Hugo: Winter Games
Taichi Reilly
Your next winters will be much milder with a Kanuk coat. Trust the thousands of Quebecers who have experienced it: Kanuk coats are beautiful, warm, light, durable and very comfortable. Our clothes are made to last and we stand behind each and every one of them. The Kanuk warranty covers any manufacturing or raw material defect throughout the life of the mantle. This warranty does not cover repairs necessary due to accidents, improper use, neglect or normal wear and tear of the product.
Kanuk down comes from mature white Hutterite ducks from Western Canada (90% down). These ducks are raised in small, free-range Canadian communities where they are carefully monitored to ensure their health and well-being. The down they produce is of ethical and traceable origin and is highly prized throughout the world.
Do It Right Tip: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the leading cause of death during US natural disasters. To prevent injury or illness while weathering a snowstorm, place your generator at least 20 feet away from your home or garage, outside of all doors, windows, and other openings.
Falling trees, freezing or downed power lines, and electrical damage from frigid temperatures make power outages a common occurrence during winter storms. Preparing yourself with flashlights and the right flashlight batteries can make it easier to weather the storm with increased comfort and visibility. We carry clip-on lighting and headlamps for easy, hands-free light, as well as chargeable or battery-powered flashlights to fit your exact needs. Stock up on AA, AAA, and D batteries to keep your emergency lights going.
Preparing for power outages also means taking note of what electronics are necessary during a winter storm, and knowing how often these essential items need to be charged. We carry portable power banks that are pre-charged to power small devices, such as phones and other rechargeable devices. For larger electronics, such as lamps and small appliances, a power inverter can allow you to use electricity from your vehicle's battery and charging systems and is a great option if you don't have access to a portable generator.
Whether you need to use your generator at a safe distance or want to power your devices and appliances more conveniently, extension cords make it easier to connect to and access your power sources. We carry a variety of extension cords, including retractable cords, cords with multiple outlets, and extension cords up to 100 feet long to help you weather a snowstorm or blizzard more comfortably.
Whether you have a fireplace in your home or have built a fire pit, having a fire extinguisher nearby when you are burning wood to stay warm can help ensure your health and safety. While there may be snow on the ground and a spreading fire may seem like a distant concern, fires can still smolder and burn under snow, ice, and cold ground. Burning candles during power outages, electrical fires, and accidents due to the storm are likely causes of fires, and it's best to be prepared with a fire extinguisher in case of emergency.
Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart. The nearer I approach the end, the plainer I hear around me the immortal symphonies of the worlds which invite me. . . . For half a century I have been writing thoughts in prose, verse, history, drama, romance, tradition, satire, ode, and song. I have tried them all, but I feel I have not said a thousandth part of that which is within me. When I go down to the grave, I can say "I have finished my day's work," but I cannot say "I have finished my life's work."
Look not at the face, young girl, look at the heart. The heart of a handsome young man is often deformed. There are hearts in which love does not keep. Young girl, the pine is not beautiful; it is not beautiful like the poplar, but it keeps its foliage in winter.
In winter there is no heat, no light, no noon, evening touches morning, there is fog, and mist, the window is frosted, and you cannot see clearly. The sky is but the mouth of a cave. The whole day is the cave.... Frightful season! Winter changes into stone the water of heaven and the heart of man.
The city lays proud claim to its rail heritage as well. In the early 1980s, city leaders restored the downtown train depot, and every summer the Hugo Heritage Railroad passenger train takes nostalgic trips.
The Carson and Barnes Circus, the biggest five-ring tent circus now in existence, and the Kelly-Miller Circus, a three-ring tent circus, have wintered in Hugo since 1942, when the Miller brothers, D.R. and Kelly, moved their circuses to Hugo.
The Carson and Barnes Circus has been on the road for 55 seasons this year. D.R. Miller and his wife, Isla, bought Carson and Barnes 50 years ago and are revered as the longest owners of a circus, exceeding even Ringling Brothers.
Many circus performers have been buried in Hugo's Mount Olivet Cemetery. The cemetery has a special burial section, called Showmen's Rest, reserved for circus people. A monument overlooking the section pictures a performing elephant under a giant circus tent, and reads "In Tribute to All Showmen Under God's Big Tent. " The special section was opened in 1960 following the death of Kelly Miller. Circus folks are memorialized with imaginative tombstones in the shapes of big tops, wagon wheels and elephants.
