YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley Historical Society is hosting a rededication of its Business and Media Archives Center at 10 a.m. Friday, followed by an open house.

The building was the original carriage house for the residence of Olive F. A. and Wilford P. Arms. It is located directly behind what is now Arms Family Museum at 648 Wick Ave.

Media and the general public are invited to attend a ceremony at the building’s front façade for the unveiling of the new name and a commemorative plaque. The new identity is a tribute to Youngstown native Lowry A. Stewart, who was instrumental in preserving local business and media history.

Stewart died unexpectedly in early 2020. The Center’s collection of artifacts originated from his familyás connection to WKBN Broadcasting Co., which was started by Lowry’s grandfather, Warren P. Williamson Jr. The Business and Media Archives of the Mahoning Valley was established in 1994.

Immediately following the brief ceremony, all are welcome to tour the refurbished lobby with a display of the building’s history and Lowry Stewart’s background, an updated exhibit of artifacts from the Business & Media Archives collection, and the archives’ production and storage areas.

“This event gives the Mahoning Valley a chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at a unique part of the historical societyá’s holdings, and what Lowry Stewart helped to establish,” said Bill Lawson, MVHS executive director.

“Thanks to Lowry’s vision and the generosity of his family to preserve these records, it is only fitting that the building be rededicated in his honor,” said Connie Jones, archives project manager.

In 1984, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society Library moved into the former carriage house building on the Wick Avenue property. Upon the completion of the Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center at 325 W. Federal St. in 2014, MVHS’á main archival storage moved to the Tyler site from the Wick Avenue location. At that same time, the newly formed Business and Media Archives of the Mahoning Valley project came to be housed in its current location.

Parking for the ceremony and open house event is free and located in the handicap-accessible visitor lot of Arms Family Museum on the left side of the property.