Wooster in Wayne County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Second Baptist Church ~ where Charles and his family attended services
Charles W. Folis: The First African American Professional Football Player
| — | The Black Cyclone Trail | — |
Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 16, 2026
1. The Second Baptist Church ~ where Charles and his family attended services Marker
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 to arrive was former Virginia slaves, Henry and Kate Follis. The Follis family and other Wooster African-American families soon realized that, although free from slavery, they were not free from segregation. A house of worship of their own was needed. The Second Baptist Church originally met in an engine house on Spring Street. The desire for a proper house of worship was strong. A fund drive, organized by Second Baptist Church commissioners, one of which was Charles Follis' father, Henry, resulted in the construction of the first official church building on Vine Street in 1892. This church building served the African-Americans until 1954 when they moved into an existing church on South Grant Street. In 1975 the old church was razed and replaced with the modern church in use today."
Charles eventually went on to play football in Shelby, Ohio from 1902 to 1906, where he was paid $10.00 a game for the Shelby
this page online
Charles' story was featured in a play entitled "The Black Cyclone", written and produced by Jim and Amy K. Stoner.
Run Charles, Run for the AGES!
Follow the Trail of a Pioneering Sports Legend
Left image caption: Charles Follis, Shelby Athletic Club/Shelby Blues player 1902-1906.
Photo courtesy of Shelby Historical Museum
Right images caption: Second Baptist Church, Wooster, then and now.
Photo courtesy of Mike Franks.
Erected 2022. (Marker Number 7.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1808.
Location. 40° 47.721′ N, 81° 56.558′ W. Marker is in Wooster, Ohio, in Wayne County. It is at the intersection of South Grant Street and West Henry Street, on the
Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 16, 2026
2. The Second Baptist Church ~ where Charles and his family attended services Marker
Regionally, this marker is in Amish Country and in Greater Cleveland. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: General David Wooster (approx. 0.2 miles away); H. Freedlander Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); United States Of America • Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient (approx. ¼ mile away); Twenty Pounder Parrott Guns (approx. ¼ mile away); Wayne County Soldier’s Monument (approx. ¼ mile away); War Savings Stamps (approx. ¼ mile away); First House Built in Wooster (approx. 0.4 miles away); Wooster, Ohio ~ The early years (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wooster.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2026, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 26, 2026, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
