About this episode
The episode explores a memorable circus visit to Pine Mountain Valley in 1949 through a reading by Charlotte Smith Winsness.
Come with me back to 1949, when Pine Mountain Valley got a rare and unforgettable visitor — the circus, in town for one night only. In today’s episode of Pine Mountain, Then and Now , Charlotte Smith Winsness is joining me to read a chapter from her book, titled “The Circus Comes to Town.” The story is set in a place many of us can picture — near the crossroads of Highway 116 and 354, close to where the school once stood near today’s baseball field, and near the old gas station and post office folks still remember as being about the size of a closet. So get comfortable, and let Charlotte take you back to a night the Valley won’t forget.
People in this episode
Host: Joy Foote
Guest: Charlotte Smith Winsness
Topics covered
- circus
- history
- Pine Mountain Valley
- 1949
- local culture
- storytelling
Keywords
- circus
- Pine Mountain Valley
- 1949
- Charlotte Smith Winsness
- local history
- storytelling
- cultural events
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Circus Comes to Town
Places: Pine Mountain Valley, Highway 116, Highway 354, baseball field, gas station, post office
More episodes of Pine Mountain, Then and Now
- All Aboard the Man O’ War · May 19, 2026 · 12 min
- God Bless Sunnyside · April 28, 2026 · 18 min
- Two Cat Town · April 7, 2026 · 13 min
- Look Closer: Secrets of the Trains Mural · February 24, 2026 · 7 min
- Georgia Black History Trail · February 4, 2026 · 9 min
- Santa Lives at Western Auto · December 3, 2025 · 7 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Pine Mountain, Then and Now podcast page.