first on decorahnews.com: "All the World Loves a Clown"--but this Decorah woman married Bozo!

"Bozo" Lamont puts on his clown makeup

Here are two phrases you don't normally hear in the same sentence: "Decorah, Iowa" and "Bozo the Clown."  But a suitcase full of mementos donated recently to the Decorah Public Library and the Winneshiek County Historical Society prove there was a definite connection.

Miss Elizabeth Powers grew up in Decorah.  The daughter of Mrs. Ida Powers, who lived at 808 Maple Avenue, she graduated from Decorah High School in 1923, then attended Iowa State and Luther College.  After college she was hired as the Decorah High School librarian.

Then, the circus came to town!  The years after World War II were still a time before television became popular, so some of the most popular entertainers were circus performers.  Arthur Lamont was not just a clown for the circus, he was "Bozo," the biggest name under the big top.

At that time, Lamont was earning $2,500 a week--a big salary in those days.  He and Elizabeth were both in their early 40s when the two met--and Arthur was instantly in love.

The two married in 1949.  In 1952, he won the "Community Service Award" in Decorah for staging benefit shows and helping with community projects.  He even ran for Governor of Iowa as an Independent.

In 1956, Lamont died at the age of 51.  Elizabeth lived until 1984, when she died at the age of 79.

But it was only last month that some of "Bozo's" personal items were donated to the historical society.  They had been in a suitcase owned by "Bozo" Lamont and included clown wigs, clown makeup and a clown costume.

Volunteers for the Historical Society have been pouring through the items, attempting to figure out what each one is and whether they, indeed, were "Bozo's" property.

Decorah Librarian Lorraine Borowski says the plan is to put together an exhibit at the library that will be open to the public.  They will be evidence from a time when the circus was king--and one of the queens came from Decorah.

Lamont and some starlets

Bozo's bum costume

Clowns at play!