Many times while researching, one comes across a name of a person who they would like to learn more about. In my case, Milo Vagge was one such person. With the aid of census records, newspaper items and conversation with the Fair Haven historian Erwin Fineout, who knew Mr. Vagge personally, I have pieced together a brief account of Milo Vagge's very interesting life.

Known by many residents of the Village of Fair Haven and the Town of Sterling as #“the World's Champion Bag Puncher,#” Milo Vagge was able to keep eight or more balls in motion at one time by using his elbows, feet, hands, head and knees. Vagge was world famous. He was also a very adept juggler. He traveled with Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus and also played the vaudeville circuits. His wife, Alice, playing the violin and at times the piano, accompanied him.

Vagge was born in Italy in 1880, the son of John and Mary Cardinale Vagge. According to John's naturalization application dated May 23, 1895, the family, consisting of John, Mary, Milo and his three siblings: Sarah, Angela and John Jr., arrived in the United States about 1890. Two other children, William and Stella, were born in Auburn.

Milo Vagge#'s move to Fair Haven was reported in a 1912 paper as follows, #“Milo Vagge, the punching bag star of Auburn, who has toured the world, has decided to settle down and make his home in north Fair Haven.#” Still another 1912 item stated, #“Milo Vagge of Auburn has purchased a summer camp in north Fair Haven and had his launch #Duke#, brought here to be put on the bay.#”

The 1910 federal census for Auburn reveals that Milo was married and that his wife#'s first name was Hattie. In 1918, Milo, at age 38, registered for the draft. He was in Vancouver, Wash., employed as a sheet metal worker in motor ship construction. He is believed to be unmarried at this time as his mother is listed as next of kin. What happened to Hattie? The 1920 census lists Milo and his then wife, Alice, in Manhattan. Milo is recorded as an actor.

In January 1938, the Fair Haven Register reported that Milo Vagge, after several years of retirement, had returned to his former profession as a punching bag artist. A quote from that paper read as follows, #“A recent article in the Lexington Leader and the Newark Daily News tells of Mr. Vagge performing at those places and speaks of him as the standout of the show who hammers punching bags all over the place with his knees, elbows, feet, hands and head.”

Alice Vagge remained in their home in north Fair Haven and was active with the local W.C.T.U. The Fair Haven Register in 1935 reported that Alice Vagge had secured a fine position in Auburn. The 1938 Auburn City Directory lists Alice Vagge as a pastry cook at 50 Genesee St.

Our Fair Haven historian, Erwin Fineout, recalls attending the funeral of Alice Vagge, which was held from the Fair Haven Presbyterian Church and that the Rev. Arthur Clark, a former minister in that church and a good friend of Mrs. Vagge, played the violin at the service. Fineout could not recall the exact date but believed it might have been in 1945. At this point, even with an extensive search of existing 1945 newspapers, I have not been able to find the date or place of her death.

Milo Sero Vagge died in Tampa, Fla. on Feb. 28, 1955. His body was removed to Auburn, where Masonic services were conducted in the Bradley Memorial Chapel at Fort Hill Cemetery. Burial was in the Vagge family plot at Fort Hill Cemetery. His obit printed in The Citizen-Advertiser on Wednesday, March 2, 1955, listed Milo#'s next of kin as a sister, Mrs. Angela Petty of Auburn, and a brother, William E. of Hartford, Conn., and three nieces and a nephew.

Hallie A. Sweeting is the town of Sterling historian