President McKinley’s canes to go to Poland library

The canes were originally in the library, when it had been above the fire station.

By ALISON KEMP

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

POLAND — Canes that belonged to President William McKinley will be relocated from the Poland Village Hall to just across South Main Street, at the Poland library.

The two canes, each about 3 feet long, are now displayed in a wood case in Mayor Ruth Wilkes’ office.

The canes will make the journey from the mayor’s office to the library at Poland City Council’s next meeting June 5. Council has decided that the canes will be on loan from village hall while they are shown at the library.

The canes were originally in the library decades ago, when it had been above the fire station, said Carlton Sears, library director.

“Their history of being in the library was almost lost,” he said.

Library display

Where the canes will be displayed is not yet known, said Janet Loew, Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County communications and public relations director.

She wants the canes to be seen and their history to be read.

She thinks a good location in the library would be in the Poland Union Seminary Dormitory portion of the building, since McKinley would have spent time there while he was attending school in Poland.

Flint McCullough, a Poland resident, had made the inquiry about the canes that started the move to the library. He wanted the canes to be on public display since McKinley — the nation’s 25th president — is “the most prominent person” from Poland. He was born in Niles, but the family then moved to the village.

McCullough’s wife works at the library, and she informed Sears about the canes. Sears then contacted Wilkes about moving them. He wanted more people to be able to see the canes and learn their history.

Just like the canes, the library is part of Poland’s history, Sears said.