New historical markers in downtown Youngstown

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Four new markers providing historical and architectural information about Youngstown’s Central Square and its cornerstone buildings and monuments were unveiled at a ribbon-cutting event at downtown Youngstown’s Central Square.

The event, which took place Friday, was sponsored by Youngstown CityScape and the Mahoning Valley Historical Society.

According to its website, Youngstown CityScape is a nonprofit community-development organization dedicated to the revitalization of the greater downtown Youngstown area.

The four doubled-sided markers describe a variety of notable downtown features, including the Civil War Soldiers’ Monument; Central Tower; the Stambaugh Building; the Mahoning National Bank Building; the Union Building; the Realty Building; and Central Square from 1798-1899 and 1900- 2004.

Each marker discusses the history of a building or monument and provides relevant architectural aspects, from the Renaissance-style arches of the Mahoning National Bank Building or the Corinthian columns of the Union National Bank Building to the repair and replacement of the figure atop the Civil War Soldiers’ Monument.

Designed to be highly visible and permanent, the historical markers are large, cast-aluminum signs that tell stories about aspects of Ohio’s history.

According to Ohio History Connection, markers are awarded based on a set of criteria including historical significance, geographic diversity and historical periods.

“These beautiful markers provide a link to the history of downtown Youngstown and supply wonderful background information about buildings or features we see every day,” said William Lawson, executive director of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society.

“The two sides of the markers give both local history of the area and specific details about the architecture of landmark buildings and monuments that serve as anchors to our Central Square,” noted Sharon Letson, executive director of Youngstown CityScape.

Cost for the markers was underwritten by the Frank and Pearl Gelbman Foundation, Letson said in a news release.