TRUMBULL COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
John Stark Edwards House and Museum

Events held Sunday, September 21, 2003
A printed schedule of all events was distributed at the Festival.

Displays

• Crafters Village - See demonstrations of early American crafts and talk with the crafters. Location: 303 Monroe Street, NW, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Trumbull County Historical Society.

  Photo: Dave Ambrose

• Historic Documents from the County Archives - As the custodian of our historic official documents, Archivist Emily Varner has assembled a sample of the items in the Trumbull County Archives. See documents and records from our early years, and test your ability to read 1800s handwriting. Location: Harriet Taylor Upton House Library, 380 Mahoning Avenue, NW, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sponsored by Trumbull County Recorder Diana Marchese.

• Historic Farm Equipment - Dave and Eileen Cover have been collecting farm-related equipment and tools from the late 1700s to 1900 for more than 20 years, from Trumbull County and all over the United States. Trumbull County's early history was based on agriculture, and many early implements were handmade on the farms. Location: Trumbull County Historical Society, 303 Monroe Street, NW, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  Photo: Dave Ambrose

• Liberty Mines - Coal was big business in Liberty from about 1860 to 1906, with up to 17 working mines during some years. Learn more about this long-ago industry by visiting a display of pictures, maps and artifacts sponsored by the Liberty Historical Society. Location: Display tent on Kinsman House lawn, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Mahoning River - Learn about the history of the Mahoning River and why it was important to the settlement and development of the communities along its banks. Pictures and maps of the river will be displayed, and questions about the river will be answered by members of the Mahoning River Consortium. Location: Perkins Park Riverwalk, near the Warren Community Ampitheatre, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• McKinley Memorial - Born in Niles January 29, 1843, William McKinley served in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the U.S. Civil War, was a Congressman and Ohio Governor, and was elected 25th President. Learn how Niles honors his memory with the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial and the recently-dedicated McKinley Birthplace Home and Research Center at the display sponsored by the Friends of the McKinley Memorial Library & Museum. Location: Display tent on Kinsman House lawn, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Model Railroad Garden - The Riverside Railroad, garden scale trains running on concentric tracks through a hand-made layout, is open for business during the Festival, and no ticket is required. The layout features a miniature city, complete with streets, buildings and an airport. Model train lovers (isn't that everyone?) can't miss this! Location: SCOPE, 200 West Market Street, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  Photo: Dave Ambrose

• Niles History - President William McKinley and hot dog inventor Harry Stevens are two Niles citizens who became famous. See Niles-related artifacts from the Ward-Thomas Museum and learn more about the history of this Trumbull County community at the exhibit sponsored by the Niles Historical Society. Location: Display tent on Kinsman House lawn, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Old-time School Memorabilia - Schooling was important to the early settlers on the Reserve. Visit a display of school-related memorabilia including old-fashioned ink-well desk, textbooks from various years, and work of former students. Sponsored by the Trumbull Retired Teachers Association, the display will include a pictorial history of the organization. Location: Display tent on Kinsman House lawn, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Packard Museum Electric Demonstration - The National Packard Museum illustrates an early electrical experiment much like one the Packard Brothers performed in the late 1880s. The exhibit includes actual photographs of early Packard electrical products, including the incandescent light bulb that caused so much commotion and an eventual lawsuit with Thomas Edison, as well as early Warren Electrical memorabilia, Location: Display tent on Kinsman House lawn, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Peddler's Wagon - Almost everything early settlers owned they brought with them, grew or found in the surrounding wilderness. But soon traveling peddlers brought goods from the east on wagons, selling their wares at homesteads and the growing settlements. Visit a wagon displaying 1800s merchandise and buy some refreshing "elixir" (bottled water). Sponsored by the Downtown Warren Business Association. Location: Kinsman House east lawn, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Underground Railroad Exhibit - Nurturing Pathways to Freedom in Trumbull County provides a glimpse into local residents' anti-slavery sentiments from the 1820s to the 1850s. This new exhibit features four sections of photos, maps, newspaper articles and other historic documents that explain the involvement of the Sutliff family and other local Abolitionists. Location: Hallway outside the Sutliff Museum, on the second floor of the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, 444 Mahoning Avenue, NW, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Handicapped accessible.

  Photo: Dave Ambrose

• Wildlife of Trumbull County - Known as The Friendly Trapper, WKBN personality Harold Bailey brings his display of wildlife pictures and a lifetime of knowledge of Northeast Ohio critters and their habitat to the Heritage Festival. Hunting, trapping and fishing helped sustain the early settlers on the Western Reserve, and Mr. Bailey will answer your questions about hunting then and now. His book, The Friendly Trapper, will be on sale. Location: SCOPE, 220 West Market Street, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Handicapped accessible.

