DEAR EDITOR:

As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, the Reuben McMillan Library in Poland should be considered as the headquarters for the Mahoning Valley’s America250 activities.

The library is the perfect place to explore the history of Town One, Range One, the Connecticut Western Reserve, and the townships and villages that shaped our region. It offers insight into the early settlers of the Mahoning Valley and the homes and structures that have stood for more than 200 years.

Nearby, the grist mill on Water Street once stood along Yellow Creek, part of a network of waterways that fueled early commerce throughout the region. Poland was also home to a boys’ dormitory for out-of-town students, built in 1846 at 307 S. Main St. Remarkably, that historic structure has been incorporated into the Poland Library, where it remains a functional part of the building today.

America250 presents a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on our community’s rich history and preservation efforts. Future President William McKinley graduated from Poland Academy in 1859, underscoring the area’s national significance. With expanded support from the library’s genealogy staff, along with additional educational and historical programming, families throughout the Mahoning Valley could better learn and appreciate their heritage.

The Reuben McMillan Library is not only a place of learning, but a living connection to our past — making it an ideal home for America250 in our region.

KATHY MILLER

Poland