TBT: YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP

TBT: This past Saturday while I was in Milwaukee, Natureman was enjoying the 4th Annual Juneteenth Citywide Celebration with the African American Living History Bus Tour.  I was so bummed to miss it but it was so successful there's good news as there will be a second tour held in the future...

As I spoke about this event to my couchsurfing Milwaukee host Carol, my traveling partner, Lynn, mentioned one of the tour's stops would be at La Crosse's claim to fame, the African American Mr. George Coleman Poage's home, a two times Olympian bronze medalist.   

Carol quickly added that a relative in her family had also competed in the Olympics. I asked her when as I pulled up my blog posting from 2016 re: the dedication of a park a 112 years late in recognition of Mr. Poage's accomplishments. Carol replied that it must have been early 1900's and would you believe after doing the math (2016  being 2 yrs ago and the title 112 +2 = 114 subtracted from 2018), and a quick Wikipedia search for Hahn, both men had competed together in the 1904 games in St. Louis? Both were medalists too. 

Carol's relative Charles Archibald "Archie" Hahn, a German American,  had attended U of Michigan and was the first man to win both the Olympic 100m and
 200m while George Poage held the honors of being the first African American to win an Olympic medal. (Archie also won the 60 m in 1904 and in 1906 won one more gold.)

What are the chances to discover this coincidence during a first conversation. Talk about Throw Back Thursdays!

Credit to Wikipedia for all photos posted in this entry including this one of the 1904 USA Track and Field Olympian competitors. 

 Below also is an except from the Tour's booklet and also a link to the Poage Park dedication...

* If  you'd like to read a bit more about George Poage, here's that blog link. A 112 YEARS LATE

GREATNESS RECOGNIZED A CENTURY LATE

A famous La Crosse citizen, George Coleman Poage, is being recognized for an amazing achievement overdue by 112 years. In fact, a major renovation of a city park ($1.3 million) now bears Poage's name located at 5th and Hood Streets on the south side of La Crosse. 

But "Why?" you may ask.

Poage was not only the first African American Central High salutatorian (formerly known as La Crosse High) but also excelled as an athlete in track hurdle events.  He attended UW-Madison and not only won Ten State Championships while in attendance but made the most of his education there majoring in history and learning 5 languages. As if that wasn't enough, at the World Fair in the1904 Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri, Poage also became the first African American to win a medal in the modern games, receiving not one, but 2 Bronze medals for the 220 and 440 hurdle jumps.

Wisconsin sculptor Elmer Petersen (second from right),  interpreted this Olympic feat through the multi stages of this triumphant endeavor. Metal placards recount Poage's life and achievements.

A couple hundred community members joined 3 of Poage's  descendants as they listened to a folksong written in his Poage's honor by local musician Mike Caucutt. This song will also be sung at the Great River Folk Festival later this month. 



While City officials gave speeches children played on the new state of the art jungle gym equipment in the background.  
The kids love their new playground.

In addition, a city proclamation  by Mayor Kabat was given in memory of Poage's contributions.

Sculpture and portrait  pictures behind family proclamation recipients, Poage's great great grandson far left (Mayor Kabat) and great great niece and nephew

Local middle schoolers read biographical essays about our famous citizen who overcame many obstacles during his lifetime.  His Mom actually moved to La Crosse to do housework for a prominent La Crosse family in the late 1800's. In his adult life Poage was a teacher for 10 years in St Louis, then bought a farm in Minnesota  and finally moved to Chicago where despite his successes in academics and athletics still found difficulty as an African American finding a job, finally served as a U.S.postal clerk for 30 years. He passed away in '82.

Decorated cake for the occasion

A new pavilion and meeting room where refreshments were served in celebration on Saturday also now don the city block. At its beginnings in the early 1900's, Hood Park as it was originally named had an outdoors skating rink which graced its grounds but had fallen into disrepair.  

May the transformation of this park help towards the revitalization of a forgotten neighborhood and a forgotten citizen and be a place for the neighborhood to gather and remember a once unsung hero  serving as inspiration to its youth.