Wellsville Historical Society

Tuesday - July 20: The Wellsville Historical Society held their regular monthly meeting last Tuesday at the River Museum. President Robert "Brassy" Beresford presided.

New updated brochures for the River Museum have been received and are now being distributed around the area. The attractive color brochures high lights 12 of the different points of interest for visitors to view plus brief information on the museum and services available through the Historical Society.

The raffle for Lucille Huston's hand made quilt and the two historical prints was a huge success. The quilt was won by Joyce & Mike Lynn. Second place winner was Ann McNear of Warren, OH, & Jack Finch of Youngstown.

Since the last meeting, the area around the McDonald school bell has been landscaped with flowers and mulch. Mulch was also put around the trees along the side of the house along with annuals planted. It's hope the flowers around the trees will make it through the winter & sprout new growth next year. The river bank in front of the museum has been cleared and now allows for a beautiful, unobstructed view of the scenery.

The Trustees reported they have voted to accept the donation of barrel making tools and the contribution to built a display for them. The tools belonged to the father of Delaware resident Ed Crawford. The Crawford family lived in the Port Homer area and often came to Wellsville for shopping & banking. Mr.Crawford believes the River Museum is a fitting home for the collection. A spot for the display is already picked out in the Wellsville Room.

The Trustees also announced that the stairs on both ends of the caboose will be reconditioned. Years ago they were pressured washed and sealed. It's time to have it done again to preserve them. Bids will be solicited to have the work done.

A letter was read from former Wellsville resident David McDonald Brookman in regards to the original clanger that use to ring the old McDonald School bell, now on display at the museum. Mr. Brookman was visiting recently and expressed hope the the clanger be reunited with the bell. It had been given to Wellsville School Superintendent Rich Bereschik sometime ago.

A thank-you note from the Leetonia - Salem Twp. Historical Society was read for their recent tour of the museum. The letter was very appreciative of the information they got on the many displays and very complimentary on the excellent presentation of Wellsville history.

A letter was read from members of the Wellsville Honor Roll Committee soliciting a donation and help with the names of those to be listed on the proposed memorial. The new Honor Roll is to be built along Route 45 listing the names of all Wellsville area residents that served in the military from WWII up to the present. Only pictures of the old one remain that was on Main St. The names listed on the picture go up through 1942 and parts of 1943.

The dedication to renaming the Victorian Parlor at the museum to the Mary Clark Room has been set for Sunday, August 8, at 2 P.M. Programs have been designed by member Bob Lloyd for the ceremony. The late Mrs. Clark and her husband Jack were long time members of the Historical Society. Mary was very active in the organization and was noted for her thorough research efforts.

Brassy announced there were over 80 visitors that signed the register during the All-Class Reunion. The museum was opened two extra days along with the regular Sunday hours during Reunion week. Decorations featured Wellsville school memorabilia in honor of the reunion.

Historical donations received this month included a railroad hoop catcher that was used to pass messages to passing trains before the days of radio and cell phones. Without stopping, someone on the train would stick their arm through the hoop, take the message off and throw the stick back. A stapler with the Penn Central RR name on it was given by Salem resident, Juvenile Magistrate Scott Washam. After seeing the caboose & the Railroad Room he decided these items should be placed there. Washam's father worked on the railroads.

Received from the Bill & Ellen Bush family were three books from the Methodist-Episcopal Church listing names, dates of births, death and marriages of members that were used to research genealogy. The books span time periods from 1897 to 1917, 1851 to 1871 and 1870 to 1884 with entries. There were two glass picture negatives that show photos of the first Methodist Church located at 5th & Main and of the new building shortly after it was rebuilt. The first building was a wooden structure that was replaced with the brick structure that is there today. The late Mr. Bush was a long time Wellsville attorney and his wife Ellen now resides in Sebring.

Three antique maps of Wellsville was donated by the son of Paul Talbot. Mr. Talbot was associated with the old McClain Brick at one time. The maps were found on e-bay and display Wellsville of old with many of the streets bearing different names. For example 18th St. was called Nicholson in the beginning. That is the same family that Nicholson Stadium is named for. The maps show that the railroad car turn table many believe was located over the sink hole at 18th & Main was actually located between 18th & 20th Sts. The maps show that the location was what later became the Terry Thompson Pool Room.

A collection of miniature pottery items were given by the Carosello family. Brassy said Minnie Carosello's father worked in a 20th St. pottery called the U.S. Pottery. The pieces were collectible items known as the Cameo Pottery Collecton. The pottery was in operation from 1946 to 1951 when Don Harvey moved it to Zanesville. Russ Carosello donated an old table scale and a 4 quart Griswald "Fruitor", pictured above. The fruitor was used to press fruit to extract juice. At one time it was widely used to make homemade wine.

Does anyone know where Shanghai, Ohio was located? Back in olden times the community of Port Homer was commonly called Shanghai before it became Port Homer.

Due to a conflict in schedules the program had to be postponed to a later date. The next meeting will be Tuesday, September 21, at 7:30 at the River Museum.

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