McDONALD — A group of village residents is working to revamp the Historical Society of McDonald and help it become more active in the community.

Members have received numerous memorabilia items that are housed in a room at McDonald High School, and Virginia Evans and John Saganich are in the process of cataloging them.

The society meets at 9:30 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the senior center. The society in January hosts its annual meeting and election of officers.

Saganich said its meetings involve much brainstorming on plans.

“We are trying to locate people who would be interested in assuming the officer roles and be active members,” he said.

The society was suspended and inactive because of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and then lost members who have since died or lost interest, Saganich said. The items donated to the society are from village residents or relatives of people who lived in the community.

Items include school yearbooks, newspapers, artifacts, items from people in the military and old pictures.

Saganich said they have a large sign that lists the names of village residents who served in Operation Desert Storm in the Middle East. There is also a lunch pail from a worker at the steel mill. There are also maps and pictures of McDonald steel mills.

“I like maps. There is a map of McDonald before it was platted. There are some different maps of the village before it ultimately turned out the way it did,” Saganich said.

He said the maps show the plots along McDonald Avenue with one side having larger plots and much deeper.

Evans said they are cataloging items that were in boxes received from Evelyn Hannon, who was the society’s curator.

“These boxes were in a room at the senior center that we were able to get moved here to the high school so we can look through them,” she said.

Evans said the goal would be to organize and sort the memorabilia and then have themed displays periodically in the village municipal building or at the schools.

She said she would like the society to once again be more active in the community.

Evans said she and her husband, Jack, were founding members of the society, along with Hannon and Cliff Dezee.

Hannon set up in the community room at the post office building with historical displays with various themes. Both exhibits were set up during the annual Firefighters Festival around the Fourth of July. Evans said some mannequins have been used in displays to showcase clothing of firefighters and mill workers.

“I think people would be interested in seeing the many pictures we have. They may know some of the people,” she said.

Saganich said new members are encouraged and individuals who are willing to be officers.

He said McDonald Local Schools Superintendent Kevin O’Connell allowed the society to have a room at the high school. The items were moved into the room over the summer with help from high school students.

O’Connell said the schools are glad to be able to assist the historical society in showcasing history.

The village was established in 1918, and some items date back to the 1920s.

Saganich said O’Connell also expressed interest in the schools using the society’s archives to create a course on the history of the village.

Saganich said a goal is to preserve the history of the village and to collect and exhibit items for the benefit of the public.

To contribute to the society or become a member, email Saganich at johnmsaganich@gmail.com.