Historical Society announces 2017 Citizens of Honor

Staff report

SALEM

Salem Historical Society recently announced the 2017 recipients of its annual Citizens of Honor awards are its founders, Roy Wells Harris and Frank J. Yengling.

Since Salem’s bicentennial celebration in 2006, 24 people have been selected as Citizens of Honor and the society has recognized two individuals with a connection to the city every year. Harris and Yengling founded the society in 1947, making this its 70th year.

Born in 1872, Harris was the son of an abolitionist printer who founded his own shop in 1906. Harris worked for his father and took over the business, moving it to its location on North Lincoln Avenue in 1921. His son, Nathan, took over the firm in 1937, and Nathan’s children all graduated from Salem High School.

Harris was 75 when he was elected president of the Salem Historical Society. He served in several leadership positions until his death in 1968.

Yengling was born in Salem in 1877 and grew up on North Lincoln Avenue. He was the nephew of Dr. A.C. Yengling, Commander, Dept. of Ohio, Grand Army of the Republic.

His family moved to a tract of land on Jennings Avenue, and he married Lucy H. Shinn in 1901 and had two sons. The Yenglings are related to many of the county’s early families, including the Strawns, Amblers, Careys and Bixlers.

Harris and Yengling formed the society to preserve Salem’s history for future generations, and its first meeting was joined by six other community members. In the first meeting’s minutes, the group stated that their purpose was to “study the history of Salem and make interesting facts of record.”

This year’s honorees were recognized April 25, at a dinner party at the Salem Community Center. It featured music from the 1940s.