events. It’s a place where residents can gather, play sports, and celebrate the town’s strong sense of community. The gym is not only a historical landmark but also a vibrant, active space where Cascade’s people continue to make memories, just as they did when they first helped the Ringling brothers all those years ago.

So, next time you hear the legend  of the Ringling Brothers, remember that this legend demonstrates that "The people of this town can show  the world what it truly means to lend a helping hand."