125 years ago in 1899, transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

Trustees of the Township favor the educating of children in Kindergartens. Bequest of Dan’l Shehy will be turned over when available for education of the poor.

To the Editor of the Vindicator: I am authorized and requested by the township trustees to say that they are very favorably impressed with the educational benefits received by children in kindergartens, and it seems to them most appropriate that the education of extremely poor children should commence at the earliest practicable moment, as very many are forced, by poverty, to work at an early age to sustain themselves, their younger brothers and sisters, or perhaps their aged or invalid parents, and so are not able to attend school as long as they should.

If such unfortunates can be advanced two or three years in their studies by kindergartens, their inability to attend school later as long as they should, will be less hurtful, and the trustees believe it would be entirely in accordance with the wish of Daniel Shehy to educate the children of the poor in kindergartens. When the time comes to act, it is their present expectation to exercise their discretion to that effect.

Having represented the township trustees as their attorney in all litigation regarding the validity of the will of Daniel Shehy, or the legacy in it for the education of the poor children of Youngstown Township, I am also requested by them to explain to the public present conditions as to the availability of said legacy for the charitable purpose intended.

The entire estate is in the hands of the administrator and must remain so until it can be converted into money and invested in safe securities bearing annual interest. When this can be done, the fund so created is to be turned over by the administrator to the trustees who must keep the principal safely invested, and use the annual interest only for the education of the poor. The township trustees must select the beneficiaries and direct in what way the money is to be used for the purpose intended.

The case was finally decided by the supreme court of the state on February 28th last, and the above legacy is valid, but the estate, or the portion of it that is to be made into said permanent fund, was then all in realty. A small portion of it has since been sold, but it will require time, work, and patience to dispose of it to the best advantage.

If the realty was now converted into money and invested, it would be a year from now before interest would be received that could be used. The trustees regard this action on their part final. It is therefore useless to petition or interview them further on the subject.

• Volney Rogers

Compiled from the Youngstown Vindicator by Dante Bernard, Mahoning Valley Historical Society Museum educator.