Tom Thumb, P. T. Barnum Graves - Bridgeport, CT
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 41° 10.315 W 073° 13.481
18T E 648921 N 4559360
The graves of Tom Thumb (Charles Sherwood Stratton) and P. T. Barnum are located within sight of each other in sections 8 and 9 of Mountain Grove Cemetery at 215 Dewey St., Bridgeport, CT.
Waymark Code: WM11WTN
Location: Connecticut, United States
Date Posted: 12/31/2019
Views: 2
Charles Sherwood Stratton (location of coordinates) is known worldwide by his stage name as the entertainer "Tom Thumb". His grave is located in section 8 of Mountain Grove Cemetery.
STRATTON
SHERWOOD E. STRATTON,
DIED DEC. 29, 1885,
AGED 44, YEARS.
---
CYNTHIA STRATTON,
HIS WIFE
DIED MARCH 26, 1884,
AGED 74 YEARS 3 M'S.
---
CHARLES S. STRATTON,
DIED JULY 15, 1883,
AGED 45 Y'S 6 M'S 11 D'S.
A plaque added to the lower right side of the monument is inscribed:
THIS MONUMENT IS A MEMORIAL TO
CHARLES S. STRATTON, A NATIVE OF OF BRIDGEPORT,
WHO GAINED WORLDWIDE FAME AS TOM THUMB IN
THE EXHIBITIONS OF P.T. BARNUM. THE LIFESIZE
STATUE WAS ERECTED BEFORE TOM THUMB'S DEATH
ON JULY 15, 1883. IN 1999 VANDALS SMASHED
THE STATUE, IT WAS RESTORED BY THE BARNUM
FESTIVAL SOCIETY AND MOUNTAIN GROVE
CEMETERY ASSOCIATION WITH FUNDS RAISED
BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTIQN.
NOV. 19, 1961
|
Charles Sherwood Stratton was born in Bridgeport, CT on January 4, 1838. A proportionate dwarf he was of normal size at birth but did not continue to grow normally and only reached height of 3.25' as an adult.
He was discovered at age five by showman P.T. Barnum who taught him how to how to sing, dance, mime, do impersonations and invented his persona as "General Tom Thumb". Then Barnum took him on a tour of America where he was received with wide acclaim. The next year Barnum on a tour of Europe, where he became an international celebrity.
His 1863 marriage to his fellow performer and little person, Livinia Warren was celebrated as the marriage of the century. During their reception there were 10,000 guests. The couple became very wealthy as performers.
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The grave of author, entertainer, and politician P.T. Barnum known as "The Greatest Showman" is located in section 9 of Mountain Grove Cemetery.
N 41° 10.316 W 073° 13.453
The family plot of Phineas T. Barnum is marked by a tall monument and individual headstones. The monument is inscribed:
PHINEAS T. BARNUM
DIED
APRIL 7, 1891
AE. 80 Y'RS.
----
CHARITY
HIS WIFE
DIED NOV. 19, 1873
AE. 65 Y'RS.
----
FRANCES J.
THEIR DAUGHTER
DIED APRIL 10, 1844
AGED 1 YEAR & 11 MO.
BARNUM
The headstone for Phineas T. Barnum is inscribed:
P.T. BARNUM
NOT MY WILL BUT
THINE BE DONE
P.T. Barnum was born in Bethel, CT on July 5, 1810 where he founded a weekly newspaper before moving to New York City in 1834.
In New York, Barnum creating a curiosity museum and the circus that now is part of the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus. His career in entertainment included a variety troupe called "Barnum's Grand Scientific and Musical Theater" and purchasing Scudder's American Museum, which he renamed the Barnum American Museum. He became famous for using the museum to promote hoaxes and human curiosities such as the Feejee mermaid and General Tom Thumb. He also promoted the American tour of singer Jenny Lind, "The Swedish Nightingale". P.T. Barnum is closely associated with the aphorism "There's a sucker born every minute."
Barnum was also served in Connecticut House of Representatives from 1866–1869 and the mayor of Bridgeport, CT from 1875–1876. He died in Bridgeport on April 7, 1891 and is buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery.