Grove City, Ohio, like many long-established towns, is steeped in local history—stories of its founding in 1852, its ties to agriculture, and the transformation from a quiet village to a thriving suburb. The Southwest Franklin County Historical Society diligently preserves the narratives of early settlers, the advent of the railroad, and the post-WWII boom. Yet, one of the most unique and often-whispered historical footnotes involves an individual known simply as "The Pogo Stick Man."
This local legend centers on a man who, during the mid-20th century, became an unofficial, eccentric icon by navigating the streets of Grove City almost exclusively on a pogo stick. Unlike the brief, novelty use of the toy by children, the Pogo Stick Man treated his spring-loaded stilt as a primary, if unconventional, mode of transportation.
The exact identity of the man is often debated or lost to time, with his frequent appearances across Grove City providing a steady topic of conversation and amusement for decades. His presence was not just a one-off stunt but a sustained commitment to his unique bouncing journey, making him a memorable part of the local scenery.
While definitive, published historical accounts from the local historical society regarding the Pogo Stick Man's whole life story or name are scarce, his memory endures through the oral histories of longtime residents. These recollections paint a picture of a friendly, recognizable figure whose rhythmic boing-boing-boing on the sidewalks and along Broadway—the town's main artery—was as much a part of Grove City's background noise as the rumble of traffic.
My Grandparents, Henry and Kathleen Roberts, moved to Grove City, Ohio, just after World War II, from Springfield, Ohio. My grandfather found a job working at the General Motors assembly plant off Georgesville Road on the West Side of Columbus. Now, my Grandfather worked during the day and used his GI Bill in the evenings to build skills and supplement his formal education. Meanwhile, my Grandmother, Kathleen, was at home with their young daughter Connie Jo. There was widespread gossip about the infamous Pogo stick man, and being alone on a country road, which is now a part of Sonora Drive, but was once out in the country, my Grandmother was terrified. She could imagine the Pogo Stick man leaping over fences and getting into all sorts of trouble. She'd hear something outside or some unknown visitor would come to the door, and she'd grab little Connie and hide under the bed. But nothing ever came of it, and neither my Grandmother nor Grandfather ever actually saw the man on the Pogo Stick. Yet, the legend lives on.
His dedication to the pogo stick, a toy patented by George Hansburg in 1919 and initially popularized in the "Roaring Twenties," was a charming anachronism in a rapidly modernizing town. It speaks to a certain spirit of individuality and quirkiness that has always found a home in the heartland. He was a piece of living folk art, a whimsical counterpoint to the town’s earnest civic development.
The Pogo Stick Man is a reminder that history isn't just about significant dates and famous figures; it’s also composed of the unique characters and oddities that give a place its character. He became a small, bouncing monument to local distinctiveness —a man who chose an unexpected path for his daily commute and, in doing so, etched himself into the enduring, often colorful history of Grove City, Ohio. Though the hops have long since ceased, the tale of the Bouncing Man continues to spring up in conversations, ensuring his legacy remains one of the town’s most fondly remembered historical mysteries.
Bibliography:
* Books and General History
Shailer, Janet, and Laura Lanese. Grove City. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2008. (This is a common source for local Grove City history, providing general context on the town's founding and growth.)
Southwest Franklin County Historical Society. "History of Grove City: A Chronology." Accessed October 2, 2025. https://www.swfchs.org/. (Used for general dates like the 1852 founding and information on Broadway and the town's development.)
White, Amy. "Henry Bascom Roberts and Verlie Kathleen Strut: A Short History of Two Extraordinary Lives." Published April 29, 2022. Independently Published. ISBN-13 : 979-8813916496
* Specific Invention History (Providing Pogo Stick Context)
"The History of the Pogo Stick." Katy Spring. Last modified July 10, 2018. https://katyspring.com/2018/07/10/the-history-of-katy-spring-pogo-stick/. (Used for facts about George Hansburg, the 1919 patent, and the pogo stick's popularity in the 1920s.)
"Pogo stick." Wikipedia. Last modified September 28, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pogo_stick. (Used to verify inventors Max Pohlig and Ernst Gottschall, the name origin, and the general timeline of the device's popularity.)
* Local Historical Archives (Acknowledging Source for Unverified Anecdote)
Southwest Franklin County Historical Society. "Oral History." Accessed October 2, 2025. https://www.swfchs.org/. (Used to acknowledge that the story of the Pogo Stick Man falls into the category of local oral history and local lore, which the society collects and preserves.)
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