(RETURN TO THE MAHONING AND TRUMBULL COUNTIES INDEX)

350 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY under the name of the Miner and Manufacturer. In June, 1873, Fassett launched the daily Miner and Manufacturer, the first daily paper in Youngstown. Fassett was an aggressive, even combative, newspaperman, but with the establishment of the Daily Register in December, 1874, the Miner and Manufacturer went out of existence. On May 5, 1875, Patrick O'Connor, who had in the meantime become an itinerant Methodist minister, began the publication of the Youngstown Commercial, in conjunction with L. F. Shoaf. Its existence covered a period of but six months. In 1876 O'Connor again entered the newspaper field with the Morning Star, a Greenback organ. It suspended after a brief existence, but was revived by O'Connor in 1879 under the name of the New Star, continuing as a Greenback paper until about 1881. The Rundschau was started in 1874 by Henry Gentz as a German-language paper and was sold in 1875 to William F. Maag. Mr. Maag retained ownership until the paper was discontinued in 1917. The Free Press was started by 0. P. Wharton in 1881. It remained in existence about a year. In 1883 Thomp Burton began the publication of the Saturday Night, a literary paper and one devoted to current local events. In June, 1885, Burton sold out to George W. Penn and C. J. Miller and the paper suspended some months later. The Daily Morning News came into existence later in 1888, with J. Edd Leslie, John F. McGowan and R. E. Hull as publishers. It lasted about six months. In 1888 Monroe W. Johnson, a lawyer and former prosecuting attorney of Mahoning County, started the Daily and Weekly Herald. It went out of business at the end of three months. This paper was published in a building where the Vindicator Block now stands and the equipment was purchased by Maag & Webb, publishers of the Vindicator. The Buckeye Record, established by Thomp Burton about 1890, had a similarly brief existence. The "News" appears to have been a popular name for Youngstown newspapers a generation or more ago. The fourth journal bearing this title came into being in 1892, when Charles M. Shaffer founded the Sunday Morning News. It continued until July, 1896. The Ohio Sun, a one-cent afternoon paper, was started in 1893, but quit after a short existence. It was financed largely by outside capital. The Morning Call was launched by an association of local news writers in March, 1897, but lasted only a. few weeks. The Daily Times, a morning Republican publication, was established in the fall of 1993, backed by a stock company of local men and with L. A. Paisley as editor. It was a more pretentious eff0rt than most of those that had preceded it and was started at a most propitious time, as Youngstown was just beginning its modern growth. In spite of favorable circumstances it succumbed to reverses and suspended early in 1904. YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 351 ENGINEERING If the engineers were boastful they might claim to be members of the pioneer profession of Youngstown. Surveying is one of the branches of engineering, and of the six men who have gone down in record as the founders of Youngstown two were surveyors by profession and the remaining four came here as surveyors' assistants as well as land buyers. For many years, in fact, surveying, or civil engineering, was the one branch of engineering practiced here, and the first surveyors, as we have pointed out, were John Young and Alfred Wolcott. Succeeding them within a year was Turhand Kirtland, the leading member of his profession in this neighborhood in the earliest days since he laid out townships, towns and roads and surveyed the original village of Youngstown. With the industrial growth 0f the Mahoning Valley engineering in all its branches became one of the great professions here, and this has been especially true in the last twenty years. The men who follow this line of endeavor are not only among the leaders in the community, but among the most necessary professional men, since the industrial life of the valley depends to a great extent upon them. The original association of engineers in Youngstown was the Engineers' Club, organized in 1906. This body was limited in its membership, and a year ago a reorganization was effected that permitted the membership of all classes of engineers and those in lines contributory to engineering. The reorganized club was formally incorporated on May 9, 1919, the following officers of the association being named: F. W. Funk, president ; W. H. Ramage, vice president; E. R. Rose, secretary; C. I. Crippen, treasurer; H. E. White, E. D. Haseltine, Fred Hubbard, Mr. Rose and Mr. Crippen, trustees. Membership is divided into five classes, active, associate, juni0r, honorary and nonresident, and the club has as its objects "the professional and economic improvement of its members, the improvement of the engineering profession in the public estimation, the encouragement of social intercourse among its members and the advancement of engineering and allied sciences." The 0rganization now has a membership in excess of 500. There are also a number of members of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in Youngstown and vicinity and steps are now being taken to organize a local section of this body here. REAL ESTATE DEALERS A profession that numbers approximately 200 individual members and firms, as the real estate profession does in Youngstown, has a decided influence upon any municipality. From the days of the Connecticut Land Company, the original owners of Youngstown and one of the greatest and most unique real estate companies ever formed, the real estate profession has been an important one here. Since the beginning of the twentieth century it has 352 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY been especially so, and it is under the skilled hands of those engaged in' this line of endeavor that Youngstown has grown from a village to a great city. Real estate men were late in forming a formal organization as it was not until February 15, 1915, that the Youngstown Real Estate Exchange was founded, with W. J. Williams, S. L. Mullineaux, G. E Rose, Earl M. McBride, Dan Mullane, Harry Guggenheim, Alexander Lyle, D. T. Peters, Bert M. Summers, W. J. Thompson, C. Harry Miller, C. E. Semple, Jr., W. L. Sause, Ira C. Park, Henry W. Davis and Alfred Liebman as incorporators. On January 2, 1916, the name of the organization was changed to the Youngstown Real Estate Board. The aim of the board is "to secure the benefits of organized action to persons engaged in various phases of the real estate profession, to advance the interests of the community by fostering public improvements, and to establish and maintain the calling of the real estate dealer in a position of dignity and responsibility, employing such means to execute these purposes as the board may, from time to time, adopt." The present officers of the real estate board are, Bert M. Summers, president ; Dan Mullane, Jr., first vice president ; Earl M. McBride. second vice president ; Russell McKay, treasurer and counsel; Robert M. Winter, secretary. W. Edgar Leedy is honorary president. There are 60 active members of the board and 100 associate members. LIFE UNDERWRITERS Life underwriters, or life insurance managers and salesmen, number a full hundred in Youngstown, and no profession has made greater strides in ten years in elevating the dignity of its calling. In one sense this is due to the changed public attitude in a generation or two toward life insurance. At one time it was regarded as almost a death warrant, or even a defiance of the will of the Almighty, while there was also pronounced indifference toward guarding against want on the part of dependents in case of death. Nevertheless high-class insurance agencies flourished in Youngstown for many years back because of the percentage of the people who looked upon life insurance as a necessary precaution, and in recent years it has become recognized as something as necessary as medical attention or the ownership of a home. To the work of life underwriters in making a profession of what was once a business is also due much credit for the high standing of this line of work today. And the Youngstown Life Underwriters' Association has had much to do with this. The Life Underwriters' Association was organized in Youngstown on September 7, 1911, following a gathering addressed by J. J. Jackson of Cleveland, then one of the vice presidents of the National Association of Life Underwriters. Those present at the meeting who are still connected with the association were Roy L. Hartzell, W. B. Randolph, F. B. Hawkins, Leo Guthman, Charles Rudibaugh, E. V. Clyde, C W. Hench, Myron H. Eckert, and Elias Jenkins. F. B. Hawkins was elected temporary chairman and Roy L. Hartzell temporary secretary. YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 353 Later Mr. Hawkins was elected president of the association ; Mr. Hartzell, secretary; Myron H. Eckert, first vice president ; Leo Guthman, second vice president; E. V. Clyde, treasurer. The object of the association is to advance the standing of the profession and promote social intercourse between its members, and membership is open to all those of good character whose chief business is selling legal reserve life insurance. The association has sixty members and its present officers are, B. A. Sanford, president ; L. M. Gillette, vice president ; James A. Quinn, treasurer; Otis. Holt, secretary; C. M. Stilson, Sam Hawkins, R. L. Hartzell, Myron Eckert and W. B. Randolph, members of executive committee. The fire underwriters occupy a place not less important than the life underwriters, and in many instances, in fact, these two agencies are combined. The fire underwriters have no organized association in. Youngstown, although formation of such a body is frequently discussed. CHIROPRACTORS AND OPTOMETRISTS The chiropractic profession as a branch of healing has made great headway in Youngstown in recent years, numbering now a dozen practitioners. Its members are banded together in the Mahoning Valley Chiropractors Association, an organization whose membership is open to chiropractors from all cities of the Mahoning Valley, and is a virile association. Officers of this body are, Dallas H. Morris, president; A. S. Johnson, vice president ; W. D. Taylor, secretary ; Joseph So f ranec, treasurer. The Mahoning County Optometric Society is a flourishing organization, numbering most of the members of this profession. Officers of the society are J. B. Reynolds, president ; W. L. Blase, vice president ; Mrs. W. L. Blase, secretary; G. T. Hills, treasurer. Vol. I-23 CHAPTER XIX BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN YOUNGSTOWN WHOLESALE AND RETAIL HOUSES-THE AUTOMOBILE BUSINESS -YOUNGSTOWN BANKS-BUILDING AND LOAN COMPANIES-PUBLIC UTILITIES, PRIVATE AND MUNICIPAL. Manufacturing, of course, is the heart of the business life of Youngstown and steel, it is scarcely necessary to add, is the heart of manufacturing here. With the making of steel, and manufacturing in general, we will not deal here as the story of the manufacturing industry is told in another chapter of this work. In a wholesale and retail sense Youngstown is the center of a territory of approximately 200,000 people, while added thousands come from outside this territory. Necessarily this makes. Youngstown both a jobbing and retail center, a business metropolis fed by steam and electric railroad an& the most important trade city between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. From a half dozen little stores when Youngstown became an incorporated village seventy years ago, there has been an advance until mercantile institutions, great and small, now run literally into thousands. In trade in the necessities of life they range from the great department stores to tiny neighborhood shops. There are in Youngstown 500 incorporated companies alone, aside from the many partnerships and individual business concerns. In the automobile business alone, the newest of all great business, there are 300 firms here engaged in the various branches of the trade. To say that "Youngstown is the busiest place of its size in the United States," is not the boast of a resident—for the resident scarcely realizes this—but the exclamation common to the infrequent, or even frequent, visitor who is an unprejudiced judge. In a mercantile way its business houses include great wholesale, jobbing and distributing as well as retail houses. In all these branches there is rapid expansion as Youngst0wn increases in industrial and commercial importance. In both wholesale and retail business there are thriving trade organizations here, the chief business body of course, being the Youngstown Chamber of Commerce. The need of a body of this kind was apparent more than thirty years ago and resulted in the organization, in 1887, of the Youngstown Board of Commerce, more familiarly known as the Board of Trade. For several years this association flourished and did good work, but indiffer- - 354 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 355 ence and inaction set in and in 1899 it went out of existence through lack of support. For more than five years Youngstown was without a trade or commerce body, although there was a merchants association and various organizations devoted to some exclusive branch of trade. Early in 1905, however, public spirited men set to work to found a greater Youngstown business association, and the present Youngstown Chamber of Commerce was the result of their efforts. Organization was formally effected at a meeting held on March 3, 1905, after 200 individuals and firms had pledged their membership. A. E. Adams was elected first president of the organization and Charles W. Gilgen was selected for secretary. The association started in as a virile body, this being evident from the fact that in the first two years of its existence it had secured the approval of the voters for the new courthouse project, had brought the. Milton reservoir and grade crossings elimination improvements to life and had secured several notable industries for the city. Its work for the betterment of Youngstown has now continued unceasingly for fifteen years and more. It is an organization of broad character, active not only in business lines but in civic work and embracing a membership of 1,500 business men, professional men and tradesmen. Mr. Adams served as president of the. Chamber of Commerce in 1905-06; George L. Fordyce in 1906-07; Frank Hitchcock in 1907-08; J. G. Butler, Jr., 1908-15; James A. Campbell, 1915-16; Fred A. Hartenstein, 1916-17; A. E. Adams, 1917-18; Leroy A. Manchester, 1918-19; Robert Bentley, 1919-20. Philip J. Th0mpson is the present president. Remaining officers in 1920 are, Walter C. Stitt, first vice president; H. L. Round, second vice president ; H. W. Grant, treasurer. Charles W. Gilgen was secretary of the body from its organization until early in 1910, when he was succeeded by D. F. Williams, who remained only a few months. M. J. Megown served as secretary from July 15, 1910, to August 31, 1914; Robert Wadsworth from September 1,1914, to May I, 1918, and Fred A. LaBelle from May I, 1918 to date. The Retail Merchants Board of the Chamber of Commerce was organized on February 14, 1913, by 0. U. Cassaday, James P. Colleran, S. D. Currier, I. G. Goldsmith, William Jeckell, H. L. Marquette, I. Harry Meyer, E. L. Morgan, Frank H. Ray, R. C. Wadsworth, C. F. Wilkins and P. J. Thompson. The first officers were P. J. Thompson, chairman; R. C. Wadsworth, vice chairman; M. J. Megown, secretary. Caroline M. Chadwick is assistant secretary. The present officers are E. L. McKelvey, president ; H. F. Grossman, first vice president; W. F. Proctor, second vice president; Fred A. LaBelle, secretary; H. W. Grant, treasurer. As its name indicates, this body is an organization of retail merchant members of the Chamber of Commerce. The Youngstown Association of Credit Men was organized on May 17, 1903, and since its beginning has included in its membership all the progressive wholesale, jobbing, manufacturing and banking institutions