Joyce Pogany, president of the Austintown Historical Society, talks about the old wagon which sits outside the Log Cabin on South Raccoon Road. In a recent repair attempt, the wagon was damaged, and now the historical society is looking for a new one. Staff photo / Allie Vugrincic

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one of a series of Saturday profiles of area residents and their stories. To suggest a profile, contact features editor Burton Cole at bcole@tribtoday.com or metro about:home editor Marly Reichert at mreichert@tribtoday.

AUSTINTOWN — For a majority of her life, Joyce Pogany and Austintown history have been synonymous.

As the president of the Austintown Historical Society and member of countless organizations, Pogany has dedicated many years of her life to preserving the history of Austintown.

Pogany shows no signs of slowing down. As a matter of fact, she celebrated her 86th birthday Friday.

Pogany was born in the township, but at a young age moved to Hubbard and then to Pennsylvania, where she spent most of her youth. It wasn’t until after she married her high school sweetheart, Paul Pogany, that she wound up moving back to Austintown — to the same house she lives in now.

“We were renting in Hubbard. One day he said to me ‘I’m moving you home’, so we moved here 63 years ago,” Pogany said.

After high school, she worked as a part-time X-ray technician, but focused always on being a mom and found the best way for her to be involved was by joining the Parent Teacher Association in the Austintown Local School District.

THE START OF IT ALL

The beginning of Pogany’s involvement with volunteerism dates back decades to humble beginnings with the PTA.

“It all started with the PTA. I had been involved with things in high school, but nothing like the things I’ve done since,” Pogany said. “Those years were great. Not only those years, but all these years I’ve worked as a volunteer.”

Her husband suggested she join the PTA as her children’s involvement with school activities increased. She started with the elementary school PTA and was eventually named president. As her children got older, she joined and became president of the middle and high school PTA as well. She said part of her duties as president was to attend school board meetings, and then her husband asked why she didn’t run for the board.

“I said ‘I don’t want to do that,'” Pogany said. “But I ran seven times and won seven times, and I was on for 28 years. I really enjoyed it. After my husband passed away, I thought ‘that’s it, that’s enough.’ I decided not to run because he really supported me.”

Paul Pogany died 26 years ago.

It was her involvement with the PTA that led Joyce to join many other committees, boards and organizations — all with her husband beside her. She spoke of when her husband was a member of the Austintown Kiwanis and coaxed Joyce into joining as a secretary.

“Next thing you now, I’m president of the Austintown Kiwanis,” she said with a laugh.

Pogany is president of the Austintown Historical Society, a member of the Austintown Kiwanis, Austintown Growth Foundation, Fourth of July Committee, Wickliffe Circle Christmas Committee andYoungstown State University Penguin Club Board of Directors.

“I’ve worked with so many wonderful people. They never say no; it’s always ‘let’s do it’ and it gets done. I’ve just been so blessed with good people everywhere I go,” she said.

CROWNING ACHIEVEMENTS

With her involvement with these various organizations, she has helped grow many events into the popular events they are now. One is the Fourth of July Parade, and the other is the annual Wickliffe Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Years ago, the fire department would put up a Christmas tree and have a ceremony. The Poganys decided to go, and the next day the fire chief called and said they were the only people who came outside of the fire department employees and also said something needed to happen to get more people to come. The suggestion was made to move the ceremony to Wickliffe Circle, so Joyce started writing letters, collecting donations and bought decorations. From there, the rest is history.

“I’ve done that for many, many years now,” she said.

Two of Pogany’s favorite achievements, however, are the preservation of the Austin Log Cabin and the Strock Stone House, both of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Both places have distinctive features, but strikingly different interiors.

The Cabin was purposefully left looking primitive with rustic antiques and old-time objects that give visitors a real sense of what life was like back in the day. The Strock, on the other hand, is furnished with many different items for men, women and children and dates from at least 1901.

The preservation of these buildings started with Pogany.

“I worked my buns off,” Pogany said. “Now I have a couple of people who help out, no questions asked.”

Still, she’s cautious with who has access to the buildings. Only a handful of people have keys for them.

Pogany also said the Strock may have been part of the Underground Railroad. She explained that on the property is an area where Meander Creek would run up to it.

“There’s a side cellar door there that can’t be seen from the driveway. We heard the Underground Railroad travelers would come by boat from Meander Creek and come into the basement of the house, be safe and leave to the next safe house,” Pogany said.

She also explained that the designation of a safe house during that time would be a quilt hanging outside. A series of arrows sewn into the quilts or put up somewhere would indicate whether the house was a safe house or if further travel was needed.

“But our (arrow) would point to the house and they would go in the cellar door and stay in the basement,” Pogany said.

The restoration and the preservation of these monuments are Pogany’s favorite achievement in her years of volunteering.

“It’s something that’s going to be here forever,” Pogany said. “The Cabin is an excellent display of what we had, and the Strock is an excellent display of what we have now.”

nhawthorne@tribtoday.com