130 Years Ago, 1896 transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

“The new convent will be a model structure of the very latest design. Will start next week. The building will be finished and furnished in an attractive manner.”

“Within two weeks ground will be broken on West Rayen Avenue for one of the largest and handsomest convent buildings in Ohio.

“The plans have been prepared by Architect W.P. Gunther, of Akron, and are now being figured on by the leading local contractors, and it is expected that the contract will be let early during the coming week. The present convent buildings will be moved to the rear of the lot and the new buildings, which will be 115 feet long by 48 feet wide, will be built on the front of the lot, which is just west of the St. Columba’s school property. The new convent will be built entirely of brick, will be four stories high and the work on it will be pushed to completion as rapidly as possible.

“On the first floor will be four parlors, three music rooms, a large refectory and the kitchen and other work rooms. On the second floor will be a large community room, 12 sleeping rooms and one large room for the novices. On the third floor will be 21 sleeping rooms and on the fourth floor will be two large dormitories. The building throughout will be finished in white pine and oak and every arrangement found in the most modern convent buildings will characterize the new structure.

“The local Ursuline community was started here in 1870 when five nuns came from Cleveland. The community has since grown very rapidly until today it numbers over 40 members. It is the intention of the sisters when their building is finished, to start a day school for young girls, giving all the advantages usually found at a young ladies’ academy. The new convent when built will be a monument to the energy and thrift of these good women whose only source of revenue is the money they receive for teaching. From this, little more than a pittance, they saved enough to make a start on the new home. The local community is headed by Mother Mary Lawrence and under her skillful management and guidance the community has attained much of the prosperity that has attended it.”

Transcribed as originally published in the same issue of the Youngstown Vindicator:

“An incendiary sets fire to a building twice Edwards Street. Structure destroyed. Firemen make a fine run and save nearly all the contents.”

“From the statements of O.D. Bogges, upon whose premises a building was burned Monday evening, it is evident that incendiaries have been at work.

“In the afternoon Mr. Bogges discovered a building in the read of his residence, on Edwards Street, on fire and after considerable difficulty, extinguished the flames. The building was unoccupied and the owner could not imagine how the fire originated.

“In the evening the Bogges family went to church, and the same building was again found in flames, and the door broken in. An alarm was turned in form box 71 and the firemen responded in time to save all the provisions and furniture that had been stored in the building. The fire was outside of the water limits, and the flames had gained such headway that it was impossible to save the building. The structure was an old one.

“Who would set his building on fire is a mystery to Mr. Bogges, as he could think of no motive that would inspire such a deed. The matter is being investigated by the police authorities.”

• Compiled by Dante Bernard, museum educator at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society