of the city. It is a protective organization for firms engaged in these and other lines of business and has been a valuable agency in the seven- 356 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY teen years of its existence. As subsidiaries the association has a reporting bureau and an adjustment bureau, the latter organized in 'goo and incorporated in 1908. The present officers of the Youngstown Association of Credit Men are; J. A. Thompson, president ; Bruce R. Campbell, vice president ; David B. Shaw, treasurer; W. C. McKain, secretary. The Youngstown Retail Grocers and Meat Dealers Association was organized in 1900 and today has a membership of ninety-five, including the most progressive of the firms in the two lines of business mentioned. Officers of the association are, H. V. Tutter, president ; Frank Hagberg, vice president; Clyde Metz, treasurer ; J. R. Truesdale, secretary. The Youngstown Retail Credit Men's Association was formed in 1919 and filled the place for retail merchants that the older credit men's association does for wholesalers. While a new body this is a flourishing one. Officers of this organization are, I. Harry Meyer, president; E. A. Stocker, vice president; Miss Anna Burke, treasurer; J. R. Truesdale, secretary. The Merchants Mercantile Company is a private credit reporting body, organized in 1903 and that has increased steadily in importance since. J. R. Truesdale is secretary of this organization. YOUNGSTOWN IN FINANCE There are six kinds of financial institutions in Youngstown, national banks, state banks, and trust companies, building and loan companies, a postal savings bank, a Morris Plan bank and private banks. The national banks are three in number, the First National, Ma-honing National and Commercial National ; the state banks number six, the Dollar Savings and Trust Company, City Trust and Savings Bank, South Side Savings Bank, Mahoning Savings & Trust Company, Central Bank & Trust Company, and a new organization, the Youngstown Savings Bank. There are six building and loan companies, the Home Savings and Loan Company, Federal Savings and Loan Company, Central Savings and Loan Company, South Side Savings and Loan Company, Youngstown Citizens Savings and Loan Company and Slovan Building and Loan Company. There is but one postal savings bank, of course, and one Morris Plan bank. The G. V. Hamory bank is the largest of the private institutions of this kind. Youngstown's banks are notable for the amount of their paid-in non-withdrawable capital, the high quality of their service to customers and the soundness and liberality of their policies, rather than for any idiosyncrasy, of appearance or practice. The largest of them has twice as much paid-in capital as any other bank in Ohio outside of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Youngstown has never had a bank failure or even a bank suspension. Indeed, it has never had a commercial failure of any proportions that has cost the creditors of the failing concern anything. Youngstown's building and loan companies are am0ng the best institutions of their kind t0 be found. These institutions confine their loans largely to loans upon real estate m0rtgages. They have no capital YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 357 in the sense that banks have, that is, permanent, taxable capital, but they accept money on deposit in much the same way that the banks, do, and in addition accept money as payment on what, in the nomenclature of the business, is called stock. In. Youngstown these institutions have served a useful purpose. They have encouraged savings and stimulated home building. No large one has ever failed. Though lacking the guarantees of safety provided by banks and free from some other restrictions applied to banks they have been pretty generally prosperous and have grown rapidly. Youngstown's postal savings bank, like all others of its kind, accepts savings deposits but exercises no other banking. function. Youngstown's Morris Plan bank is an ably managed institution. It is designed to meet the needs of those who, being obliged to borrow and being without the collateral required by, regular banks, must depend upon the endorsement of some friend, or friends, for security. Its loans are mostly for small amounts, and while its interest rates are much higher than those regular banks are allowed to charge they are much lower than small borrowers were formerly obliged to pay to "loan sharks." Owing to the inadequacy of the trust company laws of Ohio until 1919 the growth of business of this kind on the part of state bank and trust companies has been relatively slow throughout the state, but the Dollar. Savings and. Trust, which has been conducting a trust department for more than twenty years, developed a volume of business in this respect running into millions and the trust company business has been growing rapidly in recent years. Today it is the rule, rather than the exception for people who are ,drawing wills—and particularly those of large means—to select the trust company rather than an individual as executor or trustee. , Youngstown's financial institutions, in fact, are able to meet every legitimate need of the community and more than able to protect arid support the business of the community. Financially speaking Youngstown is one .of the strongest, best prepared and best equipped cities in the world. What is also of importance, it has kept relatively clear of "fly-by-night" and "get-rich-quick" concerns and the "watered stock" of high finance. When a new concern is started here it is started in the old fashioned way. Real money is put into it and the capital stock issued against the money shows the amount put in. A new concern whose stock will not practically sell itself without the aid of high percentage house-to-house canvassers is looked upon as unworthy. In short, Youngstown can boast about as wholesome, sound and sane financial atmosphere as is found anywhere. And it has paid well, for Youngstown is one of the most prosperous cities in the world. FIRST NATIONAL BANK-DOLLAR SAVINGS AND TRUST COMPANY This dual institution, the largest financial institution in any city of the United States the size of Youngstown, is an outgrowth of the Ma-honing County Bank, the first bank established in Mahoning County. The Mahoning County Bank was organized on August 7, 1850, with 258 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY Judge William Rayen as president and Robert W. Tayler as cashier. It was a prosperous and ably managed institution from its inception. On the death of Judge Rayen in 1854 Dr. Henry Manning became president, and in 1860 Mr. Tayler was succeeded as cashier by Col. Caleb B. Wick. Colonel Wick retired in October, 1862, and was succeeded as cashier by John S. Edwards. In the spring of 1863 the National Banking Act was passed, being a war emergency act, intended rather to create a market for government bonds than to establish a banking system. The country was in the darkest days of the Civil War, government bonds found no market, and the National Banking Act was enacted to induce existing banks to buy these bonds, offering in return the right to issue a limited amount of currency. As government bonds were of doubtful value it required patriotism and foresight to accept this offer. Yet on June 2, 1863, the Mahoning County Bank 0btained a national charter and became the First National Bank. This pioneer Youngstown institution was the third bank in the United States to take this step, and as the third oldest national bank in the country proudly retains its original number "3." Its original capital was $156,000. Doctor Manning continued as president of the First National Bank until 1866 when he was succeeded by William S. Parmelee, who in turn resigned in 1877, when he removed to Cleveland, and was replaced by Robert McCurdy. Robert McCurdy retained the presidency until his death on March 25, 1904. John S. Edwards remained as cashier of the First National Bank until June, 1865, when he was succeeded by Robert McCurdy, and on the election of Robert McCurdy to the presidency in 1877 William Baldwin became cashier. Mr. Baldwin was succeeded by Myron E. Dennison. The Second National Bank was chartered on December 15, 1874, with a capital of $200,000, and began business in the now partly dismantled Howells Block, at the northwest corner of Central Square and Federal Street, a structure that is soon to be replaced by an addition to the First National Bank Building. Its first officers were, Henry Tod, president ; T. K. Hall, vice president ; George J. Margerum, cashier; H. M. Garlick, teller and bookkeeper. In 1878 the bank removed to the Andrews & Hitchcock Building, where the Central Bank and Trust Company is now located, and in 1888 erected and moved into the building now occupied by the Realty Trust Company. Following the death of Robert McCurdy the Second National Bank was merged into the First National, the officers of the Second National at that time being Henry Tod, president ; H. M. Garlick, vice president ; R. E. Cornelius, cashier. The original capital 0f the First National Bank had been increased to $250,000 in 1866, to $300,000 in 1870 and to $500,000 in 1875. With the merger of these banks in 1904 H. M. Garlick was named president of the First National; Henry M. Robinson, Myron I. Arms and Henry Tod, vice presidents ; M. E. Dennison, cashier, and R. E. Cornelius, assistant cashier. The Dollar Savings and Trust Company was incorporated on March YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 359 29, 1887, with an authorized capital of $100,000, and with John I. Williams as president; George F. Arrel and Louis Gluck as vice presidents, and David E. Davis, secretary and treasurer. In m00 A. E. Adams was elected secretary and treasurer. The bank was authorized to act as a trust company on June 30, 1898. The Peoples Savings and Banking C0mpany was formed late in 1899 and opened on August 1, 1900, with an authorized capital of $300,000, of which $150,000 was paid in. The officers were, John H. Fitch, president; George L. Fordyce and H. M. Robinson, vice presidents ; R P. Hartshorn, secretary and treasurer; E. W. Ritchie, assistant treasurer. On February 22, 1903, this institution was merged with the Dollar Savings and Trust Company, A. E. Adams being elected president of the consolidated bank ; E. Mason Wick, secretary ; R. P. Hartshorn, treasurer; Paul H. McElevey, assistant treasurer; E. W. Ritchie, assistant secretary. Wick Bros. and Company was formed in 1857 by Hugh B. Wick and Paul Wick. In 1894 the Wick National Bank, was chartered as the successor to Wick Bros. and Company, the capital being fixed at $300,000 and increased later to $500,000. John C. Wick was president ; Myron C. Wick, vice president ; Charles J. Wick, cashier ; E. H. Hosmer, assistant cashier. On July 11, 1906, the Wick National Bank was consolidated with the Dollar Savings and Trust Company, Charles J. Wick being elected cashier and E. H. Hosmer assistant cashier of the consolidated bank. The capital of the Dollar Savings and Trust Company had been increased to $300,000 on January s0, 1896, to $500p00 on August 15, 1901; to $1,000,000 on May 15, 1903, and to $1,500,000 on May 15, 5906. On July 1, 1997, the capital of the First National Bank was also increased to $1,500,000 and the two institutions, each preserving its respective title and charter and separate entity, were brought under common ownership and became one institution. This union has since continued. To bind this dual institution a third corporation—the Union Safe Deposit Company—was formed with a capital of $100,000, all owned by the banks, the first officers being, W. P. Arms, president ; Thomas L. Robinson, vice president ; E. Mason Wick, secretary ; Perry B. Owen, manager. It acts as a trustee for the stockholders of the two banks and in addition conducts a safe deposit business, having four of the heaviest armor plate vaults in the world. Today the combined First National Bank and Dollar Savings and Trust Company has a combined capital, surplus and undivided profits of nearly $7,000,000 and total resources amounting to more than $42,000,000. H. M. Garlick is chairman of the Board of the two banks ; A. E. Adams, president ; R. P. Hartshorn, M. E. Dennison, John Tod, Charles H. Booth and Robert Bentley, vice presidents, and C. W. Relhl, auditor. For the First National Bank J. H. Parker is cashier and D. N. Cooper, assistant cashier. In the Dollar Savings and Trust Company D., M. Wick is treasurer; Paul H. McElevey, secretary; Wells L. Griswold, trust officer; V. J. Goodridge, assistant treasurer ; Charles Ephraim, 360 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY assistant secretary;. Harry A. Boyd, assistant trust officer. W. P. Arms is, president of, the Union Safe Deposit Company ; John Tod, vice president ; L. L. Rice; treasurer ; Perry B. Owen, .secretary and manager. The Wick Bros. Trust Company was organized in 1908 with a capital of $125,000 and with Thomas L. Robinson as president ; Myron C. Wick and George D. Wick, vice presidents ; Paul H. McElevey, secretary and treasurer. This institution was merged into the trust department of the Dollar Savings and Trust Company on May 15, 1909. MAHONING NATIONAL BANK AND MAHONING SAVINGS AND TRUST COMPANY The Mahoning National Bank, parent institution of the two above mentioned banks, had its origin in the Youngstown. Savings and Loan Association, organized in 1868 by some of the solid business men of Youngstown of that day. Its first, organization meeting was held on September 14, 1868, the directors named being David Tod, C. H. Andrews, W. J. Hitchcock, F. 0. Arms, 'F. K. Hall, J. G. Butler, Jr., T. H. Wells, John Stambaugh, David Theobald, Richard Brown, A. B. Cornell, B. F. Hoffman and William Powers. As the virtual organizer of the institution, Governor Tod was elected president ; C. H. Andrews and John Stambaugh were elected vice presidents and J. H. McEwen was named secretary and treasurer. The company opened for business at the northwest corner of Central Square and Federal Street and remained there until 1873, when, in connection with Andrews & Hitchcock, it erected at its present location a building that was for many years one of the most familiar in Youngstown. In 1877 the association adopted a national bank charter under the name of the Mahoning National Bank. Governor Tod died about two months after his election as president and was succeeded by F. O. Arms, who held the office until May 5, 1874, when Joseph H. Brown was elected president. Mr. Brown was succeeded on January 8, 1878, by H. O. Bonnell, who served until his death on January 16, 1893, when W. Scott Bonnell, his brother, was chosen to succeed him. Mr. Bonnell remained as president until January 14, 1908, when he was succeeded by J. H. McEwen who had rounded out forty years' service as cashier of this institution. In 1909 the Mahoning National Bank purchased the Andrews & Hitchcock interest in the property and in 1910 razed the old structure and erected the present handsome thirteen-story structure. In this latter year too there was incorporated under a separate charter, the Mahoning Savings and Trust Company, the capital being fixed at $100,000. This institution is devoted exclusively to savings bank business, all the stock being owned by the national bank stockholders and the management being identical. On January I I, 1910, President McEwen was succeeded by Edmond L. Brown, who resigned on October 14, 1911. R. E. Cornelius was YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 361 elected to fill the vacancy, and on November 1, 1911, assumed the presidency, a position he still holds. T. A. Jacobs, successor to Mr. McEwen as cashier, resigned in October, 1916,, and W. J. Roberts was made cashier, with William I. Davies as assistant cashier. In. March, 1917, J. R. Rowland was named vice president of the bank, and in 1918 W. J. Roberts was also elected to a vice presidency, William I. Davies becoming cashier, and W. Scott Bonnell and Walter A. Beecher remaining as vice presidents. These are the present officers of the Mahoning National Bank. Mr. Davies is also treasurer of the Mahoning Savings and Trust Company, and Air. Roberts secretary of that institution. These banks have shared in the general prosperity of Youngstown and today have resources in excess of $8,000,000. COMMERCIAL NATIONAL BANK The Commercial National Bank was organized in May, 1880, celebrating but recently its fortieth anniversary and being granted at that time its third twenty-year charter as a national institution. The Commercial Bank began business in the rear part of the old Andrews & Hitchcock Building at Federal Street and Central Square, now occupied by the Central Bank and Trust Company, C. H. Andrews being the first president of the institution, Gen. T. W. Sanderson, vice president, and Mason Evans, cashier. By 1890 it had expanded until it occupied the entire building, remaining there until 1908 when it purchased its present property and remodeled the banking rooms that stood there. In 1917 the building was again remodeled throughout, extended the full length of the lot, built to a height of three stories- and made into a virtually new structure. Mr. Andrews remained as president of the Commercial bank until his death on December 25, 1893, when he was succeeded by G. M. McKelvey. Mr. McKelvey died in December, 1905, and Mason Evans was elected president in January, 1906, remaining in this capacity until January, 1919, when he became chairman of the board of directors, C. H. Kennedy succeeding to the presidency. Mr. Kennedy had also succeeded Mr. Evans as cashier in 1906, and on his election to a vice presidency Harry Williams, his assistant, was made cashier. Mr. Evans is still chairman of the board, Mr. Kennedy president and Mr. Williams cashier, other officers being James B. Kennedy and Harry L. Rownd, vice presidents ; James R. Halls and Frederick G. Evans. assistant cashiers. In its two score years of existence the Commercial Bank has grown entirely through its own efforts and without consolidation, merger or affiliations of any kind. Mr. Evans and Mr. Kennedy have been associated with the bank since its organization and Mr. Williams has been a member of its personnel since 1887 Originally capitalized at $130,000, the Commercial bank increased its capital to $200,000, later to $300,000 and in 1918 to $500,000. Its resources now exceed $7,500,000. 