The Erie Terminal Building was built to act as both a train terminal and a multi-level office complex. The terminal was constructed in 1923 by the Erie Railroad Company during a time in which Youngstown was a hub of railroad activity. The building functioned throughout the decades until it was decommissioned in 1976. The building now functions as an apartment complex for Youngstown Residents after being renovated in 2012.
Designed by local architect Adolf Kanengeiser Helen Chapel was built from 1889 to1890. The building serves Youngstown's First Presbyterian Church with a sanctuary, spaces for the congregation to meet, and classrooms for Sunday school. The name of the chapel is a reflection of Myron C. and Elizabeth Bonnell Wick's donation to the church and serves as a memorial to their daughter, Helen. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
Youngstown's Masonic Temple was built in 1910 to act as a headquarters to hold all the various facets of the fraternal organization. The building cost $250,000 to construct and it stood as a symbol for the masonic order in Youngstown during the city's rapid growth in the early 20th century. The Masonic order in Youngstown was one of the first fraternal organizations in the city and by 1938, boasted a membership of 4,000 with weekly meetings being held in the Youngstown Temple. Reflecting both the declining population of the city and the fortunes of fraternal organizations in the late 20th and early 21st century, the building closed in 2016 due to shrinking membership and related financial concerns.
The Youngstown Public Library was constructed in 1909-1910 by the Youngstown Library Association. Local architect Charles F Owsley designed the library after the association received a $50,000 donation from Andrew Carnegie. The library was originally named after Reuben McMillan, a key member in the founding of the Youngstown Library Association. Notable alumni of the Youngstown Public Library include John H. Clark, an Associate Supreme Court Justice, who had acted as the president of the libraries board. The library has gone under two major renovations, one in 1954 and another in 1994. The Youngstown Public Library is still open today and has since expanded to include 18 locations across the Mahoning County area.
St.John's Episcopal Church was first organized in 1859 after the congregation petitioned the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio to form the parish. The congregation purchased the lot on Wick Avenue that the church now sits on, in 1891. New Jersey architect William Wood designed the church; which was officially consecrated in 1900. Since then, St.John's has hosted a variety of public events for the Youngstown community. The most notable of these being the Boar's Head Festival hosted on the Sunday closest to January 6th. This festival is a celebration of medieval European traditions and is the longest-running Boar's Head Festival in the United States. St.John's Episcopal Church continues to serve the Youngstown community to this day with community services such as a food pantry and their Red Door Cafe, which offers free meals to the city every Sunday.
This historic Youngstown church was constructed in 1861 to serve a congregation that was established in 1845. A landmark in the Brier Hill neighborhood, the church was substantially expanded and renovated in 1887 to accommodate the growing congregation. The building was used by the Welsh Congregation until 1976 when the church was bought by the Messiah Holiness Church of God in Christ. The congregation stopped using the building after a fire in 1997 severely damaged the structure. Since that time, the building has been abandoned, but the current owners, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, have partnered with Cityscape, a community development organization, to move the church to Wick Park and restore the historic building.
Operated by the Ohio Historical Society and Youngstown State University, this museum preserves the history of the steel industry that once dominated the regional economy. The museum traces its origins back to the 1970s when local officials lobbied for the creation of a museum to the region's industrial heritage. The museum opened in 1986 after the state legislature set aside $3 million three years prior. The center's permanent exhibit is titled "By the Sweat of Their Brow: Forging the Steel Valley." As the name suggests, it not only examines the business of steel-making but the workers and the communities they made.
Warner Theater, now known as the Powers Auditorium, opened on May 14th, 1931. The theater derives its name from the Warner family who created the movie production company "Warner Brothers." The two brothers named the theater to honor their late brother Samuel and their parents. The Warner Theater operated until February 28th, 1968, when it played its last movie, "Bonnie and Clyde." The building was slated to be demolished, but local couple Edward and Alice Powers donated $250,000 and others in the community rallied to save the building and make it the permanent home of the Youngstown Symphony. The building was renovated for the symphony at a price of $750,000. The theater was renamed to honor the Powers family for their support and the symphony held their first performance in their new home on September 20th, 1969. The building continues to serve the community by holding live performances of the city's symphony and other events.
