GIRARD — The Girard Historical Society on Sunday marked 50 years of showcasing items and sharing information on the history of the city.

Joe Spano, president of the society, said the success of the society’s 50 years is the public’s interest in where the city has been and where it is going in the future.

“People have a love for this city and knowing about its history,” he said.

The Barnhisel House, 1011 N. State St., which was built in the 1840s, is where the society showcases the city’s history. There are monthly open houses 1 to 4 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of each month from May through December.

Shawna Chuey, vice president of the society, said the society took over the Barnhisel House in April 1976. She said her parents, Colette and Ralph Chuey, were active for many years with the society, which inspired her to get involved.

The society has 50 members.

“We hope that when people come to the Barnhisel House, they will have an appreciation of Girard’s history and know there is a place to go and see it,” Spano said.

He said they get items donated for display at the house from different families. He said the Fred and Edna Vogel families recently donated items.

Spano said recent additions have included a large doll house with each brick made by hand. Items were also donated by the Krehl family descendants. There is also an 1862 walking cane made locally.

Randy Emery, society member, said he and Chuey spoke of having a downtown event to recognize the 50th anniversary of the society. That event took place Aug. 2 with an outdoor celebration that included musical performances, vendors and historical society displays inside the Blackhorse Tavern.

Chuey and Spano said with the new school year beginning soon, local fourth graders will be touring the Barnhisel House.

Spano said many people who visit will tell of their visit to the house as children. Chuey said it was her mother who started the tours more than 20 years ago.

Spano said for the 50th anniversary, there will be a special Christmas display in December.

He said in addition to the Barnhisel House the society owns the house behind the museum, which is used as a research and work building.

He said Mayor Mark Zuppo had contacted him with any information on the Wellman Theater the city is working to restore.

Emery said he does a social media page about Girard’s history and includes famous people from Girard such as Kathleen Bradley who was a model on “The Price is Right” and Stiv Bator a punk rocker musician.

He said there were stories of a local baseball team in 1914 that brought in a Major League player for the Yankees for the local championship game who helped Girard win the championship that year.

“Years ago, there were Cleveland Indians players who would come down and play,” Emery said.

Carly O’Neill, a society member and retired from the Warren Trumbull County Public Library, said the archives and records at the research building are from the history of Girard and Liberty.

SOCIETY HISTORY

In January 1975, a group of 11 residents got together and formed the historical society and soon set out to uncover and assemble many pieces of Girard’s history puzzle. In 1976, the society raised enough funds to purchase one of the oldest remaining mansions, which was the 1840s Greek Revival two-story Barnhisel House. It has five rooms on the first floor and three bedrooms on the second floor. The house was built by the Barnhisel family, who were early settlers to the area.

In 1982, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In June 2004, the house was formally dedicated

The society takes part in local parades, awards scholarships, historical re-enactments, teas, and cemetery walks with the Girard Cemetery nearby.

On Oct. 4, 2024, the society made history by being included with 63 other landmarks worldwide including New York City’s Empire State Building illustrated in blue to help Smile Train set the “Guinness Book of World Records” for Most Landmarks Illuminated in 24 Hours for World Smile Day.

That event was made possible by Girard High School 1990 graduate Troy Reinhart, who is Smile Train senior vice president of philanthropy and ambassador development. Chuey and Spano said it has been an honor for the society to serve as the stewards of the Girard community’s treasured history for the past 50 years.