362 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY CITY TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK The, City Trust and Savings Bank was organized in September, 1904, as the Youngstown Savings and Banking Company, with a capital of $50,000, and opened for business on March 18, 1905, in the corner room of the old Y. M. C. A. Building at Federal and Champion streets. Its original directorate included W. T. Gibson, J. S. Paterson, Michael Obendorfer, Rudolph Kurz, I. K. Ilgenfritz, W. R. Leonard, T. J. Lawlor, W. A. Maline, F. A. Scott and H. W. Grant. Mr. Gibson was elected president and Mr. Grant secretary and treasurer. This institution was prosperous from the start. For five years it remained in its original location, but on June I, 1910, removed to the Wick Building where it is now located. Coincident with the removal the name was changed to the City Trust and Savings Bank. The original capital of this institution was increased to $100,000 on July 1, 1906, to $200,000 in May, 1913, and to $300,000 in January, 1920. With fifteen years 0f life its resources have grown to more than $6,000,000. It is a member of the Federal Reserve system. Present officers of the bank are, W. T. Gibson, president; H. W. Grant, vice president and treasurer; W. R. Leonard, vice president and secretary ; James E. Gribbon, assistant treasurer; Edward J. McGowan, assistant secretary. SOUTH SIDE SAVINGS BANK The South Side Savings Bank was incorporated 0n June 24, 1914, by John C. Leavitt, W. H. Barr, C. F. Matteson, W. P. Williamson, Frank P. Cailor, Horace Williamson and Bales M. Campbell, and opened for business on June 2, 1915, in its own building in Market Street. The capital stock was fixed at $100,000 and the first officers were Chase T. Truesdale, president ; Bales M. Campbell, first vice president; Bruce Matthews, second vice president; W. H. Barr, secretary and treasurer; Hugh Swaney, assistant secretary. This institution has served well the rapidly growing business section of the South Side of which Market Street is the heart. The present officers of the bank are the same as given above except that A. D. Reese has succeeded Hugh Swaney as assistant secretary and James A. Henderson has been made assistant treasurer. CENTRAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY The Central Bank and Trust Company was organized in September, 1916, with a capital stock of $150,000, the organization being in response to a demand for a commercial banking institution for the convenience of the patrons of the Central Savings and Loan Company, an organization that had come into existence four years earlier. The first officers of this institution were, T. B. Van Alstine, chairman of the board; A. E. Reinmann, president and treasurer; Dr. Harry E. Welch, vice president ; John M. Shaw, secretary. The bank has YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 363 grown rapidly and today has resources exceeding $800,000. It is a member of the Ohio Banking Association and the American Banking Association. YOUNGSTOWN STATE BANK The Youngstown State Bank was incorporated in June, 1920, by a group of business men who have successfully conducted the Slovan Building & Loan Company for several years. YOUNGSTOWN CLEARING HOUSE ASSOCIATION The Youngstown Clearing House Association, is, as its name indicates, an organization designed to facilitate business between the banks of the city. It is a corporation organized not for pr0fit, its present officers being W. R. Leonard, president ; Harry Williams, secretary ; John M. Shaw, treasurer. MORRIS PLAN BANK The objects of the Morris Plan Bank have already been explained, and it is an institution that has fulfilled its' mission well. The bank was organized on April 29, 1916, by Philip Wick, W. B. Hall, George E. Dudley, R. E. Cornelius and John T. Harrington. The directorate was named on May 12, 1916, and on May 15th Philip H. Schaff was elected president ; C. J. Strouss and H. W. Grant, vice presidents ; John W. Ford, secretary and treasurer. On June 14, 1916, E. J. Obendorfer became secretary, treasurer and manager , and on October 13th R. J. Money was named assistant in these positions. On December I, 1916, William Jenkins succeeded Mr. Obendorfer, and with these exceptions the original list of officers is unchanged. On July 1, 1918, a regular savings department was installed and on June I, 1919, a retail trade acceptance department was added to the institution. BUILDING AND LOAN COMPANIES The Home Building and Loan Company was chartered on January 15, 1889, the pioneer institution of its kind in Youngstown, and at the first election of officers John R. Davis was made president, Christopher Deibel, vice president, and James M. McKay, secretary. The company opened for business early in that year. On the death of Mr. Davis in 1900 P. M. Kennedy was elected president, and J. R. Woolley subsequently succeeded Mr. Deibel as vice president. A second vice presidency was also created and S. G. Pyle selected to fill this place. These officers still remain, Mr. McKay having been secretary 'since the organization of the company, also acting as attorney for the company until January, 1919, when J. R. McKay, his son, succeeded to this place. The company started out on a mutual plan and still adheres t0 that. 364 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY Early in 1898 the name was changed to the Home Savings and Loan Company, this change of name being accompanied by the introduction of a new loaning plan by which the borrower was given a straight partial payment loan. The company has been successful since its organization and is now one of the largest building and loan companies in the state. In the spring of 1918 the c0nstruction of a new home of the company was begun at West Federal and Chestnut streets and this structure was completed and occupied in December, 1919. Including the mezzanine floor the Home Savings and Loan Building is a ten-story steel frame structure, with the mezzanine of marble and brick and terra cotta above. With the ground and equipment it represents an expenditure of approximately $1,000,000. FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN COMPANY The Federal Savings and Loan Company was incorporated in 'goo as the Equity Savings and Loan. Company by A. W. Jones, Ralph E. Cornelius, E. H. Turner and A. W. Jones, with a capital stock of $599,000. The company located in North Phelps Street and was successful from the beginning, so much so that on September 20, 1905, its capital was increased to $1,000,000. After almost twenty years existence these quarters became too small and in 1919 the construction of a permanent home of the company on a site purchased in West Federal Street was begun, this building being but recently completed and occupied. At the annual meeting of the stockholders in January, 1920, the name of the company was formally changed to the Federal Savings and Loan Company. Present officers of this company are, B. F. Wirt, president ; A. G. Sharp, vice president ; H. FL Geitgey, vice president and general manager; H. P. McCoy, secretary; H. W. Pennock, assistant secretary and attorney. CENTRAL SAVINGS AND LOAN COMPANY The Central Savings and Loan Company was organized in March, 1912, with a capital of $100,000, this being increased in 1914 to $200,000. The institution was organized by A. E. Reinmann, and the first officers, who have remained since without change, were, T. B. Van Alstine, president; J. P. Colleran, F. A. Hartenstein and S. A. Pfau, vice presidents; A. E. Reinmann, secretary and manager. The present resources of the company are $2,250,000, the company having enjoyed exceptional prosperity. Since its organization the company has been located in the building at the southwest corner of Central Square and West Federal Street so long favored by financial institutions, and in 1918 and 1919 it purchased this property and the adjoining Ludington properties where it intends to erect a handsome office building and permanent home for the savings and loan company and the Central bank, mentioned above, the two institutions being under the same ownership and management. YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 365 SOUTH SIDE SAVINGS AND LOAN COMPANY The South Side Savings and Loan Company was incorporated on April 19, 1917, in connection with the South Side Savings Bank, the incorporators being John Devenne, W. J. Thompson, C. F. Matteson, A. D. Reese, John C. Leavitt, Hugh Swaney, J. S. Zimmerman, C. T. Truesdale, F. E. Cailor, W. H. Barr, B. M. Campbell, W. R. Leonard, L. D. Wellendorf, James A. Henderson, M. A. Kimmel. J. C. Um-stead, Frank F. Simon, Aaron Wiesner, E. H. Dunlap, William Dingledy, T. W. Miller, E. J. Kane, P. H. McEvey and Mary Anne Thomas. The capital stock was fixed at $100,000 of which $66,000 has been subscribed and paid in. The officers of the company are, B. M. Campbell, president ; C. T. Truesdale, first vice president; E. J. Kane, second vice president; W. H. Barr, secretary; A. D. Reese, treasurer ; W. P. Williamson, assistant secretary ; A. R. Hall, assistant treasurer. YOUNGSTOWN CITIZENS SAVINGS COMPANY The Youngstown Citizens Savings Company was organized on November 13, 1916, by A. L. Montgomery, H. C. Hoffman, E. M. McBride, C. E. Schreiber and J. Oppenheimer and opened for business at its present location in the Tod House Building on April 17, 1917. The first officers still remain, including George S. Bishop, president; Dr. W. H. Hayden and J. J. Dalzell, vice presidents ; H. C. Hoffman, secretary and attorney. In three years of its existence the company has increased its business from $16,000 to $325,000. SLOVAN BUILDING AND LOAN COMPANY The Slovan Building and Loan Company was organized in 1910 and one year later, or in 1911, removed from South Avenue to its present location in East Federal Street. It has experienced a steady and pleasing growth since its formation. A foreign exchange bank is conducted in connection with the company. The officers of the organization are, Michael Willo, president ; Joseph Mogus, vice president ; Michael Fialla, secretary; J. G. Vascak, treasurer. The Michael Willo Foreign Exchange Bank is conducted in connection with this institution. PUBLIC UTILITIES The Youngstown City Water Works, a municipally-owned utility as well as a public utility, was established by councilmanic ordinance passed on May 23, 1871, after the need of a better water system for Youngstown had become plainly apparent. To arrange for building and managing this plant a board of waterworks trustees was created, this organization of three members remaining in existence until the amended municipal code became effective in 1903. The waterworks, or pumping station, was built in 1872 on the west 366 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY bank of the Mahoning River just above Stull Street, now West Avenue, and the Holly pumping system installed. The equipment consisted of one Holly gang pump of 1,000,000 gallons capacity each twenty-four hours; two Holly rotary pumps, one of 2,000,000 gallons and one of 3,000,000 gallons capacity ; one Holly vertical boiler to generate steam for the rotary pumps; two return tubular boilers to generate steam for the gang pump. The original cost of the plant was about $135,000. In 1879, and again in 1886, more modern equipment was installed. The filter-intake was located in the river more than half way across from the pumping station, the main suction pipes leading from this filter to the pumps. Also a steam whistle was installed, giving Youngstown a more modern fire alarm than the fire bell. With improvements from time to time the old waterworks did service for forty-four years, but was abandoned with the completion of the new pumping station, located on the opposite side of the river and in connection with the filtration plant. The equipment at this new station consists of four stoker equipped boilers of 500 horse power each; one vertical triple expansion pumping engine of 7,500,000 gallons capacity daily ; three centrifugal pumps direct connected to turbine engines with 8,000,000 gallons capacity each per day. The plant has a rated pumping capacity of 10,000,000 gallons each twenty-four hours through two separate distributing systems, one against a head of 210 feet, the other against a head of 320 feet. In actual practice the plant delivers about 12,000,000 gallons of water daily. YOUNGSTOWN FILTRATION PLANT The filtration, or filter plant, also municipally-owned, is the outgrowth of a movement begun twenty years ago for a purer domestic water supply. The old system of taking the water directly from the river with no purification except through a netting was well enough when Youngstown was small, but wholly inadequate as the city grew. Disease, especially typhoid fever, became prevalent and was traced to the water supply. Work on the filter plant was begun in 1904, the location being on the east bank of the Mahoning River, opposite the old pumping station. The plant was completed in June, 1905, the construction work being done by Thomas Lightbody while the equipment was installed by the William Tod Company. In 1912 work was begun on a new waterworks plant, to include a modern pumping station and a virtually new filtration system. This modern plant was completed and placed in operation in November, 1916, provision being made in connection with this work for softening the water before turning it into the city mains through the medium of lime, intended to precipitate iron from the water. Even this system has not been continuously successful as 'the city has expanded and the amount of foreign matter introduced in the river has increased. Various "softening" methods have been used but the water is still far from "soft." The present filtration and waterworks system comprises a mechanical YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 367 sand filtration plant of 30,000,000 