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Poland dedicates its fifth historical marker
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.Pictured is one side of the historical marker that honors Poland Presbyterian Church, which was founded in 1802. There have been four different buildings that have housed the church.
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.Poland resident Ginny Meloy dressed as Mary McMaster Maxwell, who gave a speech on the Village Green in 1892 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America.
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.Dave Smith of the Poland Historical Society opened the ceremony of the unveiling of the historical marker honoring the Poland Presbyterian Church, the Village Green and the Old Village Graveyard.
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.This side of the historical marker honored the Village Green and the nearby Old Village Graveyard. Most of the early settlers of Poland are buried in the graveyard.
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.On the same day as the historical marker dedication, there was also a park bench dedicated on the Village Green to Bob Zedaker, John Rice and Bob Eich, three Poland residents who were involved in the upkeep of the Village Green for many years.
By TIM CLEVELAND
The Village of Poland dedicated its fifth historical marker on Sept. 13 at the Village Green, commemorating the importance of the Village Green, the Poland Presbyterian Church and the nearby Old Village Graveyard.
Poland’s first marker was dedicated in 1982 to Judge Turhand Kirtland, one of the founders of Poland.
Also, a park bench was dedicated to Bob Zedaker, John Rice and Bob Eich, three Poland residents who were involved in the upkeep of the Village Green for many years.
The Village Green was donated to the Village of Poland in 1802 by Judge Kirtland. The Poland Presbyterian Church was started in 1802 and met out in the open on the Village Green. In 1802 they constructed a meeting house and had services there. There have been four different church buildings, with the most recent being built in 1897. The graveyard, which is right next to the church, has more than 460 people buried there, including most of the early settlers of Poland. Turhand Kirtland donated the land.
Dave Smith is the historical marker chairman and a member of the Poland Historical Society. He described the process needed to obtain a historical marker.
“There’s an application process to obtain an Ohio Historical Marker,” he said. “I did the application. You have to submit proof of why a marker is needed. Every sentence on the marker has to have a footnote so that you explain that it’s fact. The application is sent off to Columbus and folks down there do check the application and verify the information. Then you’re acknowledged as to whether you receive the marker or not and we were lucky enough to receive a marker.”
Several people spoke at the dedication, including Poland Mayor Timothy Sicafuse and Andy Verhoff of the Ohio History Connection (formerly the Ohio Historical Society).
Also speaking was Poland resident Ginny Meloy, who donned period costume and recited part of a speech given in October 1892 by Mary McMaster Maxwell on the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America.
The marker had the numbers 40-50 on it. The 40 being the 40th historical marker in Mahoning County and 50 due to Mahoning County being recognized as the 50th county in Ohio.
Smith added that the Poland Historical Society has ideas for other markers and is also taking suggestions for sites as well.