Trending
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning Valley Historical Society is expanding its downtown footprint while becoming more immersed in the city's continued growth and development.
"With this purchase of the (former) IBM building, we see many opportunities and advancements," H. William Lawson, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society's executive director, said. "It was well maintained by the previous owners; it comes to us in good shape."
Lawson spoke at a news conference Tuesday morning in the building's lobby about the MVHS' recent acquisition of the 43-year-old, four-story modern-style office structure at 250 E. Federal St. The purchase from the Mills Community Urban Development Corp. closed Nov. 17.
The corporation also owns several other downtown landmarks, including the Ohio One and Commerce buildings.
The historical society plans to use much of the 45,000-square-foot space to house most of its 3-D collections in climate-controlled rooms for improved preservation. Two third-floor rooms, one of which the MVHS has used since 1999 and the other within the last four or five years, contain a vast array of collections that include shelves stacked with WKBN-TV 27 news reels; also in the spaces are pieces of vintage furniture and collections from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge, which was on the South Side before it closed about 30 years ago, Lawson said.
"Every object has a story," he said.
The MVHS has raised more than $950,000 of its capital campaign of at least $10 million, and has started moving items from the Tyler History Center, 325 W. Federal St., to the former IBM site, Lawson explained.
Even though he was unable to provide precise cost figures, Lawson estimated the purchase price was close to $7.5 million. About $2 million will go toward various improvements and additions at the Arms Family Museum on Wick Avenue, which the MVHS runs, and an additional $500,000 for the same at the Tyler building, Lawson said. Also, more than $13,000 will be used in the short term to consolidate off-site storage to be moved to the former IBM building, he continued.
Even though the structure is in good shape, money will be needed to make certain improvements and repairs, such as to several windows, some of the masonry and to the roof, Lawson added.
Another short-term project will be to develop new museum exhibit space with a separate entrance, along with expanding the historical society's services -- all in a continued effort to collect, teach and preserve the stories and artifacts that capture life in the Mahoning Valley, he explained.
Lawson said he was happy with the acquisition also because it will fit well into the eastern portion of downtown's existing business climate, which includes Penguin City Brewing Co. and The Youngstown Flea. That part of town was part of the urban renewal movement from about 1960 to 1980, he added.
The former IBM building also is "a great example of architecture and land use," Lawson said.
2025 will be pivotal to part of the MVHS' campaign because it will mark the 150th anniversary of the organization's establishment in 1875. The following year will denote the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, for which the MVHS hopes to have "something meaningful for the public to see," Lawson said.
When the IBM building became available on the market a few years ago, the MVHS realized an abundant amount of needed additional space would be available for housing a significant quantity of its 3-D collections, Scott Schulick, the historical society's board president, said.