125 years ago, 1895

Taken directly from the Youngstown Vindicator:

“Caught Them. A husband chases his wife and companions to Hubbard, an exciting scene ensues. The husband arrested, locked up, released, then two of the party apprehended. A sensational scene occurred in Hubbard the other evening, in which parties from this city took a prominent part.

“About 9 o’clock last Tuesday night a white team (horses) and surrey from a Youngstown livery stable came rapidly down West Liberty Street and whirled into the rear of the Pow House. The surrey was occupied by two couples of people who were evidently out for a time, but they were doomed to disappointment, for before they had time to effectually conceal themselves about the premises a single rig occupied by an excited man with blood in his eye, who had closely pursued the would-be sports, drove into town and inquired for the quartette. He gave his name as Gibson and said one of the women in the surrey was his wife and that she had left home in his absence early in the evening with a New Castle collector, for a Pittsburg (sic) installment house (a market with installment payment options). He made a thorough search of the premises around the hotel and finally located the surrey and its occupants in a dark corner near the barn. He made things very interesting for a few minutes when he caught sight of his wife — in fact so much so that the marshal, who was taking in the situation, found it necessary to put him in the cooler. A deposit of $5 however, secured his release, and after some persuasion he got his wife to accompany him home.

“The two other men who had been imbibing freely … got out in the streets with their team and commenced painting the town. After some difficulty, Marshal Phillips landed them in the lockup for the night.

“When arraigned in the mayor’s court the New Castle man gave his name as Geo. Fleming, but a letter in his pocket from his firm was addressed to a ‘J. A. Clements, 27 Pittsburg St., New Castle, Pa.’ He pleaded guilty to drunkenness and fast driving and was fined $5 and costs. His companion in grief said his name was James Kennedy of Youngstown. He was fined $2 and costs. The New Castle man had $41 in cash in his pockets, a gold watch and several trinkets of more or less value and he promptly paid both court bills.”

75 years ago, 1945

Youngstown was set to be celebrated with a great honor from the Navy with a Navy cruiser named after the city. Mayor Ralph W. O’Neill was given the news by the Navy Department and Congressman Michael J. Kirwan. The construction of the cruiser was underway at a shipyard in Philadelphia with plans to christen the ship some time in the summer. Mayor O’Neill wrote to the Secretary of the Navy, James V. Forrestal, to ask for suggestions about an appropriate gift that the city could bestow upon the ship’s officers and crew. Several cities had purchased “mechanical cows” for ships named after them. These machines, costing around $3,000, supplied fresh milk and ice cream while the ship is at sea by mixing powdered milk, water and other ingredients together. The machine was a great addition to the crew’s diet as fresh milk could not be kept on long voyages.

Unfortunately, the ship was never launched. Following the cease fire in the Pacific, the Navy stopped production on the Youngstown in August 1945. The ship was a little more than half completed at the time and following its cancellation it was scrapped for parts.

40 years ago, 1980

The Mahoning Valley Button Box Club was featured in The Vindicator as its members celebrated the music of Slovenia. The button box, similar to an accordion, is found in many European countries but most consider it a Slovenian instrument. The club met weekly in the basement of the Slovenian House in Girard to rehearse traditional polka and waltz music. Formed only a year before, the club had members of varying ages, nationalities, and backgrounds who came together through a love of the music created by their unique instrument. Johnny Kovach, 12 at the time, was their youngest member.

The club took its love of traditional Slovenian music to hospitals and nursing homes, fundraisers, parties, lodge picnics, dances, and private clubs. Its members participated in local music festivals and also sponsored their own Button Box Jam Session Picnic. As one of only 15 similar organizations in the United States, the members took great pride in their work, especially since most were self-trained in playing the button box. The music was learned by ear as it was nearly impossible to find sheet music for the instrument.

• Compiled from the archives of the Youngstown Vindicator by Traci Manning, MVHS Curator of Education