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EAST LIVERPOOL -- The East Liverpool Area Community & Learning Center received the loan of a beautiful upright grandfather's clock that has been placed in the Francis H. Lang Hospitality area. Each quarter-hour the clock chimes and hourly it faithfully sounds out each hour. The clock compliments the Formal Reception Area as the chiming reverberates throughout the large entryway. Weekly windings by pulling the long weighted chains is required, but it is well worth the effort. We thank frequent visitor Rebecca Tarbet for this timely loan.
On the subject of winding down, the final Legacy & Legends Lecture was held June 12 at the Center to honor the late Francis H. Lang. The seven speakers spoke of attorney Lang's faithful leadership and service to his community in the many aspects of his life. In particular there was his church, the Boy Scouts of America, as the community's president of the Ohio Jaycees, president of the local Chamber of Commerce, four area financial institutions, as charter president of Crandall Medical Center and Copeland Oaks Retirement Community in Sebring where a number of area residents have or are spending their final days, the local Masonic Order that bestowed its highest honor of 33rd Degree Mason upon him, and lots more. During the program, the local Chamber presented the Distinguished Service Award plaque that had honored over 40 local community leaders and had been named The Francis H. Lang DSA Award. It will be displayed in the future at the Hospitality Area of the Center that also bears his name..
However Mr. Lang's most lasting and most significant contribution to his community over his lifetime probably was instituting and overseeing the construction of Ohio Route 11. The four-lane, limited access highway joins the Ohio River at East Liverpool with Lake Erie at Ashtabula. This was a much better solution than a canal or a conveyor belt as some had suggested. The highway also connects the community with the national interstate highway system that links our community with the entire country. Distinguished Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson spoke of Francis's involvement as charter president of the Lake to River Highway Association. With the support of former Gov. James A. Rhodes, it resulted in a mode of transportation that has contributed to the greater economic development and better transportation for and to the community. Much of the subsequent development of new jobs and new local facilities can be attributed to the existence of Route 11.
The program was well attended and by best estimates there were over 100 people present for the presentation and the magic show that followed. The magic show was performed by the youngest son of Francis, who has practiced his wizardry professionally for over 50 years. The magic show was held in the Center Auditorium. The watchword for the evening was "Amazing" and everyone was well entertained.
Polling is almost completed from the votes cast by Legacy & Legacy members for the purpose of choosing six Lectures that will be presented in the upcoming 2018-19 Series. The most popular six choices in terms of those of greatest interest to most members and their historical significance to the local community seem to be: The Point of Beginning, for the surveying of the Northwest Territory which is commemorated by a monument at the east side of the City; a music concert, presented by students at the Lincoln Park School for Performing Arts in Midland; Violins from the Holocaust – a movie produced by native son Lance Shultz; Frank C. Dawson, the spirit of East Liverpool Potters; local artist and writer Craig Wetzel; and Louis C. Tiffany with his stain glass windows at the First United Methodist Church. These were chosen by members from of list of 28 potential subjects for the Lectures. Ballots are still being accepted and a decision will be made in early July.
The Lectures will be in early September, October and November of 2018, and then late April, May and early June of 2019. Cost of joining as a member is $100 and includes bringing a guest for the six scheduled programs. All proceeds are tax deductible and funds will be used to offset expenses in the operation of the Center.
The Center was fortunate to receive a donation of a fine upright Steinway piano and bench which is now being housed in the Farmers Conference room. The piano was donated by Donna McVay and she reported that the piano had been in her family since 1938. There have been many club meetings, church revivals and birthday parties in the Conference room that had utilized a piano that was located there before it was moved into the Auditorium.
The Center continues to seek donations of upright pianos that can be passed on to youngsters learning to play the piano but who do not have one in their home for practice. Through the Fitzjohn Foundation, funds are available to pay for moving expenses and tuning the pianos following delivery.
The East Liverpool Rotary Club held its annual installation at the Country Club on this past Tuesday evening. President Jeff Cartwright Smith, retiring from the presidency of the local Rotary Club, reported that the annual Giant Eagle/Sparkle Market Golf Scramble had been a great success. The Board of Directors awarded three grants of $1,000 each to worthy local programs. One recipient was Lora Russell, who teaches art to youth and children of the area free of charge. Lora has been spending her own funds to purchase the art supplies for her students and this money will help her with those expenses. Rotarian Melissa Persic, librarian at the Carnegie Public Library, will serve as the president of the local Rotary Club for its 99th Rotary year in 2018-19.
During the Pottery Festival there were several visitors who had been directed to the Community Center to view the Harker Pottery Exhibit and the Hans Hacker art display. They were pleased with the exhibits and several toured the entire facility. Some visitors had family members who had worked at a local pottery or had been personally acquainted with Mr. Hacker. They were impressed that the Center remains open each Saturday and Sunday until 6 p.m.
One Center visitor announced that he was a nephew of Earnest Smith, whose hand-made model of the W.W. O'Neil stern wheeler is on display in Hospitality area of the Center. He reported his Uncle had made four models of paddle wheel boats that traveled the Ohio River in the early days. Three of those models had been donated to the Riverside Museum in Wellsville and are on display there. Mr. Smith also built many other model boats and ships during his lifetime.
The W.W. O'Neil was originally commissioned for 1881 for bulk coal transporting. It required a 26 foot engine to propel the paddle wheel on the 201 foot vessel that drafted only 8 feet. The paddle wheel on the model at the Center is operable. The display is on loan from the O'Hara family and had been purchased by attorney Delmar O'Hara of Wellsville. They wanted this stern wheel models to be more available for the public to be able to enjoy.
June has seen a number of graduation and birthday parties at the Center. There are at least six venues available at the center with catering availability. These include the Auditorium, the Banquet Hall, Conference Room, Boardroom, the Jay Room for children and the Bistro. Most recently the Center Theatre opened and is available for parties.
In early June, East Liverpool Schools' First Step After School tutoring program held its annual summer school program for children of the community. Feeding children is an important part of the program. The Center Banquet Hall was reserved by the First Step program from June 4-14. The project is underwritten by Youngstown State University through its grants program. This year the students were bused to other local sites for the activities as a part of the two-week summer program.