In the summer of 1946, Southwick, Massachusetts, became an unlikely gathering place for circus dreamers and craftsmen. The Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut Circus Fans Association, along with the Circus Model Builders and Owners Association, held their annual meeting at Litch’s Corner (today's 215 Feeding Hills Road). Their host, Elmer D. Litch, was not only a member of a local Chamber of Commerce but had once served as president of the Model Builders Association. His property provided the perfect stage for what was to follow. (Litch owned a moving and trucking business in Springfield, Massachusetts. His company had done work for visiting circuses.)    Inspired by the success of the meeting, the two organizations resolved to stage a three-day public exhibition the following year. And so, in 1947, the quiet town of Southwick came alive with the sights, sounds, and flavors of the circus. Beneath billowing fireproof canvas tents, visitors found themselves in a minia...