In downtown Hugo, the Old Frisco Railroad Depot was built in 1914. Now owned and operated by the Choctaw County Historical Society, the depot houses the Frisco Depot Museum, the Harvey House Restaurant and is home to the seasonal Hugo Heritage Railroad.
Beginning April 9 and running through Oct. 1, the Hugo Heritage Railroad will take passengers on a 25-mile ride every Saturday. The railroad consists of two coaches, built in 1940 for the Norfolk and Western Railroad, and a power car. The 82-passenger coaches were refurbished by the Kiamichi Railroad, and Kiamichi locomotives pull the train. Tickets to ride the train are $15 for adults, $10 for children.
Waterproof insulated kids winter jacket for cold winter days. This jacket will keep you warm and dry throughout the season allowing to stay outside having fun longer.
- Water repellence 10 000, Breathability 5000, Durability 40 000 martindale
- 240 g polyester insulation
- BIONIC-FINISH ECO Fluorocarbon-free water and dirt repellent finishing
- Fully sealed seams with tape
- 3M reflectors for safety
- Two hand pockets on the sides
- Ski pass pocket on sleeve and a mesh pocket for ski goggles inside
- Chest pocket with a headphone port
- Removable hood with a detachable faux-fur trim for safety
- Soft fleece on the inside of the collar and hood.
- Elastic adjustable cuffs
- Adjustable and detachable snow skirt inside the hem
- Inside easy-to-dress Kuoma signature map lining
- Durable 100% PES fabric
Despite the boom in circuses wintering in Hugo, there also came a bust. Over time, shows changed hands, in some cases names, and even owners. Some were successful, some folded. Yet, the town of Hugo continues to hold strong to its circus heritage. Currently three active circuses call Hugo home; Carson and Barnes, Kelly Miller, and Culpepper & Merriweather. Traveling by road, these three tent circuses entertain in towns of various sizes, including small rural communities throughout the country. Their continued existence is evidence that the circus is still magical for people of all ages and is truly one of the last great family entertainments.
At the end of the day, showmen and women love what they do. In talking with members of the Hugo circus community through this oral history project, we learned that they love the smiles, the smells, the traveling, and the joy circuses bring to families across the United States. Whether they are currently employed in a traveling show, retired or even semi-retired, the circus is still very much part of who they are.
In addition to precision in moving, shows also boast a distinct organizational structure. Circus lots are usually divided into the front and back yards, with the front being the public side of the show and the back being the private areas of the circus including the living quarters (trailers or sleeper cars), animals, props, equipment, storage, cookhouse and more.
Traveling in such close quarters strengthens bonds and tends to develop lifelong friendships between those in the circus ranks. Even upon retirement, showmen and women continue to remain connected to the greater circus community.
Workers employed in the circus, from performers to animal trainers, typically come from two different worlds: generational circus families and outsiders with an in-demand skill-set. Generational circus families typically bring a wealth of talents to a show, with children learning techniques and roles in their early years mixed with the seasoned professionalism and attention to detail from older employees. Secondly, you have those workers who join the show later in life with key knowledge or skills. In both situations, workers come from varied backgrounds and experiences and usually face unique challenges on the road based on a variety of unknowns every given season. Despite being a descendant of a generational circus family or the son or daughter of a towner who joins the show for a better life, most learning begins with the children in the form of play for some, and reality for others.
With time, and as the members of the troupe married, members of the Loyal family developed specialties of their own. The Alfonso Loyal Repensky troupe quickly earned a reputation as an excellent bareback riding act and Lucy Loyal, the daughter of Alfonso, was one of the stars. Lucy was born in 1949 in Sarasota, Florida and in 1955 her family made their first trip to Hugo, Oklahoma where they joined the Al G. Kelly and Miller Brothers Circus. Lucy was already performing at this time. By 1965 her family had moved to Hugo and was performing for the Carson and Barnes Circus with whom Lucy continued to be associated until her death in 2012. While Lucy loved circus life and circus work, Dolly, on the other hand, did not. Dolly Pirtle is the daughter of Zefta Loyal Perez and Raymond Perez. Dolly, at a young age, learned aerial acts and performed on the trapeze until she graduated from high school. At that time, she married and left the circus life never to return.
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