gallons capacity daily ; pumping station equipment with a capacity of 31,500,000 gallons capacity daily ; 206 miles of cast iron distributing mains ; 2,091 fire hydrants; two standpipes of 328,000 gallons capacity each and one of 3,000,000 gallons capacity. The valuation of the system is approximately $2,500,4300. MILTON RESERVOIR The Milton Reservoir was designed as an industrial water supply f0r Youngstown, the great demands made upon the river for water having seriously imperiled the future of the city as a manufacturing center as the stream was drawn upon almost to the exhaustion supply during the summer months. UPPER BRIDGE AND MILTON DAM, 6 1/2 MILES LONG, SOURCE OF YOUNGS TOWN WATER SUPPLY Proposed as early as 1906, the original plan provided for a reservoir to be built in Berlin. Township. Interference of private interests caused a further survey of the river valley to be made, and the Milton basin was selected as a more favorable site for the proposed lake, although the greater part of the land needed in Berlin Township had been purchased and is still municipally owned. It was 1911 before any appreciable progress was made, but within two years all the necessary land had been obtained and in December, 1913, the contract for the great dam to impound the water was let to Louis Adavasio of Youngstown. Work was started in the spring of 1914, but proceeded slowly and it was late in 1916 before the dam was completed and the filling of the reservoir begun. The first relief given the industries was in the summer of 1917. The dam is located in Milton Township, a little more than a half mile south of the Trumbull County line and is 2,800 feet long, spanning 368 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY the river valley at a comparatively wide point. The reservoir is about six miles in length, varying in width from more than a mile to a few hundred yards. It covers approximately 1,700 acres and impounds 10,000,000,000 gallons of water, sufficient to maintain a flow of 90,000,00o gallons a day in the lower river during the dry months. The lake is seventeen miles from Youngstown by a direct line, although twice that distance away by the river route. The cost of this improvement was $1,250,000. PENNSYLVANIA-OHIO ELECTRIC COMPANY The movement for street railway facilities in Youngstown began about 1872 or 1873 when Youngstown had attained a population of to,- 000, and on March 3, 1874, application for a street railway franchise was made to city council by Henry Tod, G. C. Wilson, Samuel. Wallace, Robert Montgomery and J. H. McCartney. At this time, or shortly afterwards, a franchise was granted and the Youngstown Street Railway Company was formed with James Mackey, David Mackey, Robert Mackey, Robert Montgomery, Alfred Smith, James Cartwright and Thomas Connell as directors. James Mackey was elected president of the company, James Cartwright, vice president, and Alfred Smith, secretary and treasurer. Construction of a street railway line was begun late in 1874. Early in May, 1875 The line was completed. It was a single track road, extending along federal Street from a point near Basin Street to Federal and Jefferson streets in the suburb of Brier Hill, The track was a narrow gauge, with rails of the "strap" type, fastened to heavy wooden joists. The cars were of the light, short, "bob-tail" variety. It as a horse-car line, of course. On May 8, 1875, the road was formally opened for business. 'There was a heavy demand for seats on first car but the patronage on this initial trip was confined to Barney Kennedy, the proud driver, Joseph O'Neill, superintendent of the road, members of the board of directors, and John F. McGowan and A. D. Fassett, newspapermen. The trip was made with an admiring audience and the road was then opened for business. A one-way trip on the line required one-half to three-quarters of an hour, when the cars remained on the track. Not infrequently they went astray from deep snow or other causes. Passengers who cared to smoke had to remain in the broad back platform and sometimes smokers were excessive in numbers and tilted the front wheels off the rails. On all occasions when the cars left the roadway all passengers helped replace them. The cars were not heated; the passengers comforting themselves in winter by burying their feet in straw liberally piled on the floor. No conductors were employed, although in rush hours a relief employe boarded the cars at Central Square and collected fares. The officers and stables were at the Jefferson Street terminal, where the electric company afterwards had a car barn. For almost fifteen years the jogging horse cars sufficed in Youngstown; but in 1888 electric cars came into use in the United States and YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 369 in 1889 -90 the Youngstown line was electrified. The Youngstown Street Railway Company was reorganized at this time and extensions were built to Haselton, to Fruit Street, up North Avenue, up Elm Street to Broadway and out Mahoning Avenue. MARKET STREET VIADUCT, LOOKING NORTH CENTRAL SQUARE AND VIADUCT, LOOKING SOUTH The Mahoning Valley Electric Railway Company was chartered in November, 1894, and in 1895-96 built an electric line from Youngstown through Girard to Niles. At Niles this line connected with the Trumbull Electric Railroad Company's line. This latter road had been built from Niles to Warren in 1892-93. In 1901 the Trumbull Electric extended its road to Leavittsburg. Vol. I-24 370 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY In 1896 the Mahoning Valley Street Railway Company was organized, taking over the Youngstown Street Railway Company on December r, 1896. Subsequently the Mahoning Valley Railway Company was formed, assuming control of the Mahoning Valley Street Railway Company's city lines and the Mahoning Valley Electric Railway Company's interurban line. In 1899 the Mahoning Valley Railway Company constructed a line to Struthers and in 1900-01 this line was extended to Lowellville. In 1902 the company purchased the Trumbull Electric Company's line from Niles to Warren and at the same time purchased the electric road from Niles to Mineral Ridge. The Mahoning and Shenango Railway and Light Company was chartered in 1905 and in that year took over these lines and also the holdings of the Youngstown and Sharon Street Railway Company. The Youngstown and Sharon Company was organized in 1899, incorporated in 1900, and in 1900-02 built and opened an electric line from Youngstown to Sharon by way of Hubbard. At the same time, 1905, the Mahoning and Shenango came into control of the Youngstown Consolidated Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of the Youngstown and Sharon, although separately operated. The Youngstown Park and Falls Street Railway Company was chartered in 1893. A temporary, line was opened soon afterwards in Market Street and in 1898-99 the electric line from Central Square to Idora Park was built and opened. In 1906 the Youngstown Park and Falls line became a part of the Mahoning and Shenango system. Early city extensions after the advent of the electric line thirty years ago included the construction of the South Side belt line and the extension of the Albert Street line to McGuffey Street. Since that time extensions have been made to the Elm Street, North Avenue, Mahoning Avenue and Albert Street lines. The corporate identity of the present parent company has remained the same since its organization in 1905, but in January, 1920, the stockholders of the Mahoning and Shenango Railway and Light Company voted to change the name to the Pennsylvania-Ohio Electric Company. The company operates fifty-nine miles of track within Youngstown and 119 miles outside the city, including the interurban lines connecting Youngstown with Girard, Niles, Warren, Hubbard, Mineral Ridge and Leavittsburg in Trumbull County, Ohio Struthers and Lowellville in Mahoning County, Ohio ; New Castle, Edenburg and New Bedford in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania ; Sharon, Farrell, Sharpsville, Wheatland and West Middlesex in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. The power and lighting territory served, by, the company extends from the neighborhood of Niles and Mineral Ridge on the west through the same territory as, i5 served by the electric lines, with additional lines to the important Bessemer limestone section and to West Pittsburgh, Ellwood City, Wampum and. Zelienople in Lawrence and Beaver counties, Pennsylvania. This system comprises 218 miles of transmission line, much of it Of the most modern steel tower type, and more, than 1,000 miles of distribution circuits. The company has power generating stations at North Avenue in Youngstown, at Lowellville, Ohio, and Ellwood City, Penn- YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 371 sylvania. That at Lowellville is a 60,000 horse-power station of thoroughly modern design and efficiency and has developed rapidly to meet the increasing demand for electric power for industrial purposes. The Youngstown city lines are now operated under a service-at-cost franchise that went into effect on January 16, 1919. Under this system the service to be rendered car patrons is specified by the city through its municipal street railway commissioner, but operation of the service is carried on by the company. The commissioner has access to all accounts and supervision of all expenditures. The cost of operation and of maintenance of roadway and equipment is paid out of the receipts of the lines on a car-mile basis, the car allowance being fixed by city council, subject to arbitration in event -of a disagreement. The return to the company is at the rate of 7 per cent per annum on the agreed valuation of the property at the time of the enactment of the service-at-cost ordinance. The present officers of the Pennsylvania-Ohio Company are, R. P. Stevens, president; R. Montgomery and F. L. Dame, vice presidents ; Garrett T. Seely, vice president and general manager ; W. M. Coleman, secretary and general counsel; E. G. Dunlap, treasurer and assistant secretary; A. R. Hughes, assistant treasurer ; F. E. Wilkin, auditor. Chief operating officials, in addition to the officers of the company are, E. H. Beil, manager of the light and power department ; R. N. Graham, manager of the railway department outside- Youngstown,; J. B. Stewart, Jr., general superintendent of the Youngstown Municipal Railway Company. YOUNGSTOWN AND SUBURBAN RAILWAY COMPANY The Youngstown and Suburban Railway Company was incorporated on July 1, 1992, as the Youngstown and Southern Railway Company, the incorporators being R. L. Andrews, W. S. Anderson, John H. Ruhlman, A. W. Jones and W. H. Ruhlman. The first meeting on organization was held several weeks previously, on June 7, 1902. The company was capitalized at $1,809,000, with a bond issue of $1,509,909. Construction of a steam railroad from Youngstown southward was begun in the spring of 1903 and the tracks were laid to Columbiana that year. In May, 1995, the property was purchased by John Stambaugh, Henry H. Stambaugh, Richard Garlick, David Tod, James A. Campbell, Warner Arms and others, and in the summer of 1996 the line was extended to Leetonia and preparations made for electrifying it. By the spring of 1907 the line had been electrified and through service from Youngstown to Leetonia was installed that year. The first officers of the company under the reorganizations were, John Stambaugh, president; S. J. Dill, vice president and general manager David Tod, secretary and treasurer. In 1998 David Tod became president and,, A. W. Hartford became general manager. In July, 1914, the company went into receivership owing to a series of accidents and other circumstances, although financially sound, and David Tod was named receiver. Within a few months it was reorgan- 372 - VIEWS IN MILL CREEK PARK, YOUNGSTOWN YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 373 ized as the Youngstown and Suburban Railway Company, the receivership was terminated and David Tod was elected president of the new company. Following this reorganization a controlling interest in the property was sold to the Municipal Service Company of Philadelphia, controlled by Baker, Aling and Young of Boston. It is managed by Daniel Zimmerman, Inc., engineers, of Philadelphia. The directors of the company, are C. H. Kennedy, J. G. Butler, Jr., A. B. Calvin, A. W. Hartford and George B. Reamer of Youngstown ; J. H. McClure, Oil. City ; Gordon Campbell, Philadelphia ; G. B. Baker and L. N. Freeman, Boston. The presidency of the company has been left vacant since the death of President David Tod in 1919. OTHER UTILITIES The artificial gas property in Youngstown is controlled by the electric railway and power system. The city is served by the East Ohio Gas Company, natural gas distributors ; the Central Union and Ohio State telephone companies ; Western Union and Postal Telegraph companies and by the Erie, Baltimore and Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York Central Railroad systems but these are not locally operated utilities. CHAPTER XX PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF YOUNGSTOWN ORGANIZATIONS THAT EXERCISE A PROFOUND INFLUENCE FOR HIGHER COMMUNITY LIFE-FRATERNAL AND BENEFICIAL ORGANIZATIONS-HISTORICAL AND OLD FAIR SOCIETIES-PUBLIC PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS. It would be impossible to give within the space available in this work complete credit to all the institutions and organizations that exert an uplifting influence on Youngstown and its people. In numbers these run above 100, and in their aims they are educational, charitable, helpful in assisting those who are ambitious to rise in the world, fraternal and protective. Many of them have a distinct religious influence. All of them have been put to a severe test and it is only the worthy that have survived. REUBEN MCMILLAN FREE LIBRARY AND YOUNGSTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM The story of library service in Youngstown forms a unique chapter in the history of the American public library movement, but one familiar to only a few of the men and women, and even fewer of the children, who are now borrowing hundreds of thousands of library books in Youngstown each year. It is a story of the devotion of a few zealous workers in the early days, and of how the little lamp of learning which they lighted and tended so faithfully has grown to be a great light that sheds its beams into shops and offices; mills and stores, and brings knowledge and happiness into countless lives. As early as 1853, the General Assembly of Ohio, recognizing the value of books as a part of the system of public education, passed a law by which the state purchased good books and supplied them to every school district in Ohio, the books being sent to the various boards of education and, through them, loaned to the people:. each family being-permitted one book at a time. In 1860 this statute was suspended, and it was never revived. The books that had been given to Youngstown had no doubt been partly scattered and lost when, in 1870, Miss Sarah E. Pearson and Miss Julia A. Hitchcock took charge of the 168 volumes that remained of the "Ohio School Library," these books being locked up at that time in a case in the superintendent's office at the old Wood Street School. This case was opened once or twice a year to a class that exhausted the readable contents in a few visits. - 374 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 375 For a number of years, during the '70s and the '80s, Richard Brown gave the use of a reading room in East Federal Street, just east of the property on which the old Young Men's Christian Association building was located. This was discontinued about the time the Young Men's Christian Association was established. The school superintendent, Reuben McMillan, took a deep, interest in the little library, the possibilities of which he so clearly saw. Under his guidance, Miss Pearson and Miss Hitchcock, with several teachers and their friends, notably Miss Robbins, Prof. H. C. Muckley, Mrs. C. F. Walker, Miss Etta Walker, Mrs. W. J. Hitchcock and Mrs. C. H. Andrews, began in 