NORWICH – A widely-read novel, “Water For Elephants” – on the New York Times Best Seller list for 20 weeks – not only references Norwich, but also evokes memories of the circus train that once traveled through the county’s seat.

The story (now also a film) follows Cornell veterinarian student Jacob Jankowski’s indoctrination into circus life aboard the traveling Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It’s a love story that features an unruly elephant, a horseback riding aerialist, freak shows and all the pageantry of the circus juxtaposed with animal brutality, caste violence and Depression-era poverty.

The book’s author, Sara Guen, places Jankowski’s hometown in Norwich. But like the name of the circus company itself, which is fictional, the author’s choice of Norwich was purely happenstance. Guen’s publisher said Norwich was about the right size and situated about the right distance from Cornell.

Town of Norwich Supervisor David C. Law said a former Norwich High School classmate called and suggested that he read “Water For Elephants” because the main character was coincidentally from Norwich and because he knew of Law’s passion – and work – for the circus.

“He knew that I used to water the elephants when the circus came to Norwich,” Law said. “It was thrilling for me to relive the experience while reading the book.”

Law said he was curious about the mention of Norwich in the book, and seemed a bit disappointed upon learning the author had no real life connection to it.

Many circus trains traveled through Central New York via the Ontario and Western and the Erie-Lackawanna lines and many stopped to put on matinees and evening shows in Norwich. In addition to Ringling Brothers’ Traveling Circus, Norwich was a destination stop for Cole Bros Circus, Bertram Mills Circus and others.

Visitors can see replicas of circus trains dating from the 1930s – and a small slice of Americana when rail travel was the norm – at the Bullthistle Railroad Society Museum at 33 Rexford St. in Norwich. An American Flyer circus train model, complete with circus tents and push buttons that trigger gears and lights, is on display. Collector Elton Ireland of North Norwich donated the exhibit when the museum opened in 1998.

Law’s fascination with the circus began when his grandfather told him that he supplied rabbits to a broken down circus operation on Borden Avenue. The spectacle, was most likely horse and buggy drawn, Law said, and offered a tiger and a python for audiences to see.