Fred Rogers Historical Marker

A renowned television show host for children made his mark on communities small and large. This host, known as Fred McFeely Rogers, was born and raised in Latrobe. He impacted many individuals on a personal level and even sometimes on a political level. He inspired his hometown to raise their children with openness and kindness; then, he shared those beliefs with the world through his television show, "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." Fred Rogers treated each individual he met with the same respect and generosity. He not only won many awards for his hard work but also the hearts of the public people.

Erected in 2016 by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in Latrobe Fountain Park, this historical marker dedicated to Fred McFeely Rogers represents the impact he had on small communities such as Latrobe (Wintermantel). The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission dedicated a ceremony at the James H. Rogers Park, which was named after his father, to honor his memory. Fred Rogers, also known as Mr. Rogers, hosted an award-winning TV program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to inspire children to be who they want and increase self-esteem. He was born in March of 1928 and passed in 2003 with stomach cancer (“Fred McFeely Rogers (1928-2003): Our Favorite Neighbor”).

Fred Rogers grew up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, a small town known for many different businesses such as the steel industry, coal mines, steel mills, and the railroads (“Brief History of Latrobe Pennsylvania”). Because of these industries, Latrobe’s air quality was poor, especially during the summer months. As a child, Fred Rogers suffered from asthma which kept him isolated from other children his age; he was overweight and somewhat introverted, also working toward a low self-esteem. The adults around him, concerned for his wellbeing, said, “Just don’t let on you care, then nobody will bother you.” This, however, did not match Rogers’ philosophy. Instead, he took guidance from his maternal grandfather who said, “Freddie, you make my day very special.” Because of his grandfather’s influence and support, Rogers was able to acknowledge and overcome his insecurities and become more popular as he went through high school (“Early Life: Growing Up in Latrobe”).

Rogers later attended Rollins College where he studied music composition, philosophy, and religion. Because of these studies, he did consider joining the ministry. However, he found his calling during a two-year apprenticeship in New York. He returned to Pittsburgh with the purpose of developing The Children’s Corner for WQED. After doing so, he followed his religious passion to the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary where he became a Presbyterian minister in 1963. He featured on a small kid’s show in Toronto, but returned to America to start Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which aired in 1968 on WQED.

As Mr. Rogers grew up, he was exposed to more and more of the harsh realities the world had in store. Yet, his values strongly powered through. An icon of the TV series, Francois Clemmons, had an inspiring relationship with Rogers. Clemmons was not only Black, but also gay. Because of this, he faced the fear and scrutiny of the world around him. On an episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Mr. Rogers invites Officer Clemmons to share a kiddie pool with him (Hobson). Being a large influence on the community, Mr. Rogers made a stand against racism with this one episode alone, even though there were many who disapproved.

Because of his series, Mr. Rogers won two George Foster Peabody Awards and four Emmys. The television series ended in 1975, although they aired old episodes. After this, Mr. Rogers created a new show titled Old Friends, New Friends to target a more adult-aged audience. He continued this until his passing in 2003.

Fred McFeely Rogers, the compassionate and caring man from the popular television show, was inspired as a child and carried those qualities throughout his lifetime. He impacted others the way his grandfather impacted him: by raising self-esteem and empathy. 

“Early Life.” Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning & Children's Media. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://www.fredrogerscenter.org/about-us/history/early-life/.

“Fred McFeely Rogers (1928-2003): Our Favorite Neighbor.” Rollins College. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://lib.rollins.edu/olin/oldsite/archives/golden/Rogers.htm.

Hobson, Jeremy, and Samantha Raphelson. “François Clemmons Reflects on Life beyond 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'.” François Clemmons Reflects On Life Beyond 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood' | Here & Now. WBUR, May 5, 2020. https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2020/05/05/francois-clemmons-mister-rogers.

Latrobeareahist. “Brief History of Latrobe Pennsylvania.” Lahs, October 5, 2020. https://www.latrobehistory.org/post/brief-history-of-latrobe-pennsylvania.

Wintermantel, Mike. “Fred McFeely Rogers Historical Marker.” Historical Marker, December 23, 2020. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=95411.