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ellwood city historical society

March 21, 2019

Ellwood City Historical Society Monthly Meeting & Advance Info of April Program

Everett Bleakney welcomed guests attending the March general meeting, advising the purpose of the Historical Society is to collect, protect and promote the area history and make it accessible to all. Joe Fisher, Commander of American Legion Post 157, lead the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Minutes of the February meeting were read by the Secretary Lois Liebendorfer, and Treasurer, Charles Brown presented the financial report. Committee Reports were given. The Ways and Means stated that a number of plans for the calendar year are being finalized. It was noted that the birthday celebration for Donnie Iris in…

March 1, 2019

VIDEO: Official Donnie Iris Day Celebration

“As of February 28, 2019 at 3:00 p.m., every 28th of February shall be known as Donnie Iris Day here in the small town of Ellwood City,” Ellwood City Mayor Tony Court proclaimed as part of the presentation during the Ellwood City Historical Society birthday party event on Thursday recognizing the local rock star. Donnie Iris is mostly known for his time in the popular 1970s band the “Jaggerz” or his gold record for writing and singing the No. 1 song “The Rapper.” Iris originally learned to sing from his mother and other popular singers like Tony Bennett and Marvin…

February 27, 2019

Thursday Will Be ‘Donnie Iris Day’ In Ellwood

Thursday Will be ‘Donnie Iris Day’ in Ellwood City. The Ellwood City Historical Society will be entertaining a celebration on Thursday, February 28, from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm.  Ellwood City Mayor Tony Court will present a proclamation to the popular local singer, who grew up in Ellwood City, during the celebration of his 76th birthday. The event is free and open to the public. A cake will be provided.  Bring any memorabilia of Donnie you may have! The historical society is located at 310 5th St, Ellwood City, PA 16117. Donnie Iris has two booked concerts in March with shows in Canton,…

February 4, 2019

Barensfeld Will Be Guest Speaker At Historical Society.

The regular monthly meeting of the Ellwood City Area Historical Society will be held Monday, February 11 at 7:00 pm. Acknowledging one of Ellwood City’s industries that have been in existence for over 100 years, David Barensfeld will be the guest speaker. In August of 1910, two brothers, David and Jonathan Evans opened the doors of a steel manufacturing company in Ellwood City, PA, the Ellwood City Forge. Its name is as simple and straight forward as their approach to business:  Maximizing their profits to reinvest in their business, their operations, and their people, to ensure they have the best…

January 8, 2019

Ellwood City Historical Society To Host Guest Speaker

The Ellwood City Area Historical Society will open their first meeting of the year on Monday, January 14 at 7:00 pm. Newly elected officers and board members, Andy Kindle, Dana Baker and Alexis Bodenschantz will be installed. The guest speaker for the evening will be Jonica Walters of Neshannock Township. Jonica Weigel Walters was 4 years old as she walked across the Ewing Park Bridge to kindergarten. She literally followed in her sister’s footsteps, picking up the imprints in the snow and stacking them high on her arms. Through the years her family lived in Pittsburgh Circle, Hardyville, and Wurtemburg….

November 16, 2018

Vintage Clothes Needed For Historical Fashion Show

The Ellwood City Area Historical Society, the Lincoln High School History Club and the Lincoln High School Drama Club are planning a “Historical Fashion Show.” In order for this to happen, they’ll need clean vintage articles of clothing donated, or at least borrowed for this event. Ideally, the clothes should be from 1890 up until 1950-1960. The event came to be when the president of the Ellwood City Area Historical Society, Everett Bleakney, proposed to the board of director that they should reach out to Lincoln High School to try and get more people interested in Ellwood City’s history. Thus the idea…

September 25, 2018

Historical Society To Plan ‘History on the Street’ Event

The Ellwood City Historical Society held a special meeting to prepare for the upcoming Ellwood City Fall Festival and Car Show. The Society decided to hold a display outside the History Center on Fifth Street. The event will be called, “History on the Street.”  Featured items will be the Ellwood Sign that has lighted the way for the Arts Crafts and Food festival for over 30 years. The Society will also offer its own Car Show by having 10 Soap Box Derby Cars from different years of the racing event. On display in the street will be collected artifacts, some over…

May 4, 2018

Ellwood City Historical Society Monthly Meeting and Scholarship Awards

Press Release Ellwood City Area Historical Society Monthly Meeting and Scholarship Awards MARTHA GREENE WROTE HER MEMORIES OF THE LOVELY NEW ELLWOOD CITY At the April membership meeting, Louise Carroll  portrayed Martha Greene, wife of Merritt Greene. Merritt Greene came here in 1889 to serve as the general manager and purchasing agent of the “future resort town” being promoted by Henry W. Hartman, and the Pittsburg Company.  The next year his wife and son moved here to be with him.  They first rented the former Pettit home, then bought it and had it moved across the street.  It was located…

April 24, 2018

Ellwood City Area Historical Society Membership Meeting

The Ellwood City area Historical Society met for their monthly membership meeting on April 9. Thirty-five people attended and door prizes were won by four. Everett Bleakney welcomed everyone to the meeting and The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jim Houk. Everett asked for a moment of silence for three Society members who had passed away since the March meeting; Sam Mullin, Lois Richards and Carl Sammons. Everett advised the essays for the Robert and Janice Barensfeld scholarships must be in by April 12 and encouraged members to pass this on to any graduating students they may know. Ron Geddes…

April 3, 2018

Historical Society Welcomes Guest Speaker On April 9

Louise Carroll will be the guest speaker at the April 9th membership meeting of the Ellwood City Area Historical Society. She will portray Martha Greene, wife of Merritt Green, who came here in 1889, to help establish Ellwood, as a future resort town. Mrs. Greene was well impressed with the fledgling town of Ellwood and expressed her thoughts in her own writings. Louise was born and raised in Ellwood City, graduated from Lincoln High School and attended Geneva College and Providence School of Nursing. She was employed at the New Castle News for 18 years, and has been with the…