What) Norma Jean was a 6,500-pound elephant and the star attraction of the Clark and Walters Circus. That ended abruptly on the morning of July 17, 1972, when she was struck and killed by a bolt of lightning. Her trainer, "Possum Red," was knocked 30 feet by the blast. With no elephant, the Circus went out of business a year later. Norma Jean was buried where she fell -- which, conveniently, was in Oquawka's town square. Oquawka filled in the pit and walked away, apparently hoping that everyone would forget that Norma Jean had ever existed. Not so fast, said Wade Meloan, a local druggist. He raised enough money to commission a twelve-foot-tall limestone tombstone for Norma Jean, and he raised the consciousness of the town enough to let him erect it in the square. Explained Wade: "I just didn't think that ending seemed proper for someone who had been a circus star." (1)

    Where) It is on 5th between Mercer and Clay on the right-hand side.

    Why) I knew Pam would like this story and I liked the small photo that I saw of the statue.