125 years ago, 1895

Members of the Ladies’ Reading Circle entertained members of the Young Ladies’ Reading Circle with a historical fashion show. The event was held at the residence of Mrs. John C. Wick and proved to be one of the most unique programs either organization had undertaken. The members of the Ladies’ Reading Circle appeared in old-fashioned costumes and much of the affair was as old-fashioned as possible. There were all sorts of heirlooms on display, the tables were lit with candles, and the room was lit with extravagant candelabras. They dined with three-pronged forks and used old pieces of silver and china. Musical entertainment was provided by Miss Gracie Lampton, better known as Little Tot, who danced, sang, and played a few tunes on her banjo.

One attendant, Mrs. Evans, appeared in a 75-year-old dress made of black silk taffeta adorned with family jewelry that dated back more than 100 years. Mrs. Daniel Stambaugh wore her 30-year-old wedding dress. Others wore antique jewelry, old crinolines, lace caps, and satin petticoats. Some went so far as to powder their hair and even wear wigs to achieve older looks.

75 years ago, 1945

Four more Youngstown war casualties were announced: Sgt. John J. Campana, missing in action; Pvt. Howard “Howdy” B. Friend, seriously wounded; Pvt. Philip A. Romano, seriously wounded; Pvt. 1st Class William H. Leach: injured. Campana, an infantryman and one of five brothers in military service, had been missing in France for nearly a month. Prior to enlisting, he worked for the Powell Pressed Steel Co. in Hubbard. Friend was a former Woodrow Wilson football player who was an All-City end in 1942 and an All-City and All-County fullback in 1943. He enlisted only eight days after graduating high school. He was wounded on Jan. 10 in Luxembourg and hospitalized in France. He wrote home to his parents: “It was quite an experience to fight the Germans. I may get another chance at them soon.”

Leach wrote home: “I am now in the hospital with a pair of frozen feet. I froze them in Belgium and they evacuated me from Bastogne. Otherwise I’m OK. It was really cold in Belgium. My feet haven’t been warm or dry since we left base camp Dec. 18 for Belgium.” Leach served in the 101st Airborne Division, 502nd Parachute Infantry. He was a graduate of The Rayen School and had completed two years at Ohio State University before he enlisted. Romano was a senior at Rayen before enlisting. He was injured in Luxembourg but was able to send a letter home from the hospital to his parents.

70 years ago, 1950

Philip Kalver, a jewelry salesman, and his family were the victims of a terrible robbery. Three robbers entered his home and robbed him of $75,000 of jewelry samples, including 1,600 rings. The thieves cut the telephone wires before stealing Kalver’s car to make their getaway, though they dropped the car only a few blocks away. Police departments in three states awaited the description of the men as they were believed to be from out of town.

“I opened the door a few inches and the stranger wearing horned-rimmed glasses asked if a Mr. Kravatz lived here. I told him no such person lived here,” Kalver told police. The man grabbed Kalver’s wrist and forced him into the front room. As the crime unfolded, Kalver noted that they held guns on him, his mother and brother. The family was dedicated to helping police by going through local police photo files in the hopes that they might find a match. Police termed the event Youngstown’s greatest jewel theft.

40 years ago, 1980

A harrowing event in East Palestine almost cost a woman her life. Delores Brown was in the back room of the “You’re Putting Me On” store when she heard the front door open. She was immediately knocked unconscious, bound and gagged. She did not see the assailant or know if there was more than one person involved. The perpetrator is believed to have set a front window clothing display on fire before fleeing out the back door. The one-story, frame building quickly began to burn. After regaining consciousness, Brown stumbled out of the smoke-filled room and toward the back door of a nearby business, H & R Block Tax. Shirley Prater heard Brown knocking at the back door and found Brown still bound and gagged. Prater and Brown were both taken to the Northern Columbiana County Community Hospital in Salem and treated for smoke inhalation. Brown was also suffering from shock and bruising on her hands and arms.

Within minutes of the fire starting, the entire store was engulfed and began to spread to the tax office. Both buildings were gutted. Police could not determine if anything from the store was taken before the perpetrator fled but did note that several records from the tax office were destroyed. The flames also ignited a portion of the south wall of Herbert’s Tobacco Store and burned through a storage room but caused little damage. Police were unsure of a motive.

• Compiled from the archives of The Vindicator by Traci Manning, curator of education at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society.