This weekend will be a time of celebration for the Douglas community as a historic part of Elizabethton gets recognized by the state.
A Tennessee historical marker commemorating the Elizabethton Blue Grays baseball is set to be unveiled Saturday, July 23, at 11 a.m. with a special ceremony to take place at Douglas Park.
Jacey Augustus, with the Cedar Grove Foundation, has spearheaded the effort for the past 15 years to help recognize the Blue Grays, a semi-pro Negro baseball team that traveled throughout the southeast between 1935 through 1955.
“It’s personally exciting for me, but the community is very excited for this honor,” Augustus said. “We are the only town in the area who can lay claim to being the home of a semi-pro Negro league team. It is of the utmost importance to commemorate and protect it.”
Saturday’s event will feature various guest speakers, including Wilhelmina Banks of the Nyumba Tausi Museum, Rev. Dr. Jeannettee Clarke, Ed Alexander and Paster Ron Collins of Joshua Generation.
The dedication ceremony will feature the unveiling of a historical marker recognizing the Blue Grays, along with the support received from members of the Cedar Grove Foundation who made all this possible. Immediately following the ceremony the Douglas Community will host a reception.
Augustus also thanked the efforts of the City of Elizabethton, including Historic Zoning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Department for their work assisting with the celebration, and the community.
“The city has been very supportive,” she said. “Mike Mains and the department has been supportive over the past 15 years working toward this goal and helping with the community.”
While the ceremony begins at 11 a.m., the Elizabethton Twins will host a free youth baseball clinic that begins at 10:30 a.m. The camp is aimed for children between the ages of 7 and 14 years old. Children will receive a t-shirt, lunch, autographs, and training in the fundamentals of baseball from Twins’ players and coaches.
Augustus added that the camp will coincide with the ceremony, allowing a chance for children and adults alike to take part in a historic moment for the community.
The Elizabethton Twins will continue the celebration of the Blue Grays later on that evening, as the organization will honor the team during the contest with the Johnson City Cardinals, scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at Joe O’Brien Field.
Augustus added the Cedar Grove Foundation has established a Facebook page for the public to view to honor the Blue Grays team. Individuals are encouraged to visit and “like” the page by searching Elizabethton Blue Grays on Facebook. The site features updates in the community and photos of the team.