OUR STORY

In the days of the grand circuses and carnivals, Frau Frye’s Bizarre Big Top was Mount Washington Valley’s largest (and only) circus attraction.

Frau Madison Frye, the wife of a European Badger Trainer, grew up in Austria, where she made beautiful dolls to sell at her local market. She and her husband, Herr Glen Frye, were very happy and expecting their first child.

Her husband was killed, unexpectedly, in a freak skiing accident, colliding with a clattering of Mountain Jackdaws (alpine crows) while downhill racing with a very young Hannes Schneider. Schneider won the contest.

One day, Chatham Swift, an elderly American collector of uniquities, took notice of Frau Frye’s dolls. He offered to contract Frau Frye to move to America and create an exclusive family of dolls for his personal collection. Pregnant and alone, Frau Frye was now a disgrace and burden on her family, so felt obligated to take the commission.

After arriving in America, Frau Frye gives birth to a beautiful baby girl, who she names Lillith. She uses her new cherub as inspiration for the dolls commissioned by Mr. Swift. The original collection of dolls turned out adorable, just like her daughter.

But as the baby grew, Frau Frye noticed peculiarities developing… disfiguring growths and appendages taking on abnormal angles.

Continuing to honor her inspiration, the next collection of dolls turned out charming… and dark… and creepy… and macabre. And Mr. Swift loved the results and wanted one more doll, then another, then another.

A few short years later, sadly both Mr. Swift and Lillith died. Frau Frye found him in his reading chair, with infant Lillith, in his lap, both burned to death. He had taken a liking to both mother and babe and often had he read to the child before bedtime. They had both fallen asleep with a smoldering tobacco pipe on the parchment pages of the storybook.

Mr. Swift left his estate and all his wealth to Frau Frye. However, the local townspeople became suspicious of the circumstances surrounding the deaths, and were quick to accuse Frau Frye of murder, dismissing all facts that indicated a deadly accident.

Frau Frye had no choice but to leave town and start a new life in the Mount Washington Valley. All she took with her was a few crates of dolls and curiosities, once cherished by Mr. Swift.

Acquiring Mr. Swift’s proclivity for uniquities, Frau Frye attended the Fryeburg Fair, where several tents were set up to showcase the abnormal and bizarre, better known as Freak Shows. She enjoyed visiting with the individuals who reminded her of her lost benefactor and beloved daughter.

Frau Frye became well-acquainted with the Freak Show barker, Duwain Knox, who had a flare for showmanship, and they fell passionately in love. Not wanting to lose Mr. Knox to the nomadic fair circuit, traveling from town to town to town, she offered him the opportunity to open a circus, right here in the Valley.

FRAU FRYE’S BIZARRE BIG TOP was born!!

Lions! Tigers! Bears! Clowns! Acrobats! And Duwain Knox was the best Ringmaster around! Of course, he was the only Ringmaster, but the couple were together in freakish bliss.

Business was great, and people came from all around to visit the Big Top.

That is, until White Mountain Spotted Fever struck the Valley. Attendance plummeted and the money dried up. Frau Frye succumbed to the fever, leaving Mr. Knox with the responsibilities of the circus, its employees and talents, animals and bills.

Heartbroken and nearly broke, Mr. Knox buckled under the pressure, withdrew to his property and became a recluse, until his recent death… of unknown cause, of course. There are rumors that he was attacked and eaten by the circus animals he kept caged on his property. But who’s to say?

You have been identified as his only living relatives, through a sister of a cousin of a nephew’s son. Let’s call him Great Uncle Duwain to make things easy. All his earthly belongings are now yours, specifically his property, which includes a small cabin and huge tract of land.

Are you brave enough to explore what Great Uncle Duwain has left for you?