  Photo: Dave Ambrose

Family Activities

• Crafts - Use crayons and paper to make a quilt design based on Ohio's flag, or make tissue paper red carnations, Ohio's flower. Sponsored by the Butler Institute of American Art. Location: First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 256 Mahoning Avenue, NW, noon to 4 p.m. Handicapped accessible.

• Dowsing for Hidden Graves - As memories fade and headstones erode, locating some graves can be a problem. Some folks say they can locate hidden graves with the same dowsing rods that can locate underground water. See a dowsing demonstration preformed by members of the Trumbull County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, and maybe give it a try yourself. Location: Pioneer Cemetery behind Red Cross Headquarters, 661 Mahoning Avenue, NW, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30, 2:30, and 4:30 p.m.

  Photo: Dave Ambrose

• Headstone Rubbing - This fun, low-cost activity can be enjoyed by almost everyone. Learn how to make rubbings without damaging fragile headstones from members of the Trumbull County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Supplies will be provided. Location: Pioneer Cemetery behind Red Cross Headquarters, 661 Mahoning Avenue, NW, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30, and 3:30 p.m.
  

  Photo: Dave Ambrose

• Human Train Whistle Contest - You can whistle, but can you do a train whistle? WKBN radio personality Harold Bailey, The Friendly Trapper, will demonstrate the train whistle and will conduct a contest for those willing to whet their whistles. The winner earns bragging rights until the next competition! Location: Riverside Railroad at SCOPE, 220 West Market Street, 2 p.m.

• Mahoning River Historical Canoe Rides - Our river was very important to the early residents who settled along its banks. See the river from a canoe and learn history from a new perspective. Mahoning River Consortium and Trumbull Canoe Trails provide the guides and river information. American Red Cross and Trumbull County MetroParks provide the canoes. Allow two hours for safety and canoe instruction, the float from Perkins to Stewart Parks and the shuttle back to the Festival. Advance registration is required; call 330-675-2480, Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Location: Canoe launch area along the Riverwalk, near the Warren Community Ampitheatre, 10 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.

• Worship Service - The congregation of the First Presbyterian Church was founded in 1803. This traditional worship service incorporates Bicentennial hymns and prayers. Location: First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary, 256 Mahoning Avenue, NW, 10 a.m. Handicapped accessible.

Lectures and Speeches

• Book Talk - Ann Penman retells events that happened in our County, compiled by Grace Allison in Nineteenth Century Voices in Trumbull County. Hear the facts about Warren's only trial that resulted in a hanging, debate that raged in local churches over the issue of slavery in the years before the Civil War, and how Bloomfield Abolitionists tricked a southern slave owner trying to capture his slaves escaping to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Location: Thomas Meeting Room, Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, 4 p.m. Handicapped accessible.

• The Forgotten Gilded Age Townscape of Warren - The late 19th Century is often referred to as The Gilded Age, a time of materialism and political awakening. The townscape was very different in Warren during those years, a period dominated by one man, Henry Bishop Perkins. Local historian Alex Bobersky will show transparencies of the townscape that was lost, as well as what remains. Location: Log Cabin, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Handicapped accessible.

• Trumbull County and the Civil War - Our area's role in the U.S. Civil War was significant, both in terms of the number of volunteers and casualties as well as area veterans who became prominent after the war. Learn about Trumbull County's role in one of our nation's defining moments from local historian Alex Bobersky. Location: Civil War monument in Monument Park, 1 and 4 p.m.

• Women's Clothing, 1770-1870 - The ladies of John Payne’s Company of Kentucky Light Dragoons share their knowledge of women’s clothing typical of the years between 1770 and 1870. As re-enactors of the period, they have a special understanding of the styles, fabrics and construction of long ago. Location: Warren City Hall lawn, noon.

Museum and Other Tours

• First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary - Founded in 1803, the current building was dedicated in 1878. Tour the sanctuary to view the prominent stained glass windows and other aspects of this historic building. Pamphlets are available for self-guided tours, and docents are present to answer questions. Location: First Presbyterian Church, 256 Mahoning Avenue, NW, 1 to 5 p.m. Handicapped accessible.

• Harriet Taylor Upton House - Built in 1840 by Simon Perkins and now a National Historic Landmark, the Upton House played a role in the women's suffrage movement and is being restored to its 1800s appearance. Tour the House to see A Century of Needlework, original items of the 19th century created by the lady of the house, before and after the invention of the sewing machine. In Harriet's kitchen, see items that demonstrate the workings of an 1800s kitchen. And in the parlor, view items that accompany an 1884 wedding, from dress to flowers to amenities, and learn the social customs of weddings of another era. Visit the gardens, where lemonade and cookies are available on the back porch. Location: 380 Mahoning Avenue, NW, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• John Stark Edwards House and Museum - Built in 1807, the Edwards House is the oldest home in Trumbull County. Several rooms show the lives of residents at various periods, from pioneer days to the late nineteenth century. One level is a museum of Trumbull County artifacts. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Tours: 303 Monroe Street, NW, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Trumbull County Historical Society.