The State Theater was constructed in 1927, built on the location of the Orpheum Theater, which stood on that location since 1915. The theater was designed by architect Charles W. Bates, standing as one of the most technologically advanced theaters of its time. After construction, the theater was equipped with a Movietone sound system. The theater stopped showing movies in 1970; in 1974, the building opened as "Tomorrow Club," a rock-n-roll night club. This club transitioned into the Agora, a venue that specialized in rock-n-roll concerts. The Agora had famous acts such as RUSH, AC/DC, KISS, The Runaways, Heart, and The Ramones. The theater continued to transition throughout the 1980s when it transitioned from a Civic Center to a Hard Rock venue known as the Starr Theater, and an RnB venue, known as the Starr Palace. The State Theater was demolished in 2008 after being vacant for 30 years. The only remnant of the State Theater is its front facade, saved during demolition, which can still be seen today.
Youngstown's Wells Building was constructed in 1917 with funding from the estate of Thomas H. Wells, a prominent land developer in Youngstown who was elected mayor in 1863. The building was initially designed to house retail stores on the main floor, and offices on the floors above. The building was originally home to a ladies' clothing store. In later years, the building was home to an armed forces recruitment station. In 2016 the Strollo Architecture firm remodeled the building into a modern apartment complex.
The Peggy Ann Building in Youngstown Ohio was part of the retail boom that occurred during the height of Youngstown's growth. The Peggy Ann Building was built around 1930 and was built to house the Peggy Ann clothing company. The Peggy Ann clothing store operated in this downtown location from the 1930s to the 1960s. The second story of the building was used as office space. The building now holds multiple local businesses including the Whistle and Keg bar and the Touch the Moon Candy Saloon.
Youngstown's Wick Building is the second-tallest structure in the city, being bested only by First National Tower. The Wick Building was designed by architect Daniel Burnham and was completed in 1910. The structure was built to house the Wick Brothers Trust Company which was owned by the Wick family who owned several influential businesses in the Youngstown area at the urn-of-the-century.
Youngstown's Central Tower Building has been known by several names since its construction in 1929. Originally designed by Morris Scheibel for Central Savings and Loans, the building became the home of Metropolitan Savings and Loan in 1976. Four years later that company purchased the building for $2,000,000 and renamed the building the Metropolitan Tower. The building's name changed again in 2007 when it became First National Tower after Metropolitan Savings and Loan was acquired by First National Bank.
The Realty Building was designed by famed local architect Morris W. Scheibel, notable for also designing the Central Tower Building. The Realty Guarantee and Trust Company commissioned the building, and construction was completed in 1924. One of the most notable events in the building's past came in 1955. In 1955 gale-force winds blew into Youngstown, ripping nearly the entire roof off, as well as causing $50,000 in damages due to falling debris. The Realty Building is now a 23-unit apartment complex after being renovated in 2009, continuing to serve the Youngstown community.
Completed in 1910 in Youngstown Ohio, this courthouse was considered a point of pride for the county. Costing the city $1,904,424 the Mahoning County Courthouse went over its original budget of $1,000,000. The building stood with minor changes until 1985 when it was voted to be restored. The restoration took 6 years and cost $8,000,000 an effort to return the building to its former glory.
The Ohio One Building was built in 1931 by the Ohio Edison Company. The building was initially named the Ohio Edison Building, after the aforementioned company. The Ohio Edison Company was an electricity provider in Youngstown that was formed after consolidating many smaller companies into the Ohio Edison Company to serve the growing Youngstown community. The building was purchased by its current owner, the Ohio One Company, in 1975. The Ohio One Company still occupies the building today. The most notable architectural aspect of the building is the large neon sign displayed on the top of the building, which was originally commissioned by the Ohio Edison Company, and was later adopted by the Ohio One Company.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This comprehensive tour will take you through all the iconic buildings throughout Youngstown's history. You'll see iconic buildings such as the Wick Tower, Ohio One Building, as well as stunning historic churches and theaters that dot this historic city.
