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Mahoning Valley Historical Society New home, newer faces
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
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Mahoning Valley Historical Society Executive Director Bill Lawson and Paul Hagman, chair of the MVHS Young Leaders Advisory Board, at the site of the new Mahoning Valley Historical Center in the historic downtown Harry Burt/Ross Radio Building, 325 W. Federal St.
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
One of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s largest and most important projects is the Mahoning Valley History Center, to open in 2012 in the historic downtown Harry Burt/Ross Radio Building, 325 W. Federal St.
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
The Mahoning Valley Historical Society has done more recently to attract people in their 20s and 30s, says Bill Lawson, executive director, right. With him is Paul Hagman, 28, a MVHS member for about five years and Young Leaders Advisory Board chairman.
By Elise Franco
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mahoning Valley Historical Society has weathered the economic storm and made it to the other side stronger than before.
After having a hard time at the start of the economic decline in 2008, the historical society has been able to stabilize itself thanks to consistent donations, unique programs and a steady membership, said Bill Lawson, MVHS executive director.
“We enjoyed throughout the recession an increase in visitors looking for local things to do,” he said. “The community has responded very well to us.”
The historical society has slightly more than 500 members, including individuals, families and local businesses, and continues to grow each year, Lawson said. It operates on an annual budget of about $536,000, he said.
Lawson said the budget is maintained through several local endowments, as well as state and federal grants. “This allows us to do things with programs, capital improvements and other special projects,” he said.
One of the historical society’s largest and most important projects is the Mahoning Valley History Center, scheduled to open in 2012 in the historic Harry Burt/Ross Radio Building, 325 W. Federal St., in downtown Youngstown.
David Sabin, MVHS board president, said the history center’s opening will help plant the organization’s permanent roots even deeper.
“I think the historical society is going to be even stronger with the new history center being established,” he said. “It’s going to make an even greater impression and visibility on everyone’s lives.”
Lawson said the campaign to renovate, restore and adapt the building will cost about $6 million, and the society has raised about $4.2 million in private donations since acquiring the building in 2007.
Lawson said the new museum is expected to draw visitors of all ages, something he thinks is important for sustaining the historical society.
Though the majority of members are older, Lawson said, the organization has done more recently to attract people in their 20s and 30s.
“The strength of our membership is people over the age of 50,” he said. “But we want to ensure younger generations come to know about our society and programs because membership support is critical.”
Lawson said in addition to countless programs geared toward school-age children and young families, the historical society also has a Young Leaders Advisory Board.
Advisory board chairman Paul Hagman, 28, said he’s been a MVHS member for about five years and has seen how the young-leaders group has helped draw in more people his age.
“The sad truth is, a lot of these organizations have an aging membership,” he said. “And a lot of the young people over the past few decades have moved out of this area, so it’s especially important to target young people.”
Hagman said the goal of his board is to organize programs through the historical society that will attract a younger demographic.
“It’s a way for the [MVHS] to present programming and events that are a little bit different than what’s normally offered,” he said. “We want to get them involved in bits of history they may not have known.”
Sabin said it’s not uncommon for organizations like the historical society to have an older membership, but he’d like to see more young people join.
“It’s not until we get a little older that we start realizing we should pay attention to our past,” he said. “The earlier people start understanding where our present institutions came from, and the progress that’s taken place, the better off we’re going to be in having a positive attitude about our communities.”