Hello Mr. Scobert: You may be interested in hearing about The Dunlap Teenee
Weenee Circus shown in the attached digital scan. One of its main buildings is named
Scobert and Dodge and I would like to learn more about that building and the Scobet
family. The Circus was made by Lylle Dunlap of Eugene who worked for or
with Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Webber, circus buffs fo Selah, Washington.
http://www.users.voicenet.com/~gottesm/circusall2412-2cr70.j...I am trying to find more information about theWebbers and their circus. All I know
now is that they probably died in the 1970's and that their circus was sold to someone
in San Diego for possible inclusion in a toy museum that never materialized. I am
appending a description of the circus and its history. I hope you will be intrigued and
that you will find the time to help me gather more information about its creation and
about the history it portrays.
Thank you. Len Gottesman.
Dunlaps Teenee Weenee Circus Arrives in Eugene--Unique Folk Art
Dunlaps Teenee Weenee Circus was carved by Lylle Dunlap who was born on May
15, 1892 and died in Eugene, Oregon on Dec 8, 1989.
(He may be the same person as Victor Jay Dunlap who records show was born in
1875 in Wisconsin. As a youth he ran away with the circus and was know to have
used several variations of his name as he traveled the country. Victor Jay Dunlap was
last heard of by his family in 1940. He contacted them from Texas asking for
information so he could apply for social security.)
Lylle Dunlap is know to have gone to work for Mr. Mrs. Jeff Webber, circus buffs of
Selah, WA in about 1960. Working for them for 12 years he helped create a massive
carved circus. It included an old fashioned circus train, a big top show with action
taking place in its three rings, side shows, and caliopes. There were hundreds of
performers, roustabouts, circus animals and spectators. In all it covered over 200
square feet and required extensive wiring to run.
A couple in San Diego purchased the circus from the Webbers in 1973 intending to
make it part of a toy museum. When that museum failed to materialize, the circus was
put on display in Villa Montezum by the San Diego Historical Society in Christmas
1975 and put up for auction with an expected proceeds of $6,000. No records exist
about the buyer of the big top and shows.
The Circus Train was donated to and sold to me by the San Diego Historical
Society.in 1980.
The Circus Train focuses on the circus arrival in Eugene, Or. the city in which Lylle
Dunlap lived his last years. It has wonderful detail in the animal and human figures
and remarkable historical accuracy. There are three buildings.-The Scobert and
Dodge warehouse represents a real business created by Myrtle Scobert and Edgar
Dodge, who married in Clackamus Co., Oregon in about 1900.
The Eugene Woolen Mill was founded in Eugene by Emil A. Koppe at at the turn of
the century. The Pacific Freight Depot also existed in Eugene at that time.
The Dunlap Circus train has 5 cars, each inscribed with the Dunlap name.
One contains two rolled up canvas tents and another has a donkey looking out. Three
are numbered flat cars.
There are 6 six-wheeled wagons .
The cook's wagon has provisions tied on top and buckets below. It has already been
hitched to two white horses.
Five other wagons are in various stages of unloading.
The Circus has 20 delightfully carved animals.
Among the four elephants, two are covered with showy wraps and one has a dressed
circus rider. A parade of four camels is being led by a mounted rider dressed in a
white turban and caftan.
There are two Zebras, a dog, a show horse wearing a fancy blanket, two donkeys,
and four more horses.
There are 9 carved people: the elephant rider, the camel rider, two men unloading
packages on two-wheeled carts, one man positioning a wagon, a man guiding the
cooks wagon, and three milling roustabouts.
I will be happy to send you digital photos of any of the specific animals, people.
buildings or rolling stock. Please ask.