St. David's Society of Youngstown plans 150th anniversary celebration

YOUNGSTOWN — The 150th anniversary of the founding of St. David’s (Welsh) Society of Youngstown will be observed on Feb. 27 at the Saxon Club, 710 S. Meridian Road.

The event will include a social with a cash bar at 4 p.m. followed by a buffet dinner of chicken cordon bleu, Swiss steak and accompaniments at 5. The cost is $16. Prepaid reservations can be made by mailing checks, payable to the society, to Mrs. Rhea Crelin, banquet coordinator, 3912 Hopkins Road, Youngstown, OH 44511. The deadline is Feb. 17.

St. David’s Society, one of the oldest if not the oldest nationality organization in the Mahoning Valley, was established in 1860, when a group of Welsh Americans formed an organization to preserve native Welsh customs and traditions. Named for the patron saint of Wales, St. David’s Society grew rapidly with the large influx of Welsh into the industrial Mahoning Valley.

The society sponsors a Gymanfa Ganu, a festival of hymn singing, each October as a prelude to Nov. 1, New Year’s Day in the old Celtic calendar and All Saints Day in the Christian calendar.

The Gymanfa Ganu originally took place in the little Welsh Church at 220 Elm St., but it was moved to large downtown churches to accommodate the hundreds of Welsh people who participated. Currently it takes place the first Sunday in October at the McKinley Memorial Auditorium in Niles.

At one time Idora Park was closed to the public for the day for the Welsh picnic that attracted Welsh from Mahoning and Trumbull counties and neighboring areas. Although it no longer is attended by thousands, the picnic takes place each August in Stacey Pavilion at Austintown Park.

Membership in the society is open to the public. The annual dues of $10 can be paid to the treasurer. For additional information contact (724) 981-3071 or at welshman1828@yahoo.com.