1872 a series of annual entertainments, or festivals, which even now are remembered happily by many of the older residents of Youngstown. This provided a fund for books that were especially adapted to the needs of children and which were made available to the children after school hours. In the early days the Board of Education supplied the library room and the librarian, but in 1875, when books to the value of $1,000 had been acquired, an association was formed which loaned these books to the school library. In 1876 the school board voted a salary of $50 a year for the librarian, this appropriation happily increasing as time went on. Miss Sarah E. Pearson, to whom Mr. McMillan handed the book case keys in 1872 and who became Youngstown's first librarian, came to Youngstown from Nantucket, Massachusetts, when a young girl. She was a high school pupil in 1862, and after graduation taught at Front Street School and later acted as assistant to Miss Hitchcock at Wood Street. In 1872 she resigned as a teacher but gave part of her time to library work until 1883. She married in 1885 and lived in Brier Hill and Haselton, serving as secretary of the library board until 1886. Later she removed to Portland, Oregon, but maintained her interest in Youngstown library work until her death. Miss Julia A. Hitchcock, librarian from 1890 to 1898, another of the beloved teachers 0f the older generation, taught for many years at Wood Street School, and her ideals and zeal endeared her to parents and pupils alike. In 1899 she removed to San Diego and died there in May, 1906. Reuben McMillan, Sarah Pearson Adams and Julia: A. Hitchcock worked together, year by year, to provide more and more good books for the growing population. In 1878 the Association, which was then a somewhat informal group of teachers and citizens, moved the library to the Board of Education rooms in the First National Bank Building, and for the first time opened its books to the public, on. Saturday evenings. Two years later, October 27, 1880, the. Youngstown Library Association was incorporated, the articles being drawn by Sidney Strong and signed by R. McMillan, J. A. Hitchcock, Sarah E. Pearson, Drs. F. S. Whitslar and J. S. Cunningham (the latter two being also members of the School Board), and witnessed by Volney Rogers. By-laws were adopted at the first meeting, April 22, 1881, and Reuben McMillan was elected president, F. S. Whitslar vice-president, and S. E. Pearson secretary-treasurer. For the next ten years the library struggled along with its yearly income of $300 appropriated by the Board of Education, 376 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY and the annual dues of members, together with the proceeds of an occa sional concert or entertainment. An act that was of such distinct importance to the library that it might be said to have been the most important event in its history up to that time, was the passage on March 25, 1890, of the Ohio statute providing for a public tax for library service to all the people. This measure originated with John H. Clarke, then a practicing lawyer in Youngstown, now associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. He became a member of the library board in May, 1883, and was its vice-president from 1896 to 1890 and president from 1890 to 1897. His interest in the Youngstown library and his belief that a library was part of the educational system of a city inspired him to draft the library bill that was introduced and piloted through the Legislature by John R. Davis, then assemblyman from Mahoning County. The library at that time contained 3,259 volumes, with a circulation of 11,880, and steps were taken to find better quarters. In March, 1891, the library was moved to the Reel and Moyer Block, the Board of Education turning over its control of the library to the Association, but continuing its annual support for the work done by the library for the schools. Miss Hitchcock was appointed librarian, with Miss Lelia McKay and Miss Minnie E. Gibson assistants. This move gave only temporary relief, for in 1897 4,000 persons borrowed more than 50,000 books from a collection of 12,408 volumes. Early in 1897 some of the pupils and friends of Reuben McMillan held a social gathering, at which Mrs. McMillan was also present. The aged schoolmaster was then in his seventy-seventh year, and the subject of memorials was discussed by the group. Mrs. McMillan expressed the thought that they would be happiest to be remembered in the hearts of their friends. The idea of dedicating the library to the memory of Mr. McMillan was conceived on this occasion by Mrs. Sarah McElevey. It was discussed afterward by a number of citizens, and largely through the efforts of Robert McCurdy, who in those days was considered the great "money-raiser" of the city, and who was a deeply interested trustee of the library, public interest .was aroused and funds generally subscribed by citizens, so that on October 27th Mr. McCurdy, John C. Wick and others agreed to purchase and present to the library the Richard Brown property at Front and Market streets, on condition that the name of the Youngstown Library Association be changed to "Reuben McMillan Free Library Association." The owners, Richard and Henrietta A. Brown, were interested in the development of the library and sold for $17,000, considerably less than their value, the house and 96-foot lot at Front and Market streets. In March, 1898, the court decree was signed for the change of the name and the property transferred to the Reuben McMillan Free Library Association. In 1901 a second lot twenty-six feet wide was purchased from funds raised by Mr. McCurdy, $36,652 in all having been raised by popular subscription. In 1904 Mrs. Brown gave the adjoining lot, twenty-eight feet wide. As W. T. Gibson, former mayor and for many years secretary of the Library Board, has said, "It was one of the movements here to which the people of all creeds and YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 377 politics contributed liberally, and which represented in a peculiar sense all the people without distinction of race, religion, politics, or wealth." Thus it was that a library which belongs to the people and was paid for by the contributions of a wide circle of citizens, bears the name of one whom his townspeople delighted to honor for his devoted service, rather than the name of some wealthy benefactor. So far as is known, Youngstown, this city of smoke, steel and money, is unique in having a library building thus named. The growth of the city was reflected in the increased service of the library. Miss Minnie Gibson succeeded Miss Hitchcock as librarian, and completely catalogued the books. In December, 1902, Miss Anna L. Morse, a graduate of the New York State Library School, was appointed librarian, her first report showing a collection 0f 20,548 books and a circulation of 59,837. In 1907 the city tax appropriation was $10,293, the school board's appropriation $2,000, books 28,601, circulation 82,726. But the city's growth called for a new county courthouse, and the county officials agreed, in May, 1907, to purchase the library .property for $141,255, allowing the library to occupy its quarters until April, 1908. On November 20, 1907, the library board authorized the purchase of the W. S. Bonne11 property at Wick and Rayen avenues, for $50,000, of which $5,000 was given by the owners. A building fund of $96,000 was thus available through the donations of 1898 and the increase in the value of the library's property. Joseph G. Butler, Jr., and the librarian, Miss Morse, then presented the local situation to Andrew Carnegie, with the result that Youngstown received a donation of $50,000 toward the cost of the building. While the plans for the new building were being prepared the library was transferred f rom the Market Street Building to the Bonnell House, which had been moved to the rear of the new property, where it remained during the construction. At this time the library had reached a usefulness greater than that attained again for several years, the reports showing a collection of 35,040 volumes and a circulation of 102,656 in 1908, while that for 1909 decreased to 86,253, owing to the greater distance of the new location f rom the Public Square. The building committee consisted of Mason Evans, George L. Fordyce and Bernard Hirshberg. The cornerstone was laid on June 26, 1909. When the opening exercises were held on December 3, 1910, the 3,500 visitors found that their city had, at a cost of $145,000, but entirely free of debt, what was then undoubtedly the most adequate and efficiently planned library building of any city of this size in the country. Besides spacious delivery, reference and children's rooms on the main floor, and a large auditorium on the second floor, the building contains smaller rooms for the office and staff, a teachers' room, conversation, study and music rooms, and other rooms that are now occupied by the Mahoning County Medical Society and Mahoning Valley Historical Society, since 1910; the Youngstown Playground Association and Boy Scouts Headquarters, since June, 1917; and Community Service Society, since December, 1917. All the books in the library are on "open shelves"; and 378 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY the reading tables, located between the expansive windows and the book stacks give to the thousands of readers who come here for study a most attractive impression of welcome: Among the decorations of the building is the notable replica of the Parthenon frieze, above the Loan Room, a gift of Dr. Ida Clarke, who since 1901 has been president of the Library Board, and the bronze bust of Mr. Carnegie made by J. Massey Rhind and presented by J. G. Butler, Jr., who became a trustee in January, 1915, The list of trustees in 1910 contains the names of citizens who had already served for some time, but are no longer members, among them Dr. N. H. Chaney, David Tod, Mrs. Annie Bonne11, and J. Harris McEwen, who served continuously from 1891 to 1919. The remaining trustees—, Mrs. Susanna Felton, Mrs. S. J. Peterson, M. I. Arms, Mason Evans, George L. Fordyce, Wells L. Griswold, Bernard Hirshberg, W. A. Ma= line, J. P. Wilson, and the successive mayors—have continued to contribute their time and counsels to the city to the present time. Since 1910 the library has made notable progress in many ways, though it has not thus far been given adequate city support. While the circulation of books at the main library has steadily increased both as to amount and quality, the people of Youngstown patronize more and more the various distributing points about the city. Of these the oldest was Haselton branch, originally established January 15, 1900, and maintained by citizens of that district, but later—since February, 1906—operated by the library and temporarily discontinued in 1919, on account of the sale of the property on which the little building stood. South Side branch was opened in the fall of 1912 in the South High School Building and has rendered service to thousands of adult citizens as well as served increasingly as a high school reference library. The library trustees look forward to the time when the Carnegie Corporation will make further donations of branch library buildings to Ohio cities, as the City Council in November, 1916, agreed to make the annual appropriation to support the work in four branch buildings. A word should be said for the work which the library does in the schools.• The service which Miss Morse so notably forwarded during her librarianship now reaches into every schoolhouse in the city. The circulation of juvenile books reached a total of 169,477 in 1919, made up as follows : Central children's room collection, 52,271 ; Branches—Brier Hill, 6,999; Haselton, 6,221; South Side, 15,800; Washington, 8,352; total, 37,372; school sets (30 copies of the same set sent to schoolrooms on teachers' request and used for classroom reading), 9,811; Miscellaneous sets—assorted titles sent on teachers' request to schoolrooms for classroom or home use-24,322 ; "Home reading with school credit" (books owned by school board but handled by the library. Used only for home reading), 33,635. But the w0rk with the adult population in a city like Youngstown is even more essential, in many respects, than that of lending books to the children. In 1919 the circulation of books to adults had reached 154,823, which with the juvenile circulation made a total of 324,300. The demand for technical and business literature has grown rapidly in the last few years. Publicity has been given much attention, for "adver- YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 379 tising lowers the cost of distribution," and the library's work is that of distributing more and better books to a constantly enlarging circle. Miss Morse resigned as librarian in June, 1914. Miss Fannie Smith, assistant librarian, was acting librarian until November, 1915, when Joseph L. Wheeler was appointed. Miss Morse, Miss Smith and Mr. Wheeler were graduates of the New York State Library School at Albany. The present staff numbers eighteen persons, of whom four are graduates of library schools. Beginning with the first Library War Service financial campaign in September, 1917, when Youngstown contributed $8,000 instead of its quota of $6,000, the library rendered every assistance in war work. Its librarian was absent from October I, 1917, to July 1, 1918, as assistant to the general director of the Library War Service, in charge of the forty-two large camp libraries in the United States and of the selection of purchased books. Its assistant librarian, Miss Viola B. Phillips, was absent from March 27 to November I, 1919, and earned notable praise for her work in organizing and supervising library service in France. Miss Anna B. Thomas, cataloguer, served at Washington headquarters on book selection from July 8 to October I, 1918. Miss Edna Foley, librarian of the Public Square Branch, was in hospital library service at Camp Custer, Fort Oglethorpe and Fort McHenry, from June, 1918, to November 1, 1919. The second fund for the Library. War Service, $12,000, was paid from the Youngstown War Chest to the United War Work Fund. More than 10,000 carefully selected books were prepared and sent from Youngstown, most of them going direct to France. In 1919 nearly 50,000 persons were using library books. Public interest in the library has brought several bequests, the first from D. Theo-bald, followed by one from his wife. Mrs. C. D. Arms left $5,000 for the purchase of hooks. Mrs. C. H. Andrews in 1917 and Henry H. Stambaugh in 1919 also left sums of $5;000 each, while Mrs. John C. Wick bequeathed $2,000 in 1920. The Mahoning Institute of Art is another organization whose early history is bound up with that of the Reuben McMillan Library. Founded five years ago to promote love of art and to give admirers of paintings and statuary an opportunity to gratify their tastes, the institute brought to Youngstown works of the best American masters for free exhibit to the people of this city. The use of the auditorium, on the second floor of the library building, was tendered for these exhibitions and during 191516-17-18-19 several such exhibits were held each year. In 1919 the Butler Art Institute was made available for this purpose, and it can be truthfully said that the early exhibits at the library building had much to do with the initial success of the permanent art building. BUTLER ART INSTITUTE This institution, the gift of J. G. Butler, Jr., to the City of Youngstown, is not only a realization of the ambition of its founder but fulfills the fond hope of the many residents of this community who are lovers of art. In the words of one of its admirers this art institute has an en- 380 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY nobling influence "not only because it provides a profitable recreational interest for leisure hours but because the contemplation of beautiful works of art exalts the spirit and awakens in the beholder a civic pride —a desire to have the city a fitting environment for its people." Mr. Butler has been a collector of fine paintings for