Fourth Grade Students Tour Ellwood City History Center

Jonica Walters, Ellwood City Elementary School Teacher, brought the fourth grade students for their first tour and experience at the History Center.

The purpose was to promote an understanding and appreciation of the Ellwood City area history. The students were met by tour guide Andy Kindle, first Vice President of the Historical Society. They met in the meeting room of the center that also house numerous pieces of memorabilia and artifacts. Andy kindle started the discussion with the students by finding out what areas of Ellwood City they are from. The use of an Ellwood City map showed the different wards and townships around the area. The students represented most areas on the map.

Ellwood City is unique in that it is not an old community having been established in 1892. The students were shown a picture of Henry Waters Hartman, the founder of Ellwood City, and Isaac L. Ellwood who our town was named. Mr Ellwood and Henry Hartman were friends and business acquaintances through the wire and barb wire industries.

The students were asked by A. kindle, “who is your family historians?” They agreed that it was their mother or grandmother who keep pictures and other information about activities, friends, awards, or trips. It was pointed out that history is knowledge that deals with the past, knowing the past helps us to know the present and future better.

The Ellwood City Historical Society was founded on November 9, 1987 and incorporated in February 22, 1988. The mission(purpose) of the Society was to discover and collect any material which illustrates the history of the area. While in the collection process, any and all materials will be preserved and shared with members and the community.

The students visited the museum and one student wanted to know why we had a bicycle frame in the front window. Another student suggested that it had something to do with the Pittsburg Circle. This brought to lite Mr. Ralph C. Stiefel, who had a new process of making seamless tube. A Historical marker is at the corner of seventh street and Lawrence Avenue to commemorate the birth of seamless tube industry in 1895. The new seamless tubing became a part of the bicycle industry around the world. The company became the National Tube Co. a division of the U.S. Steel Corp.

After visiting the museum the students gathered back in the meeting room to discuss what was their favorite display or item . Their teacher Jonica Walters had each student pick what item the liked and explain why… the Rock Point fun house Mirror won the contest.. the day concluded hoping the class had a better understanding why history is important to all people and the community. Mr kindle thanked the students for visiting and invited them back and bring their parents, and also thanked their teacher Jonica Walters.

Pictured below, Left to right: Joshua Ritter, Jacoby McKinney, Reese Edwards, Porter Nash, Ashia Freshcorn, Isaac Smith.