[deano_hoosier]

A little Village history I came across….

The property that is now Truman Golf Course was puchased by The Villages from a relative of James Bailey who you might remember as partner with P.T. Barnum and founders of the Barnum & Bailey Circus.

As it turns out, this Bailey owned a ranch/horse farm on which Truman was built. And this Bailey was also an animal lover who had special feelings for endagered/sick animals. He approached the Barnum & Bailey Circus and offered to provide a refuge for their circus animals that may have become too old or infirm to travel with the circus.

As it happens a number of the animals died on his property and the particularly large ones (elephants, for example) were buried at the highest elevation to insure the best drainage around their large bodies.

You may have noticed this burial ground to the right off Truman’s #9 hole --- the mounds you see there is that site.