many years, and even before the establishment of the present institution made every effort to permit the people of Youngstown to share in the enjoyment of these works of art. When the Mahoning Institute of Art was incorporated on February 27, 1915, he was elected its president, this organization being the outgrowth of a movement started by the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs. Under the patronage of the Mahoning Institute of Art many exhibits of paintings were brought to Youngstown and these aroused great interest, although the exhibits were made with difficulty, as Youngstown had no appropriate place in which they could be held. In the erection of the Butler Art Institute this handicap has been overcome. The institute now has a permanent collection of seventy-five paintings of high artistic quality, suitably housed on the first floor of the art buildings, and to this collection will be added more paintings from time to time. This is only part of the opportunity afforded by the institution, however. It is the policy of the institute to invite outside exhibits in order to give the people opportunity to become acquainted with the works of great artists. who are not yet included in the permanent collection. To give art a vital interest in the life of the community, lectures are also arranged and given to the public free of charge. The educational department has now four well-organized classes—the local artists, who are allied under the name of the Mahoning Society of Painters, the Youngstown Art League, under the direction of Ceylon Hollingsworth, a picture study class for young children, and a class in drawing and painting for the upper grade students with special talent. The first exhibit of paintings done by local artists was held in the winter of 1919-20, with results that were gratifyingly surprising to promoters, exhibitors and the public alike. The attendance was far beyond expectations, and those who attended were in turn astonished to find that Youngstown had so many talented artists. It was this showing that inspired the organization of the Mahoning Society of Painters, a body of men and women who have banded together to exchange ideas and to develop the talent given them. It is more than likely that, as a result of this movement, an exhibit by local artists will be an annual feature, of the Art Institute. The Institute is given over wholly to American art. It is unique in the United States in this respect, and it is certain that this will have a great 1nfluence in encouraging American artists and in leading them to greater efforts. The Butler Art Institute itself is an unusually beautiful building of Georgia marble. The main facade is 120 feet long and 34 feet 1I inches in height. The central feature is a portico of three arches, and on either side are niches containing statues of Apollo and Minerva, the work of the great American sculptor, J. Massey Rhind. The portico gives access to YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 381 the central hall, designed to receive sculpture and objects of art other than paintings. The doorway opposite the entrance gives access to the staircase leading to the second floor, and also leads out of the gallery to the open court that will lie between the two proposed projecting wings of the building. It is proposed to arrange this court as a formal Italian garden, with fountains and with a loggia at the extreme end corresponding to the entrance portico. The doorways to the right and left of the central hall lead to the two principal galleries for paintings. The wings to be added will be entered through these rooms, the entrance being indicated now BUTLER ART INSTITUTE by doorway outlines that are temporarily housing paintings. The general style of the building throughout is of the Early Italian Renaissance. The park-like Institute grounds will extend from Wick Avenue through to Bryson Street, all the property for this purpose having been purchased by Mr. Butler. The structure was designed by McKim, Meade & White. The building was formally opened on October 15, 1919, and on October 16, 1919, was opened to the public. The patronage since the opening day has been surprisingly large. It has not only been a gathering place for Youngstown lovers of the beautiful, but the Institute register daily records the names of art lovers from all sections of the country from the Atlantic Coast to California. 382 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY The Institute represents thus far an investment of approximately $500,000 in lands, building and paintings given by Mr. Butler from the private collection that he has been years in accumulating. In addition the founder has provided an endowment fund of $200,000 to insure the permanency of this great work. To enable this to be carried on the Butler Art. Institute was regularly incorporated on December 27, 1919, by J. G. Butler, Jr., John Stambaugh, John W. Ford, Jonathan Warner and Henry A. Butler. SOCIAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL ORGANIZATIONS The Community Corporation, Youngstown's clearing house for charitable work and welfare work, came into existence as a result of the striking demonstration of the value of team work that was brought out during the World war. It was co-operation that made America's magnificent showing possible, and with the close of the war there was a general feeling that this great advantage should not be lost. The War Chest had done its work well ; it was believed a Peace Chest would accomplish similarly great results and time has shown that this belief was justified. Under the old disorganized system contributors became more and more perplexed each year by the multitude of organizations that sought financial aid. Most of these were good, but there was no way to separate the wheat from the chaff. Few persons have the time to make personal investigation of each request for aid. Giving was unequal. Some gave more than their share ; some gave nothing. Much that was given was wasted in inefficient administration. The Community Corporation was formed, according to its own declaration of principles: To secure adequate financial support from the largest possible number of contributors. To fix a definite responsibility for service from affiliated agencies. To stimulate interest in, and understanding of, the city's social organizations. To promote cordial co-operation between all benevolent and Philanthropic societies of Youngstown. The Community Corporation was incorporated on February 10, 1919, by A. E. Adams, H. L. Rownd, W. A. Thomas, J, A. Campbell, L. B. McKelvey, P. J. Thompson, W. B. Hall, J. G. Butler, Jr., C. S. Robinson, L. A. Manchester and Ode J. Grubb. The incorporat0rs met in the music room of the public library on March 21, 1919, and elected H. M. Garlick, president ; Robert Bentley, first vice president ; L. A. Manchester, second vice president; Wells L. Griswold, treasurer ; A. O. Fleming, secretary and managing agent. These officers have since continued in office and in addition there is an executive committee of twenty-one and a board of trustees of 100 members. The agencies affiliated with the Community Corporation are, the Anti-Tuberculosis League, Baby Welfare Committee, Booker T. Washington Association, Boy' Scout Association, Camp Fire Girls, Children's Service Bureau, Christ Mission Settlement, Community Service Society, Com- YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 383 munity Social Clinic, Florence Crittenton Home, Free Kindergarten Association, Fresh Air Camp Association, Joint Committee on Boys and Girls, Salvation Army, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, St. Elizabeth's Hospital, St. Vincent de Paul Society, United Jewish Charities, Visiting Nurse Association, Wesley Brown Personal Mission Work, Young Men's Christian Association, Youngstown Hospital, Youngstown Humane Society, Youngstown Playground Society, Young Women's Christian Association, Neilson House, Colored Community Center. Funds to maintain the various Community Corporation activities are raised by annual "campaigns," conducted in April. The 1920 campaign had $400,000 for its goal, and despite unfavorable business conditions at that time this mark was exceeded. The number of individual subscribers was 17,839. YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION The Youngstown Young Men's Christian Association was organized in 1882 in the old Reading Room Hall, located over Ward's gun store in a building in East Federal Street next door to the old Young Men's Christian Association, the organizers being an earnest group of Christian men, who recognized the need of a movement of this character. In 1883 the association removed to the Bushnell, Reel and Moyer block at 127 West Federal Street, and in 1884 was incorporated. At this new location C. A. Kimmel was placed in charge as general secretary, and for a long time he was the only employed officer of the organization. With the growth of the movement the need 0f a more fitting home for the association was recognized and a site was purchased at Federal and Champion streets. The cornerstone of the new building at this location was laid on September 30, 1890, the building was occupied on September 1, 1892, and dedicated on September 11, 1892, by William McKinley, then governor of Ohio. By this time the association had a membership of 1057 and employed three officers; Herbert K. Caskey, general secretary, an assistant secretary and a physical director. From the beginning the work of the association has been primarily religious,—supplementary to the church. In the first year of its existence many religious meetings were held—young men's Sunday afternoon gatherings, Bible classes, railroad men's cottage meetings and Sunday school teachers' meetings. This religious work has expanded and extended as the years have passed, to the great moral advantage of the city. The physical department had a small beginning, but by 1892 was well organized under Director George M. Martin. It has steadily increased in scope, giving opportunity for indoor athletics and keeping in touch with the athletic valley of the community by means of outing clubs. Social activities have been fostered and intellectual opportunities developed. The earliest movement along the latter line was the "People's Lecture Course" during the '90s. In 1896 the Up-To-Date Club was organized for the discussion of current questions. As early as 1893 an educational department was in existence, with 384 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY classes in mechanical drawing and chemistry. In 1894 there were eighty men enrolled. In 1920 there were 1,220 students enrolled in the eight administrative divisions of this department, offering the standardized courses of the United Young Men's Christian Association schools. Railroad work was begun in 1884 with college meetings, and on February 3, 1896, a railroad branch was inaugurated. On August 1, 1911, this was organized as a separate Young Men's Christian Association. Boys' work also was emphasized from the beginning. By 1894-95 there were four special gymnasium classes in this division and religious meetings were held each Sunday. On October 1, 1990, a special junior department was organized with separate reading and game rooms. This work developed to such an extent that there is now a complete program for boys. The Youngstown association has cooperated in foreign work since 1897 when John T. Seift was sent to Tokio, Japan, with his salary guaranteed. Robert Gailey, at Tien Tsin, China, and J. C. Clark, at Shanghai, China, have since been supported in like manner and during the World war the local association loaned its general secretary for work in India. At home during the war the Young Men's Christian Association was active in securing war contributions, loaning secretaries for war work and recruiting laymen. Eight hundred returned soldiers have identified themselves with the organization. Employment work has been carried on since the organization of the local association but is now highly specialized. The dormitory department furnishes rooms for more than two hundred men. On November 12, 1915, the present Young Men's Christian Association Building at 15-21 North Champion Street was opened, giving facilities of which the, association stood much in need. Its membership is now in excess of three thousand. The Youngstown association has always been fortunate in its lay leadership. The presidents, from W. H. Baldwin, the first to hold this office, to W. E. Manning, the, present chief, have always been active in association work. Close connection has always been maintained with the churches, for from 1884 to the present the Ministerial Association has met in the Young Men's Christian Association Building and the office of the Federated Churches is located there now. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Youngstown Council, Knights of Columbus, the oldest council of this organization in Ohio, was instituted on October 24, 1897, with a charter membership of fifty-three, William A. Maline being the first grand knight of this body. For twenty years after its organization Youngstown Council was governed along fraternal organization lines, but with the creation of the war organization of the Knights of Columbus, in 1917, its transformation to a welfare body began. Aside from those in strictly military service the council gave nine of its members t0 war welfare work, and following the termination of the war began the building of a peace-time welfare organ- YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 385 ization under the auspices of the National Catholic Welfare Council, successor to the National Catholic War Council. In 1902 the local council had purchased a building site in South Hazel Street and in 1908 dedicated its own five-story building, an event for which the greatest measure of credit must go to the late Thomas C. Reilly. In 1919 two floors of the building that had previously been leased for office purposes were remodeled to provide working space for new activities, and on October 22, 1919, the Catholic Service League was formed, with Judge George J. Carew as president, Bert J. Ullman, vice president ; Albert M. Grant, secretary, and A. N. P. Lehnerd, treasurer. The entire activities of this league are carried out through the Knights of Columbus Council, the secretary's office, in charge of Executive Secretary A. M. Grant, being the clearing house for all branches of work. The Americanization work program is carried out through the medium of parish organizations and under the guidance of parish priests. The Knights of Columbus night schools are the most ambitious welfare undertakings thus far. These are free to all persons without distinction as to creed. The courses include, business and correspondence, public speaking, advertising, history, civics, arithmetic, higher mathematics, English (advanced classes for English-speaking), penmanship, study of the Constitution, mechanical drawing, metallurgy and bookkeeping. In conjunction with the Electrical Workers Union classes in electricity are also held. In addition open forums are held, and under Knights of Columbus auspices the free dispensary at St. Elizabeth's Hospital has been opened and ten troops of Boy Scouts organized. YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION The Youngstown organization of this association dates back to November 1, 190,1, when the first Young Women's Christian Association rooms were opened, including a general office, cafeteria, and kitchen, living room, rest room and gymnasium. It was a modest beginning, yet its rooms were well-equipped and attracted such immediate attention that at the first annual gymnasium exhibit, in April, 1905, there were 278 participants, and in the summer of the same year an assistant physical director was engaged to take care- of the large classes. With continued growth two new secretaries were added to the staff in 1908. By this time the need of a permanent home of the organization was becoming apparent, and in 1910 a "campaign' was launched to raise a building fund of $150,000. The goal was surpassed with subscriptions of $183,000, a site purchased in Rayen Avenue, and on June 5,- 1911, the cornerstone of a five-story building was laid. On April II, 1912, the building was opened and on April 15, 1912, the dedicatory service was held, Mrs. Harriett Wick Ford, president, presiding at this ceremony while Miss Florence Sims delivered the religious message. In this year, too. the Young Women's Christian Association summer camp at Dry Run was secured through the kindness of the Republic Iron & Steel Com- Vol- I-25 386 - YOUNGSTOWN AND. THE MAHONING VALLEY pany, and this place, with its croquet, tennis, basketball, cross country runs, tramps and picnics has proved a valuable asset to the organization. In 1914 relief work was begun for Belgian refugees and the employment department became a most valuable adjunct, this bureau growing to such an extent that two years later a secretary was employed to give one-half her time to this work. In 1915 the Neilson House, the first settlement house .under Young Women's Christian Association auspices, was opened in Brier Hill, the site being donated by Dr. R. D. Gibson, In 1915 also classes in social leadership and instruction in handling social groups and directing church and parlor games were instituted by Miss Vera Barger, and the organization was enriched by the gift of Robert YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION BUILDING Bentley, who offered to erect, as a memorial to his mother, an addition to the building of forty rooms, also parlor, kitchenette and suite for the matron. In September, 1916, Miss Susan M. Rebhan, general secretary, came to the association, and under her guidance the organization has greatly expanded its work. In 1917 there was another campaign for funds, to furnish the new dormitory, Bentley Hall, and, as this was a war year this building was used as headquarters for the motor corps girls, Red Cross work rooms, and instruction rooms and headquarters for the National League for Women's Service. In 1918 the association rose magnificently to the occasion during the influenza epidemic by aid given to the nurses and by furnishing meal: from the cafeteria to families thr0ughout the city. In January, 1919, a YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 387 traveler's aid secretary was added to the staff and in the same month the international institute was opened. In February the Blue Triangle Cafeteria was opened. The colored community center, the present Belmont Avenue branch, was opened in May, 1919. The association now has approximately 2,000 members, with 150 girls living and boarding in the residence hall. It provides recreational activities in the gymnasium and swimming pool for several thousand girls, operates a summer camp, cares for girls and women without friends or money, assists travelers through the aid department, arranges for an average of eighty-five meetings a month in the building by outside organizations, provides night classes, holds religious meetings and Bible classes, provides legal and medical translation and home visiting. The Neilson House renders invaluable aid in a foreign district and similar work is conducted in three other centers. The Belmont branch houses twenty-seven girls, operates a caf eteria for men and women and provides educational classes, employment service, room registry, clubs and other activities for colored girls and women. On January 30, 1920, the association suffered a great loss in the death of its president, Mrs. George D. Wick, a woman whose great worth was recognized even outside the organization. Her place has not yet been filled. The other officers include, Mrs. John S. Ford, first vice president ; Mrs. M. E. Dennison, second vice president ; Mrs. Robert Bentley, treasurer, and Miss Susan Rebhan, general secretary. THE JEWISH SOCIAL SERVICE BUREAU OF YOUNGSTOWN This organization, formerly the Federation of Jewish Charities, was organized in 1907 under the leadership of Mrs. Morris Moyer, president of the Youngstown Section, Council of Jewish Women. Other organizers included, Emanuel Hartzell, president of the B'nai B'rith Lodge ; Mrs. M. U. Guggenheim, president of the Ladies' Benevolent Society of Rodef Sholem Temple ; Mrs. A. M. Frankle, president of the Ladies' Aid Society of the Summit Avenue Temple, and Mrs. Morris Moyer. On May 2, 1907, a permanent organization was effected by these societies and the Ladies' Sheltering Society, with the election of Emanuel Hartzell as president ; Mrs. Morris Moyer, vice, president ; Mrs. M. U. Guggenheim, secretary, and Mrs. Bernard Hirshberg, treasurer. Early in the year 1912, the B'nai B'rith Lodge having withdrawn from the federation, a meeting was called by Mrs. L. H. Cahn, then president of the Sisterhood of the Rodef Sholem Temple, to form a Men's Benevolent League, which should act as a constituent part of the federation, and on May 24, 1912. the federation was reorganized with L. H. Cahn as president; Mrs. Nathan Ozersky, first vice president ; Mrs. H. Lebowitz, second vice president ; Mrs. Morris Moyer, secretary, and I. Schwartz, treasurer. Emanuel Hartzell served as president from the time of the original organization in 1907 to 1911, Max Brunswick, 1911-12; L. H. Cahn, during 1912, and M. U. Guggenheim, 1912 to 1920. The work of the Jewish Social Service Bureau is similar to that of other social welfare agencies, caring for the sick and needy, securing 388 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY employment and making special effort to care for the problem of homeless men. In addition to its local work the Youngstown bureau contributes to the Jewish Infants' Home at Columbus, a non-sectarian institution, and works in conjunction with the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society, its duties in this respect being to visit all foreign-born Jewish people locating here and to give them advice and aid when necessary. This is probably the pioneer Americanization organization of the United States. The bureau is also affiliated with the National Desertion Bureau, an organization for the reuniting of families that have become separated and renders great aid in sending tuberculosis victims to the National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives at Denver and the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society, also at Denver. Miss Lena Ozersky is a paid worker in charge of welfare work. In addition to President Guggenheim the present officers of the local bureau include, Otto Kaufman, vice president ; Sol Hartzell, corresponding secretary; Jacob Oppenheimer, financial secretary, and Emanuel Wolf, treasurer. The project for the building of a great Jewish community house in Youngstown is now under consideration. VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION The Visiting Nurse Association of Youngstown was organized in October, 1904, its object being to give skilled nursing service to the sick in their homes, to teach personal hygiene, cleanliness and the prevention of disease. The association furnishes nurses to all unable to pay for such service, and also to those who desire hourly service and are able to pay for the same. The work of the organization began with one nurse, who cared for 212 patients and made 1,536 calls the first year. Last year the staff consisted of eight nurses, a superintendent and an assistant superintendent, 25,612 visits being made by this staff. The association has been doing baby welfare work for some years, and now has six stations, two of which are kept open throughout the year. The total attendance of babies at these stations last year was 2,428, 1,105 first-aid cases were cared for and 17,184 visits were made to mothers in their homes for instructions and general welfare work. In June, 1920, two baby nurses were added to the staff of ten. During the summer months there are four additional baby nurses. Only graduates are recognized ; general training schools are eligible to the staff. Mrs. Augusta Zug Bentley is president of the Visiting Nurse Association and Emma S. Modeland, superintendent. For a number of years the work was financed almost entirely by women of Youngstown, but as the work and expenses expanded the men became contributors, the corporations giving generous assistance. The organization is now identified with the Community Corporation. INSTITUTIONS FOR THE HOMELESS The Glenwood Children's Home, an institution for neglected children under sixteen years of age, was built and opened in 1900 and is located YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 389 on an exceptionally pleasing spot in Glenwood Avenue, overlooking Mill Creek Park. The grounds consist of about a dozen acres, on which is located a fine brick home, with smaller buildings adjoining. The institution has been a great power for good under the guidance of Miss Elizabeth Harlow, the capable superintendent. The Home for Aged Women, located in Mahoning Avenue, is a most useful institution supported by charitable women of Youngstown. FRATERNAL SOCIETIES Western Star Lodge No. 21, Free and Accepted Masons, the oldest of Youngstown fraternal organization, had its actual inception at Canfield rather than Youngstown. Above—HOME FOR AGED WOMEN. Below—GLENWOOD CHILDREN'S HOME As early as 1803 Erie Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized at Warren with several Youngstown members, including Judge George Tod, William Rayen and Dr. Charles Dutton. From Erie Lodge came the movement that resulted in the formation of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, and at Canfield, on July 23, 1812, a petition was drawn up and presented to the Grand Lodge asking a dispensation preliminary to the granting of a charter to a Masonic Lodge to be known as Western Star Lodge of the order. This petition was signed by Charles A. Boardman, Elisha Whittlesey, George Stilson, Francis bowler, Arad Way, Tryal Tanner, Isaac Newton, Henry Ripley, Charles B. Fitch, Richard Fitch, 390 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY William Logan, Archibald Tanner, Lewis Hoyt and John Northrop, residents of several townships and members of Erie and other lodges. The dispensation was granted on January 17, 1813, and John Leavitt, master of Erie Lodge, was authorized to institute the new lodge. On account of sickness he named Judge George Tod as his deputy, and on June 8, 1813, judge Tod consecrated the lodge and installed the following officers : Elijah Wadsworth, master ; Tryal Tanner, senior warden; Isaac Newton, junior warden ; Elisha Whittlesey, treasurer; John H. Patch, secretary; John Northrop, senior deacon ; Richard Fitch, junior deacon ; George Stilson and Archibald Tanner, stewards ; Charles B. Fitch and Charles A. Boardman, tylers. The lodge became Western Star Lodge No. 21. In 1828 Western Star succumbed to the anti-Masonic wave that began to sweep over the country at that time, and on November 19, 1828, held a meeting that was the last for twenty years. In May, 1848, however, it was revived and continued to hold meetings at Canfield until 1852. In 1851 a movement was started for a lodge at Youngstown, and on March 18, 1852, a dispensation was granted to Mahoning Lodge, with Theodatus Garlick, John M. Webb, Thomas H. Wells, P. M. Kelley, W. H. Ross, William Braden, D. B. King, B: E. Betts, Abram A. DeHoff, Isaac Heaton, B. FL Lake, Samuel Cooper, A. J. Gardner, John Stambaugh, J. H. Ford, James M. Laughridge, R. J. Price, Thomas Jones, William G. Moore, Reuben Carroll, Franklin Thorn, John Cramer and I. C. Allison as dispensation members, Mr. Garlick being designated grand master, John M. Webb, senior warden, and Thomas H. Wells, junior warden. A charter was never granted Mahoning Lodge, however, for in October, 1852, on petition of Western Star Lodge, that organization was transferred to Youngstown and its membership consolidated with Mahoning Lodge, the name Western Star being retained. For almost 108 years Western Star Lodge has been 'in existence and for sixty-eight years it has been located at Youngstown. In this time it has seen the number of Masonic organizations grow from one to fifteen. The remaining Masonic fraternities here include, Hillman Lodge No. 481, Free and Accepted Masons ; Youngstown Lodge No. 615, Free and Accepted Masons ; Youngstown Chapter No. 93, Royal Arch Masons; Ashlar Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Buechner Council No. 107, Royal and Select Masters ; St. John's Commandery No. 20, Knights Templar; Hiram Lodge of Perfection, fourteenth degree; Youngstown Council, Princes of Jerusalem, sixteenth degree, and Youngstown Chapter, Rose Croix, eighteenth degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ; Bethlehem Shrine No. 9, White Shrine of Jerusalem; Miriam Chapter N0. 278, Order of Eastern Star. INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS Hebron Lodge No. 55, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted in Youngstown on December 2, 1845, with several Youngstown members of the Warren Lodge as the founders. The ceremony took YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 391 place at the old Mansion House, with William Braden as the first noble grand. Other charter members were, Theodatus Garlick, John C. Grierson, R. G. Garlick, Frederick S. Smith and Daniel J. Wick. Meetings were first held at the Mansion House, in the Porter Block, where all the property of the lodge including charter and records was destroyed by fire, and later in the Chapman Hall. In 1868 Youngstown Lodge was formed. Both these lodges are still thriving, also Phoenix Encampment No. 235, Canton Royal No. 61, Past Masters, and Fern Leaf Rebekah Lodge No. 564. KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS Mahoning Lodge No. 52, Knights of Pythias, was organized on May 1, 1873, with John T. Gray, J. C. Brenneman, William H. Gault, John L. Alexander, L. J. Jacobs, Asa W. Jones, Henry Onions, R. Shurtleff, J. M. Silliman, C. T. Metzger, Philip Eberhardt, A. Kingsbacher, D. C. Daniels, David Baker, A. H. Rice and A. D. Fassett as charter members. Mahoning Lodge is the parent organization of the other Knights of Pythias lodges in Youngstown that include, Youngstown Lodge No. 154, Haselton Lodge No. 456, Robert E. Johnson Lodge No. 614, Youngstown Company No. 42, Uniform Rank, Progress Temple No. 415, Pythian Sisters, and Delphi Temple, Pythian Sisters. BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS Youngstown Lodge No. 55, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, was instituted on October 23, 1886, with Clate A. Smith as exalted ruler ; A. J. Woolf, esteemed leading knight ; Eugene Rook, esteemed loyal knight; J. P. Wilson, esteemed lecturing knight ; Charles J. Smith, secretary; Samuel Cornell, treasurer ; Daniel H. Arnold, tyler. Daniel A. Kelly, then grand exalted ruler, was in charge of the installation ceremonies. Early meetings were held in the Union Veteran Legion Hall. The Weil-Hartzell Building was then occupied, later the two top floors of the Gallagher Block in West Federal Street and twenty years ago the present Elks' Club Building was erected. The Elks Lodge is one of the largest and most flourishing in the city. OTHER FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS Knights of the Golden Eagle—Governor Tod Castle No. 7, Coeur de Lion Commandery No. 7, Garfield Temple No. 5, Ladies of the Golden Eagle. Knights of the Maccabees—Youngstown Tent No. 34, Mahoning Tent No. 279, Campbell Tent No. 1173. Women's Beneficial. Association of the Maccabees—Mahoning Review No. 99, Youngstown Review No. 335, Diamond Review No. 471. Ladies of the Maccabees—Idora Review No. 986. Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association—Branch No. 279, Branch 392 - VIEWS OF LAKE GLACIER MILL CREEK PARK YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 393 No. 336, Immaculate Conception parish; St. Joseph's Church branch, dvisory Council. Protected Home Circle-Mahoning Circle No. 2, Haselton Circle No. 60. Junior Order United American Mechanics-Youngstown Council No. 51, Samuel J. Randall Council No. 96. Foresters of America-Court Flower of the Forest No. 11, Court Mahoning No. 63, Court Climbing Rose No. 17. Independent Order of Foresters-Court Tod No. 688, Court Hickman No. 169. Ancient Order of Hibernians-Division No. 2, Division No. 5, Immaculate Conception parish; Ladies' Auxiliary No. 1, Ladies' Auxiliary No. 2, Ladies' Auxiliary No. 3, Ladies' Auxiliary No. 4. Order of Scottish Clans-Clan McDonald No. 39, Flora McDonald Auxiliary.  