Trending
BAZETTA -- In 1940, Mary Jane Bailey was 9 years old when her father, Albert Bajorek of Vienna, was killed in an accident at the Gano Coal Mine in Vienna.
Bajorek is being remembered at a special exhibit at the Trumbull County Fair in Bazetta, which was constructed by Jeff Ford of Vienna and Scott Ford of Austintown.
Bajorek's family, which included Bailey and 24 other relatives, including some from Colorado, Maryland and Massachusetts, gathered at the exhibit Tuesday, which was opening day at the fair.
Jim Kraizel of Euclid, a grandson of Bajorek, said four generations were at the gathering.
"Most of us here are grandsons and granddaughters. There are also some great-grandsons and great-granddaughters. We all were able to meet today to be here to see this exhibit," Kraizel said, noting most of the relatives are from the Cleveland area.
He said he was amazed at the work that went into the exhibit.
Kraizel said they liked the plaque by the coal cart at the front of the exhibit bearing Bajorek's name.
Bailey, now 92, of Willoughby Hills, said her father would be so happy to see all the family together.
"I am very impressed and very grateful for what they did to honor my father. I am thrilled to be here," she said.
Bailey is the only surviving child of Bajorek, who had eight children. She said she has good memories of her father who was killed in the coal mine accident when she was 9.
Jeff and Scott Ford said they were glad the family could be there to see the exhibit they worked on for four months.
COLORADO RELATIVES
Susan and Pete Stahlhammer came from Colorado to be at the fair. Susan is a granddaughter of Bajorek.
Susan said Kraizel, a grandson, spearheaded the effort to get the family together.
Susan Shafiei of Cumberland, Maryland, another granddaughter and a daughter of Bailey, said, "It was so touching what they did. It really highlights my grandfather and the local history."
She said the Coal Mine 8 sign symbolizes the eight children Bajorek had.
The family said they like how the fair's historical village preserves the history of the area and that Bajorek is now part of it.
Bailey said she was glad her four children, Karen Bellitto of Novelty, Ohio; Susan Shafiei of Maryland, Mark Bailey of Kirtland; and Michael Bailey of Concord Township, and their families could all be there.
Bellitto said she liked that when you walk through the exhibit, it is dark like an actual coal mine.
"You could experience what it was like to be a coal miner," she said.
Samantha Bailey of Kirtland, who is a great-granddaughter, said she could not believe real coal was used in the exhibit.
She said she would hear about her great-grandfather from her grandmother, Mary Jane.
Bobak Shafiei of Boston, a great-grandson, said he was able to see what his great-grandfather did working in the coal mines.
Jeff Ford said each family member received a piece of coal as a souvenir.
Ford said mining in Trumbull County was in Vienna, Weathersfield, Brookfield, Liberty and Hubbard. Posters on each township's mining connection are displayed inside the coal mine exhibit.
Added to the exhibit will be gem mine bags of varied stones as well as an area where water comes out of a barrel and people can pan for minerals.
Bob Smith, formerly of Warren and now of Boardman, is a coal mine and railroad historian. He was at the exhibit to answer questions and help guide people.