Monrovia Historical Museum to honor Lt. Col. Allen Allensworth Lt. Col. Allen Allensworth (Photo courtesy Monrovia Historical Museum) By Sarah Favot, Pasadena Star-News POSTED: 09/05/14, 12:33 PM PDT | 0 COMMENTS MONROVIA>> The Monrovia Historical Museum is celebrating Lt. Col. Allen Allensworth, the first African American to reach the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, on the 100th anniversary of his death. Allensworth died in a motorcycle incident on Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia on Sept. 14, 1914 at the age of 72. The New Buffalo Soldiers are also helping to commemorate Allensworth at the event on Sept. 14 at the Monrovia Historical Museum, “It’s been a long time since we had the cavalry gallop up and down Lemon Avenue in this part of the West,” said Mark Still, the museum’s curator of exhibits, in a press release. Allensworth, one of the Buffalo Soldier’s leaders, was a chaplain for the 24th Infantry Regiment. He was the first pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Monrovia, which has served the community for more than 110 years. “Allensworth is a historic figure in this state, and his legacy will live on, even in Monrovia,” said Dr. William LaRue Dillard, the bishop of Second Baptist. Allensworth formed Allensworth in Tulare County, the only town in California to be founded, financed and governed by African Americans. “We want to focus on Allensworth’s life, his contributions and his intellect,” said KGEM’s Ralph Walker. “Here was an educator, a chaplain and a true visionary.” The museum is building an exhibit around Allensworth and the Buffalo Soldiers, also known as the Negro Cavalry, which was formed in 1866 as a unit of the U.S. Army. “This is an opportunity to better understand our local African American history,” said Still. The New Buffalo Soldiers, which are riding in the 2015 Rose Parade, seek to educate the public about contributions of black men in the development of the Western frontier.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 21:38:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015