Knights of. St. George-Youngstown Branch No. 216, Cadets, Co. C, Third Regiment. American Insurance Union-Mahoning Chapter No. 336, Fidelity Chapter No. 721, Mahoning Chapter No. 266, Pocahontas Chapter No. 713. True Ivorites of America-Star of the West Lodge No. 40, Naomi Lodge No. 1. Orangemen-Sons of William Lodge No. 155, Ladies' Loyal Orange Lodge No. 84. Other organizations include, Youngstown Lodge No. 79, Loyal Order of Moose; Lodge No. 554, Reindeer; Buckeye Lodge No. 3150, Knights and Ladies of Honor; Youngstown Council No. 387, Royal Arcanum; Mahoning Council No. 233, United Commercial Travelers ; Mahoning Camp No. 4, Woodmen of the World; Buckeye Camp No. 3513, Modern Woodmen of America ; Youngstown Camp No. 5, American Woodmen ; Cohassett Tribe No. 272, Improved Order of Red Men ; Hearts of Oak Lodge No. 245, Sons of St. George ; Lady Brown Lodge No. 98, Daughters of St. George ; Daughters of Isabella ; Youngstown Nest No 1636, Order of Owls; Youngstown Council No. 584, Young Men's Institute; Mahoning Lodge No. 339, Independent Order B'nai B'rith; Federal Lodge No. 170, Independent Order of B'rith Sholem ; Bne Moses Lodge No. 209, Order B'rith Abraham; Youngstown Aerie No. 213, Fraternal Order of Eagles ; Forget-Me-Not Lodge No. 108, Good Templars ; Chauncey. Andrews Ruling Circle No. 880, Fraternal Mystic Circle; Lodge No. 505, Fraternal Order of Oaks ; Oriental. Council No. 212, The National Union ; Heather Belle Lodge No. 2, Daughters of Scotland; Youngstown Council No. 1228, Knights and Ladies of Security ; Buckeye Commandery No. 410, Knights of Malta ; Youngstown Conclave No. 188, United Order of Heptasophs; Lily Camp No. 6000, Royal Neighbors; Youngstown Lodge No. 136, Independent Order of the Western Star; Enterprise Homestead No. 1963, Brotherhood of American Yeomen; St. Joseph's Commandery, Knights of St. John ; Council No. 6o, Catholic Relief and Benefit Association; Independence Lodge No. 34, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Hungarian Reformed Sick Benefit 394 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY Association; Progress Lodge No. 284, Progressive Order of the West; Verhovay Aid Association, Free Polish Krakusy Society, Duke d'Abruzzi Society, Mahoning Legion No. 1105, National Protective Legion; Mahoning Valley Lodge No. 8082 and Household of Ruth No. 378o, Grand United Order of Odd Fellows ; Covenant Lodge No. 59, Free and Accepted Masons ; Logan Lodge No. 4, Golden Leaf Company D, Uniform Rank and Steel City Lodge, Colored Knights of. Pythias; Louisa Edwards Court No. 30 and Consuelo Stewart Court No. 53, Independent Order Calanthe ; Buckeye Lodge No. 73, Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World; King Solomon Lodge No. 2, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; King Solomon Chapter No. 8, Royal Arch Masons. Youngstown fraternal societies that have their own buildings include the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Columbus, Knights of Pythias, Elks, Eagles and Moose. PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES Tod Post No. 29, Grand Army of the Republic, Youngstown's organization of men who served in the Union army in the Civil war, was organized in November, 1879. The organization is still a flourishing one, and while the membership is naturally decreasing within the last few years, the post has some years of life ahead of it yet. Tod Corps No. 2, Women's Relief Corps, is also an active organization. There is a second women's organization in connection with G. A. R. activities in Major Woodworth Circle No. 15, Ladies of the G. A. R. Major Logan Camp No. 26, United Spanish War Veterans, was organized in 1899 as Major Logan Camp, Spanish-American War Veterans, and became identified with the United Spanish War Veterans in 1904. James A. Freed, captain of the Logan Rifles in the Spanish-American war, was the first commander. Captain Freed Camp, Ladies' Auxiliary to the United Spanish War Veterans, is the accompanying organization of women. Like Major Logan Camp, it has a large membership. Youngstown Post No. 15, American Legion, is the local organization of men who served in the World war. Further details concerning this organization are given in the chapter of this work dealing with the World war. A woman's auxiliary to Youngstown Post has also been organized. Baldwin Camp No. 2, Sons of Veterans, an organization of sons of Civil war soldiers, was formed on February 7, 1894, with Fred A. Simpkins as the first commander. Prior to this there was another camp of this organization, Hillman Camp No. 10, Sons of Veterans. There is also a camp of the Daughters of Veterans. Descendants of Revolutionary war soldiers are represented by. Nathan Hale Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, and Mahoning Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 395 MAHONING VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY At a casual meeting of three old-time residents of Youngstown early in May, 1874, a reunion of pioneers of the Mahoning Valley was suggested. The proposal was agreeable, and a few days later a call was sent out, signed by Dr. Timothy Woodbridge, H. B. Wick, William Powers, G. King, John M. Edwards, Madison Powers, Alex McKinnie, John Manning, J. Van Fleet, Joseph Barclay and Henry Tod, for a meeting to be held at the Tod House on May 30, 1874, when arrangements for the gathering would be made. The plan met with instant response, and at the May 30th gathering it was decided to hold a reunion at the Opera House on September 10th. Doctor Woodbridge was chairman of this arrangements meeting and C. B. Wick and W. G. Moore, secretaries, while a committee consisting of Doctor Woodbridge, J. R. Squire, John M. Edwards, R. Holland and Asahel Medbury was named to collect historical data to be presented at the reunion. The reunion was held as scheduled and attracted residents from all parts of Mahoning and Trumbull counties, bringing also acknowledgments from former residents who had removed to scattered parts of the country. The initial gathering was held in the afternoon of September 10th, when John M. Edwards made the address of welcome, and the affair concluded with a grand ball in the Operahouse in the evening, a platform being built to extend out over the lower floor of the theater for the occasion. Officers were also elected for the year 1874-75, those named being, William Powers, president; Dr. Timothy Woodbridge, vice president ; John M. Edwards and A. B. Cornell, corresponding secretaries ; W. A. Beecher, recording secretary ; H. K. Wick, treasurer ; H. B. Wick, Asa W. Jones, Reuben McMillan, A. J. Packard and Henry Tod, directors. The reunion of 1875 was even more successful than the first one, and at this gathering a great volume of historical data was presented. These records, with additional information gathered later, were incorporated in the "Historical Collections of the Mahoning Valley," published in 1876. Thenceforth the "Pioneer Reunions,"' held each year on September loth, the anniversary of Perry's victory on Lake Erie, ranked among the great social events of Youngstown. They flourished for fifteen years, but finally lapsed with the passmg of the men and women who were identified with the Mahoning Valley in its earliest days. The Mahoning Valley Historical Society itself also became inactive for some time, hut on February 5, 1909, was reorganized and incorporated by J. G. Butler, Jr., H. H. Stambaugh, David Tod, C. D. Hine, J. H. McEwen, James L. Wick, Jr., and Homer E. Stewart, and has remained an active organization since that time. At an organization meeting, held on November 19, 1909, the above incorporators, with Anna L. Morse, Mary E. Logan, E. Ella Hosmer, Maria G. Wells, Ella Brown, J. Craig Smith, Rev. J. P. Barry, Rev. A. L. Fraser, W. E. Manning, David T. Arrel, Herman Brandmiller, Jr., Frank L. Baldwin, Rev. W. H. Hudnut, Wells L. Griswold, L. T. Foster and C. N. Crandall enrolled as charter members. 396 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY A board of trustees was elected on this occasion and the trustees named J. G. Butler, Jr., president ; Homer E. Stewart, vice president; Mary E. Logan, recording secretary ; W. E. Manning, treasurer, and Anna L. Morse, corresponding secretary. Mr. Butler is still president of the society and Miss Logan, recording secretary ; Mrs. Franklin Powers is now corresponding secretary and Joseph L. Wheeler, librarian. The society has quarters in the Reuben McMillan Library Building and has gathered many valued mementoes of early days in Youngstown. It is hoped that before long a museum that will be in keeping with the traditions of the historic Mahoning Valley can be opened and maintained. MAHONING AND SHENANGO FAIR ASSOCIATION Many years have rolled by since the days when the annual. "fair' was an event looked to for months ahead in Youngstown, but this institution deserves mention in a history of Youngstown. The real. Mahoning County fairs are held at Canfield, and have been held there for more than seventy years. Youngstown has always taken part in these, but in the '70s a movement was begun for a Youngstown fair, and in September, 1878, the first of these gatherings was held under the auspices of the Mahoning and Shenango Fair Association. The fair grounds, located north of the city, but on ground now within the city and even closely built up with residences, passed away such a short time ago that it seems hardly necessary to recall it. Marks of the old race track may be seen even yet. The fairs were a success from the beginning. They grew to be great stock exhibits and furnished other entertainment as well. In 1884, Buffalo Bill, then new in the business, came with his show, and so well advertised had this been that on the opening day the attendance reached 44,000, double the population of Youngstown at that time. This record was never broken. Later the race track was featured at the fairs and the stock exhibits waned. The fair grounds track was made one of the best half-mile courses in the country, and the greatest trotting and pacing horses in the country were entered at the Youngstown races. Later public sentiment turned against pool-selling, and about 1894 the fairs began to decline, as they had become largely racing exhibitions by this time. The last fair, held about Ig0e, was a stock exhibit only, and not a large one. The race track came into favor again later and July meetings were held until about 1903 or 1904, but the fair grounds finally succumbed to the growth of the city northward. COUNTRY CLUBS The Youngstown Country Club is the outgrowth of the old Mahoning Golf Club, organized in 1898 largely as a result of the interest taken in the proposition by Wm. F. Bonnell. That organization was incorporated in 1901 and erected a modest club house on the links then in use, this building having been located on what is now North Heights Avenue, between Ohio and Fifth avenues. The first golf course con- 399 - YOUNGSTOWN COUNTRY CLUB 398 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY sisted of nine holes. In 1905 the building now occupied by Yale School at Ohio Avenue and Redondo Road, was erected and a new nine-hole course laid out, dining facilities provided and some other extensions made. In 1912 the present links were acquired, on which a splendid eighteen-hole course was laid out, a handsome and commodious club house erected and one of the finest country clubs in Ohio established. At the same time the name of the organization was changed to that of The Youngstown Country Club, and an interlocking corporation known as, The Holland Land Company formed among the members as a holding corporation for the property, which represents an investment of about $200,000. During the history of the two organizations the following gentlemen have occupied the position of president : Wm. F. Bonnell, John Tod, Cecil D. Hine, Robert Bentley, Myron I. Arms, Thaddeus F. Woodman, Walter L. kauffman and Mason Evans. The present officers are : W. A. Thomas, president ; Richard Garlick, John Tod, H. L. Rownd, R. R. Sharman, W. H. Foster, Chas. H. B0oth, Jas. B. Kennedy and R. P. Hartshorn, board of governors. The Poland Country Club was organized in June, 1913, its object being the promotion of closer social acquaintance and the betterment of the physical being of its members through pleasure and recreation. A tract of seventy acres was rented from the Realty Security Company at the time of organization, this land being located five miles south of the business center of Youngstown on the Poland car line. The club sprang into such immediate popularity that the membership was limited to 300. In October, 1916, the Poland Club Realty Company, a stock company of members, was incorporated and the ground that had been held under lease was purchased. A few weeks later, on February 13, 1917, the, original club house was destroyed by fire, but construction of a new building was begun immediately and this structure was opened in March, 1918. The club has a nine-hole golf course, four tennis courts, volley ball, croquet and clock golf grounds and other entertainment of various nature; The membership is now limited to 200 and consists 0f business and professional men who are democratic enough to co-operate for the welfare of the entire club. PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS Youngstown has six parks that range in acres from twenty-two acres upwards. but among these Mill Creek Park takes precedence. Back in the summer of 1797, but a few weeks after the settlement that was to become the City of Youngstown was first located, two youthful members of the pioneer Youngstown party threaded their way up the valley of a creek and through a magnificent gorge to the beautiful waterfall that was later to become known as Lanterman's Falls. Probably venturesome white men had visited the valley even before that summer, but it was almost a century after Youngstown's founding before there was any movement to dedicate this spot for park purposes. YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 399 The originator of this movement, the "Father of Mill Creek Park," was Volney Rogers, attorney, but recently deceased. Struck by the apparent beauty of this place, Mr. Rogers decided to become better acquainted with it, and on a summer day in 1890, explored the valley on horseback. As there was neither road, trail or even footpath he was forced to ride much of the way in the bed of Mill Creek, but made the journey from the mouth of the creek to Lanterman's Falls. Later, while engaged in professional work for the public Mr. Rogers spent two months in the vicinity of the park and in morning and evening walks through the gorge and along the hills became more enamored with the spot and conceived the project of preserving this spot for all time for the public as a great breathing place. It was a work that had to be done at time as the trees were rapidly being stripped from Mahoning County lands and the hillsides blasted away by quarrymen. YOUNGSTOWN COUNTRY CLUB On his own initiative Mr. Rogers secured private contracts with 154 of the 196 persons interested in the ownership of this property. He then prepared, and presented to the State Legislature, a bill providing for a township park commission of three members and, by personal calls on influential citizens created sentiment that resulted in the passage of the "Township Park Improvement Act." The Mill Creek Valley lay some distance outside the city limits of Youngstown as fixed at that time. In the movement to issue bonds for park improvement Mr. Rogers again assumed the leadership, setting an example by taking $25,000 worth of these bonds himself. The options that Mr. Rogers had obtained were then turned over to the park board, and land that could not be purchased outright was appropriated. For Mr. Rogers there was much voluntary expense and no remuneration, nor would he have considered any