Alton Goin, who passed away Dec. 23, dedicated his life to the betterment of Portage.
Alton, or “Al” as friends would call him, was known as the “Patriarch of Portage”. He was, as his friend Debbie Parker told PortageLife.com, “always so spunky with his passion and rhetoric about Portage.” In fact, Goin was so enthusiastic about his community that he was featured in the official tourism video.
Goin’s contributions to Portage started shortly after he fulfilled his duties to his country in WWII, as a member of the US Navy. As one of the original members of the Portage Volunteer Fire Department and a bricklayer by trade, he helped build the original station on Swanson and Central.
But Goin’s legacy in Portage was not built with just his hands. It was also built with his heart, particularly in his passion for the preservation of the rich history of Portage, and his dedication to the Portage Community Historical Society (PCHS).
Goin was one of the society’s members responsible for the completion of the now aptly named Alton Goin Museum, which sits in Countryside Park on US-6 and houses many relics of Portage’s past. The museum’s mission is to help to preserve the rich history of Portage for years to come.
Alton was a man who got things done. For instance, one of his final wishes for the museum was that he wanted a mural to accompany an Indian exhibit, so sure enough, he found a volunteer to paint it and a few days later it was completed.
“His dedication to the society was amazing,” said Kathy Heckman, Director of Archives and Genealogy at the PCHS. “If I mentioned something we needed at the museum, he went and got it.”
And it’s there, at the Alton Goin Museum that you will also find one of his most beloved things: a beautiful 1929 American LaFrance fire truck.
Goin, as Heckman told PortageLife, was not one for pictures, but he loved getting a photo when that truck was around.
And, while the truck stood as a symbol of Goin’s love for preserving the past, Alton was always looking forward as well; in making sure that the history of Portage was in safe keeping for the future generations of the community.
“He loved the school children tours,” Heckman added. “He mentioned to me and Debbie Parker at the very last school tour he did that he'd like to see something interactive for the kids. Something they can put their hands on. We hope to come up with an idea that will fulfill his wish.”
“He wanted an archeological ‘dig’ for kids,” said Parker, who also volunteers at the PCHS. “He wanted them to have the feeling of really discovering something and connecting with history while getting their hands dirty. I have spoken with several members about this and I made the promise to Al I would see his last vision completed.”
Alton will certainly be missed in Portage, but what he has built in with his hands, and his heart will serve as reminders of Goin’s pride in Portage and his hope for its growing future.
