Baseball and Buford: The Bona Allen Shoemakers

Since it's World Series time of year, I thought I'd write a bit about Buford's own famous baseball team, the Bona Allen Shoemakers, semi-professional baseball World Series winners of 1938. Formed in the early thirties from three separate teams from the tannery, shoe factory and the "town team," the semi-pro Shoemakers were officially formed in 1933, when outside athletes were added, and eventually managers with professional baseball experience were brought in to run the team. Throughout the 1930s until they disbanded with the coming of WWII, the Shoemakers were an outstanding team, with an impressive record of wins. Their most important victories were winning the 1938 Semi-Pro World Series in Wichita, Kansas, and then going on to win what was considered by many as the "toughest of the national tourneys," the Denver Post tournament in 1940.

The Shoemakers couldn't have been more beloved by Buford. They were hometown heroes, with their own private tour bus and ball park. They also brought night games to Buford -- the first in Georgia outside of Atlanta. The team was so popular that when they played away games, crowds would gather at the empty ball park to listen as the Bona Allen office broadcast teletyped play by play over the loudspeakers. The Shoemakers last played in 1941, and an exciting part of Buford's history came to a close.*

The museum has an outstanding display on the Bona Allen Shoemakers, including team photos and other memorabilia, as well as the impressive 1938 World Series Championship trophy.

New Acquisitions: 

Just recently Scott Hosch, a retired teacher from the Buford School system, brought the museum a large assortment of old 8th grade History class projects, some of which were given to him from former teacher and current City Commissioner, Mrs. Michael Smith. Over the years students researched Buford's history, handing in photo displays, drawings, and homemade postcards, etc.. It was a lot of fun going through these projects and seeing the work of the past students. All of the photos and findings will be kept in the museum archives

Archival Tips: 

I learned a tip last week that's useful not only for the museum, but is something anyone can use to "unstick" photographs or ephemera  etc. that may be tacky from old adhesives. Baby powder. Simply sprinkle a piece of cardboard with  a light dusting of the powder and then lay the photo or  item tacky side down, making sure all the sticky places get coated. Wipe the powder off, and there you go, no more stick (plus it smells pretty darned good, too)!

Rebecca

*The book Historic Buford, by Handsel Grady Morgan (The City of Buford, 1993), is an invaluable source of information for this blog, and I'm sure will be used time and time again in future posts. If you are interested in the history of Buford the book can be purchased for $35 at the Museum of Buford or City Hall.

The Museum of Buford is now located in the new Buford Community Center. Museum hours are Thurs--Sat, 11 a.m. to 5 P.M.