Audio Tour
On Saturday, June 20th, 2020 Enduring Families Project collaborated with Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K.) and radio station Z93 to celebrate Juneteenth Day and the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery in the United States.
EFP actors were stationed around town, in costume, and shared the stories of African Americans from local history. They waved at cars and spoke to people on the street. To minimize social contact and stay safe in this era of COVID-19, each actor’s presentation about the person they were portraying was pre-recorded and is available below.
The American Civil War ended in April of 1865, however, slaves in Texas were unaware that they were free. They finally received the news mid-June, 1865. Juneteenth is celebrated to commemorate the days when freedom came to the last African American slaves in Texas.
Stop One: 1433 Rose Street
Nathan Smith (1820 – 1905)
Actor-Walfsty Pierre
Nathan Smith was very active in local and state politics. Many men and women, of all races, sought his counsel. Nathan Smith and his wife, Sarah, took in many orphaned and abandoned children over the years. The courts sent several unruly young people to his farm, instead of a penitentiary, for rehabilitation.
Nathan Smith lived in Ward 2 in La Crosse before purchasing a farm between La Crosse and West Salem.
Stop Two: Corner of St. Cloud St. & Copeland Ave.
Zachariah Henry Moss (1865 – 1934) &
Emma (Waldon) Moss (1869 – 1926)
Actors-Anthony Norris & LaKisha Hudson
Zachariah Henry learned the barber trade from and inherited his father’s talent in boxing and entertaining the clientele. Father and son were well-known for their ability to tell a good story, sense of fairness, and keeping a clean shop. Emma Waldon Moss was the sister of Birletta Waldon Loving and well-known for welcoming out-of-town visitors into her home.
Zachariah Henry Moss had barber shops in several places one being at 610 Mill Street (Copeland Avenue), which is the lot where Rooster Andy’s Catering sits today. The family lived above the barber shop. They later moved to 517 St. Cloud Street. Another barber shop was in the building that now supports the sign for The Board Store.
Stop Three: 729 Copeland Avenue
Birletta (Waldon) Loving (1856 - 1908)
Actor-Dodie Whitaker
Birletta Waldon-Loving was born in a multi-racial community in Cheyenne Valley near Hillsboro, WI. She was a dressmaker and raised her five children alone after her barber husband died.
Late in her life, she moved to 729 Mill St. (Copeland Ave.)
Stop Four: 215 State Street
Lydia Redfora Moss (1828 -1909)
Actor-Richelle Brunn
Lydia Redfora-Moss became one of the first barbers in La Crosse in 1857. In frontier times in was very unusual for women to own a business. She also invested in several La Crosse properties.
Lydia Moss’ Barber Shop was “between 2nd and 3rd on State Street. She owned the shop and employed her husband, Henderson, and later her son. In 1866, Lydia is listed as one of the first five barbers in La Crosse, one woman and four men.
Stop Five: 214 Third Street
George Edwin Taylor (1857 – 1925)
Actor-Darrell Ferguson
George Edwin Taylor was an orphan stowaway who arrived in La Crosse in 1865 at the age of 8. Nathan Smith takes in the unruly young man and helps him become the man who runs for President of the U.S. in 1904.
George Edwin Taylor owned and operated his own newspaper publishing business with 2000 subscribers at $1.50 per year. Payment in advance, please! His newspaper was the voice for laborers and farmers in southwestern Wisconsin. His newspaper offices were located at 214 Third St.
Stop Six: Corner of Second & Pearl Street
John Birney (1834 – 1890)
Actor-Torrence Chester
John Birney was one of the first barbers in La Crosse. He was an investor and owned many La Crosse properties. Governor Ross appointed him to represent Wisconsin at the 1884 World Centennial Exposition in New Orleans.
John Birney owned a splendid Barber Shop in the Augusta Hotel on the corner of 2nd and Pearl. It was Birney who set the standard for business and community activism in La Crosse.
Stop Seven: 500 Hood Street, Poage Park
Nellie Poage (1884-1869)
Actor-Denise Christy Moss
Nellie Poage was the sister of George Poage and the mother of Howard Jenkins. Howard Jenkins was part of the team of lawyers preparing the Brown V. Topeka Board of Education Supreme Court Case.
George Poage attended the University of Wisconsin to study ancient classical studies and public speaking. He was the first black athlete to run for the Badgers and to become a Big-Ten Champion. George earned a Master’s degree and was fluent in five languages. In 1904 George ran for the Milwaukee Athletic Club in the Third Olympiad in St. Louis, Missouri becoming the first African American to medal.
George Poage grew up in the homes of the Pettibone and Easton families. His mother, Anna Poage, was much sought after as a culinary artist. The Poage family lived outside the African American community, yet when George graduated from La Crosse High School he gave “voice” to the community in his salutatory speech. Poage Park was dedicated to his achievements in 2016.
