Published: Tuesday, July 31, 2007
'Items of Yesteryear Museum' shows Columbiana Co. history
LISBON — The Columbiana County Historical Society has its history in order.
The society's "Items of Yesteryear Museum" at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds has been organized by themes, including classroom area and a laundry, in recent years.
The items on exhibit also have new signs to identify the materials.
Members of the society have been working to better organize the materials. These include a device to cut grain that came from the Harvey Firestone farm, and a copy of a death mask of gangster Pretty Boy Floyd, who was killed near East Liverpool during a manhunt.
Bill McKarns, chairman of the group, showed the weather instruments that were used by the late Edwin Copeland, an observer for the U.S. Weather Bureau for 50 years. His wife, Dorothy, let the museum display them.
One sign dating to the early 1800s says that it's eight miles to New Lisbon and two and a half miles to Hanover. The villages later changed their names, respectively, to Lisbon and Hanoverton.
One item rarely, if ever, seen in a western movie or television show is a series of leather strings tied in an oval shape and draped over the back of a life-sized model horse.
McKarns explained that the loose strings would bounce as the horse walked and shoo away flies.
The museum will be open throughout the fair this week.
What's being considered
Judy Zettle of East Palestine, a member of the society, said she hoped that the museum could begin to offer tours for children even when the fair is not in operation. The centrally located fairgrounds would be easily accessible from local school districts.
"I think it's great that it's here," she said.
The roof on a veranda at the museum building needs to be repaired. The roof over the building and most of the exhibits are in better shape.
She said the society might try to find grant funds for the repairs.
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