10/05/2026
This we are heading to Mullins!
Each year around Thanksgiving, Mullins residents looked forward to the arrival of the James E. Strates Shows train.
The show spent the winter at the Clark warehouses, repairing rides and equipment for the next season. 🎡🚂
Just before 3 am on December 22, 1945, fire swept through Clark Warehouse No. 2.
Rides, wagons, trailers, and much of the show’s equipment were destroyed. Some of the animals died, and workers lost their homes and belongings. Thankfully no human lives were lost.
The next morning, Mullins neighbors brought coffee and sandwiches and offered the workers places to stay. Owner James E. Strates rebuilt the show in just three and a half months.
“The people of Mullins rallied around the circus. It had become a part of their lives each year.” - Dr. William H. Hester
Strates Shows still operates today, though its carnival train made its final run in 2024.
Do you remember any stories of the train arriving in Mullins?
*eDeeHistory *eDeeTourism *eDeeRegion
Source: The History of Mullins by Bartlene McMillan; https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EhGNStNsY/
December 21st and December 22nd
On this day in Mullins history, the Strates Circus fire broke out at Clark’s Warehouse No. 2.
Each winter, Strates would stay in Mullins, utilizing both Clark Warehouses to repair their equipment in preparation for the upcoming season. The town eagerly anticipated the arrival of the train every year around Thanksgiving.
However, in the late hours of December 21st, a devastating fire engulfed Clark’s No. 2, causing unimaginable losses.
This tragic event was just the beginning of the story. The citizens of this remarkable town welcomed the circus workers into their homes while the circus owner managed to rebuild in just three and a half months.
“The people of Mullins rallied around the circus. It had become a part of their lives each year.” - Dr. William Hester of Florence.
Today, Strates Shows continues to operate!
Mullins Fire & Rescue
