Wellsville Was 1st Stop on Familiarization Tour

A week ago this past this past Tuesday, September 21, a group of tour group organizers were hosted to a three day plus tour of sites to see in Columbiana County. In an effort to promote tourism interest in the area the CC Tourism Community (CCTC) invited the organizers to see various sites. There were tour organizers from Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Ohio. CCTC members Tom Wyckoff and Marie Cox escorted the group for their first day visit to Wellsville. The group met at the refurbished historical train station in Lisbon and welcomed by CC Commissioner Penny Traina.

They were met there by Wellsville Historical Society President Brassy Beresford and taken through Hammondsville and the Glascow area to see where the early Scottish settlers first established communities in the area. From there they were brought to Wellsville's River Museum. Historical Society members Jim Lawrence, Bob Lloyd, Mike Bloor and Bonny Beresford assisted Brassy in showing the wonders of the River Museum.

From there they were shown the historic pottery bottle kiln on the way to see Wellsville's newest pride at the flood walls. Members of the Revitalization Committee guided the group around explaining the significance of each mural and the history of the project. As an extra bonus the group got to personally meet artist Gina Hampson and the subject of her latest mural, Mr. Bevo Francis.

One of the group members was asking about Bevo at the Museum saying he followed him starting back in the days of his high school career. Over the years he had lost track of him once he finished with basketball. The gentleman was a Wheeling native.

As luck would have it Bevo stopped by to see how Gina was progressing on her latest mural. It is showing him setting his NCAA record of scoring 113 points in one game over 57 years ago. That record still stands to this day. Introducing the gentleman to Wellsville Legend Bevo Francis was the highlight of the day for that guy.

Rounding out their trip was stops in East liverpool, Beaver Creek State Park, Guilford lake, Columbiana, Leetonia, Hanoverton and Salem. For more information on the CCTC contact Director Lori Kline at 330-382-1404 or visit their web site at www.columbianacounty.com.

ole nib