• Kinsman House Designer Showcase - Experience the warmth and beauty of the Kinsman House, one of Warren's architectural gems. Area interior designers bring life to the mansion, each decorating a different space demonstrating creativity and expertise. Sponsored by the Warren Junior Women's League/GFWC. Ticket cost: $5 per person, with proceeds benefiting the Fairhaven Foundation and other local charities. Location: Kinsman House, 303 Mahoning Avenue, NW, noon to 5 p.m. Not recommended for younger children.

• Pioneer Cemetery - Tour Warren's oldest burying ground, Pioneer Cemetery, to see the graves of some of our area's earliest settlers and a monument to Trumbull County veterans who fought in the Revolutionary War. Tours will be conducted by members of the Trumbull County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, the group responsible for recent Cemetery cleanup and restoration efforts. Location: Pioneer Cemetery behind Red Cross Headquarters, 661 Mahoning Avenue, NW, 10 and 11 a.m. and noon, 1, 2, 3, and 4 p.m.

  Photo: Dave Ambrose

• Sutliff Museum - A prominent family in Warren during the 1800s, the Sutliffs were Abolitionists whose house on High Street was a station on the Underground Railroad. The Sutliff Museum on the second floor of the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library portrays a typical Victorian parlor, with many Sutliff Family items on display. Tours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Handicapped accessible.

  Photo: Dave Ambrose

• Walking Tours of Warren's Historic District - Join local historian Alex Bobersky for free walking tours along Millionaire's Row, the stately buildings and monuments on Mahoning Avenue. See where Warren's prominent citizens built for their families and for later generations. Location: Gather at tent near Civil War Monument on Mahoning Avenue, NW, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Handicapped accessible.

  Photo: Dave Ambrose

• Women's Park in Trumbull County - Docents in period clothing explain one of Trumbull County's newest sites, one that celebrates the women who did so much to build our communities. See the landscaped walkways and courtyards and the many inscribed bricks that honor our ancestors. Location: Between the Kinsman House/Land Office, and Warren's City Hall along Mahoning Avenue, NW, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Upton Association.

Musical Entertainment

• Elixir - American Music of the 1800s - This talented trio performs traditional music with new and fresh arrangements, along with some of their own original songs. Performing in 1800-period costumes, Elixir includes history of the music and its authors. Performance support provided by the Martini Martin Arts Trust. Location: Warren Community Ampitheatre, 1, 2:15, and 3:15 p.m. Handicapped accessible.

  Photo: Dave Ambrose

• 15th Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery - Visit this living history group as they re-enact a Civil War encampment. See tents typical of different ranks, weapons (cannon and mortar) and other military gear. The 15th Ohio enlisted men from Trumbull, Mahoning, Portage, and Cuyahoga counties and served at several battles, including the sieges at Vicksburg and Atlanta. Location: Warren City Hall lawn, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  Photo: Dave Ambrose

• John Payne’s Company of Kentucky Light Dragoons fought in Ohio and Indiana, helping the U.S. defeat the British in the War of 1812. Visit several soldiers and their ladies, all in period clothing and equipment. Observe how a land survey party operated on the early-1800s frontier. One member of the unit will portray Theodore Roosevelt and another will portray Lt. Col. Arthur Freemantle, an officer who survived the Battle of Gettysburg during the U.S. Civil War. Location: Warren City Hall lawn, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Masonic Cornerstone Ceremony - Celebrating its bicentennial in 2003, Old Erie Lodge #3 is one of the oldest Masonic organizations in Ohio. Join several local members as they re-enact the laying of a cornerstone, a traditional ceremony used in the 1800s for brick and stone buildings. Location: Old Erie Lodge display on the Kinsman house east lawn, 2 p.m.

• Old Time Medicine Show - Professor E.T. Marvel (also known as Eric Thompson) will amaze and astound you as he expounds and elucidates the healing properties of his magical elixir, recreating a traveling merchant on the frontier. Sponsored by the Downtown Warren Business Association. Location: Kinsman House east lawn, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

A printed schedule of all events was distributed at the Festival.

Sunday's schedule, as of September 10, 2003, is available in two formats (8.5 x 14-in):
- MS Word
- PDF

For questions about the Heritage Festival:
HeritageFestival@trumbullcountyhistory.org

Return to the main Festival page.