Driving Tour

304 North Market St., Wooster (Wayne Co. Public Library Admin. Building) – Charles’ hometown where he attended school and lived from approximately 1882 through 1902.  Charles Follis was born in 1880 to Catherine and J. Henry Follis in Cloverdale, Virginia. In 1890 they moved to Wooster, Ohio. Charles excelled in baseball and track and field and in 1898 became the captain of the first Wooster High School football team. As Captain, Charles lead the team…

Located at 818 Spink St.,Wooster (diagonally across from this sign on Stibbs St. at Weber House) – The College of Wooster. Charles was raised here with siblings Cora, Lelia, Curtis, Lucy, and Joseph.  The Follis home, 818 Spink Street, is diagonally across the street from this point. This is the neighborhood where Charles Follis, the first black pro football player, grew up with his four sisters and two brothers. His mother and father, Cate and…

546 Bowman St., Stibbs Street entrance – Wooster In 2020, Board Member, David Broehl passionately lead the fundraising initiative for Follis Monument. The original headstone is on permanent display here.  Wayne County Historical Society ~ an integral part of the story  In 2017 a group of local citizens, David Broehl, Michael Franks, Lawrence Walker, Cheryl A. Goff, Lydia Thompson (Hon. Chair), and Jim Stoner, were disappointed at the condition of the headstone of Charles Follis,…

Cornerstone Elementary Playground 101 W. Bowman St., Wooster (sign located at playground behind School) – Site of the original Wooster High School football field where Charles starts his historic sports journey. As a Junior at Wooster High School in 1898, Charles started in their first ever football team. Already a standout track and field performer, and star catcher and slugger, his athletic prowess and personal charisma resulted in his selection as captain of the football…

The College of Wooster’s Original Baseball Field Ebert Art Center, 1220 Beall Ave., Wooster – This is the original site of the College of Wooster Baseball field. Charles played baseball here and is considered to be one of the first African Americans to desegregate intercollegiate baseball. Charles Follis played baseball at Wooster University from 1901-1903. Reportedly Charles was the lead-off batter and catcher in the opener of the three-game 1901 campaign (0-3). The team improved…

Wooster High School Follis Field 515 Oldman Rd., Wooster – Excelling in sports, Charles became the captain of the first Wooster High School football team. This field is named in his honor. Wooster’s Athletic Field is named Follis Field for Charles Follis. Born in 1880 to Catherine and J. Henry Follis in Cloverdale, Virginia. Charles, with his family, moved to Wooster, Ohio in 1890. Charles excelled in baseball and track and field and in 1898…

Second Baptist Church 245 S. Grant St. Wooster (corner of Grant and Henry St.) – Charles and his family attended here as devout members. The last child of Henry and Cate Follis to attend here was Joseph. Wooster was founded in 1808. At that time it was European white people who made up the majority of the population. That changed in the 1880s, as racial diversity began to arrive. One of the earliest non-white families…

Wooster Cemetery 983 Madison Ave., Wooster – Up the hill from the chapel toward the cemetery entrance, a new headstone here memorializes Charles and his family. This is the resting place of Charles Follis, the first professional African American football player in America. Today, the Follis family headstone (Sec. 16) marks the burial site of Charles, his mother Cate, father J. Henry, his brother Curtis, and sister Cora Belle. It commemorates the entire Follis family…

252 S. Gamble St., Shelby (South entrance, near Chapel) Frank Schiffer’s headstone is just before the brick building on left. He was the first owner in the Ohio Frank Schiffer, and his wife Julia, were pivotal in Charles Follis’ becoming the first black professional football player in America. Frank was a prominent businessman, and tobacco broker in Shelby at the end of the 19th century. As a business leader, he became an ardent supporter of…

Charles Follis Way at Shelby Stadium Skiles Field off of S. Gamble St., Shelby – Dedicated by the City of Shelby in 2020, this street commemorates the civic pride and admiration of Charles Follis as the great sports pioneer he was. In 2020, Mayor Steven L. Schag and Joseph Gies initiated the renaming of this street, Charles Follis Way. Charles Follis was born in 1880 to Catherine and J. Henry Follis in Cloverdale, Virginia. In…

Original Football Field of Shelby Athletic Club South Dr., Shelby, Ohio (sign at top of Reservoir Rd. ramp) The block inside Park and Simeon Street looking northwest, was the playing field for the Original Shelby Athletic Club. Looking north at the block between Park and Simeon Streets, was the football field where Charles Follis played in Shelby, becoming the first black professional football player in America. It was on this site that the Shelby Athletic…

Weber’s Bar and Grill 51 West Main St., Shelby – Where the Shelby Blues frequently gathered to celebrate a victory. Charles was initially refused service here, but soon endeared himself to the community. Weber’s Bar and Grill marks an important location in the evolution of attitudes toward African Americans in sports and in our country. Shelby was known as one of many “Sundown Towns,” discouraging African Americans from remaining in Shelby after dark. Initially, Frank…