Southtowns Wood Carvers (Al Gerbig, Charles Trudel and John Petkovsky)

Among the Southtowns Woodcarvers, Chuck Trudel designed the circus pole, which was carved in public as a demonstration at the Erie County Fair. It was carved from one piece of wood that was divided into three sections from the base to the acrobats’ pavilion. John Petkovsky carved the base. Al Gerbig, who learned his craft in Michigan, carved the horses, ringmaster, decorative block, lion in a cage, and bears. Chuck Trudel carved all the rest. Circus Pole was on public display in the Hamburg Library before the artists donated it to the museum in 2010.