Ryan MacLennan, right, director of operations and outreach for the Trumbull County Historical Society talks with Modern Props founder John Zabrucky during the society’s trip to southern California in August.

WARREN — At the start of 2023, the Trumbull County Historical Society had a long list of goals, from finalizing plans for its expansion of the Morgan History Center to launching its first podcast.

By spring that list expanded dramatically.

Warren native John Zabrucky, a 1965 Warren G. Harding High School graduate, had a question — “Why can’t there be a science fiction museum in Warren, Ohio?” — and he was willing to donate props his company, Modern Props, had created for such films as “Blade Runner,” “Star Trek,” “Men in Black” and many others to make it a reality.

That donation and the historical society’s progress toward creating that museum is number five on the Tribune Chronicle’s list of the top 10 stories of 2023.

Ryan McLennan, TCHS’s director of operations and outreach, vividly remembers when Executive Director Meghan Reed called him about the possibility.

“We both had the same reaction — it’s too good of an opportunity to pass up,” he said. “I don’t know how we’ll make this work, but we will.”

Since that initial outreach, Zabrucky signed a deed of gift to the society donating about 500 pieces his company created dating back to the late ’70s. Because he rented his creations to the studios instead of selling them, some individual props have appeared in more than 100 films, television series and commercials.

Following many long conversations over the phone and Zoom, a group from the historical society traveled to southern California in late July / early August to meet Zabrucky and his family in person and view the collection.

Later in August, the first of 10 semi-truck trucks started delivering the collection, and Zabrucky returned to the Mahoning Valley to receive the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber’s Valley Champion Award. One or two more trucks still are expected.

Cataloging the collection is well underway, and while Reed and MacLennan saw much of the collection when they were in California, they continue to find new surprises.

MacLennan said they found a receipt while unpacking one box that showed one of the props inside had been used on the science fiction television series “Firefly,” which only lasted one season but has a loyal cult following. The computer records documenting where different props were used no longer exist, so those paper receipts become valuable tools in establishing the history for each piece.

Reed said she is fascinated by the different spy suitcases that Zabrucky created and were used by megalomaniacal villains in different series and features.

TCHS selected a four-story building near downtown at 410 Main Ave. SW as the projected site for the museum, and it received American Rescue Plan funds from Warren City Council for its purchase. Reed said she expects its board to approve the purchase at its January meeting.

One of the biggest challenges so far has been picking a name for the future museum.

“You don’t want to get it wrong,” MacLennan said. “Yes, you have an opportunity to change it, but we want to get the name right because hopefully it will be a national draw.”

One of the most pleasant surprises has been the interest and support for the project.

“Local community support and local leaders on board have been some of the easier things,” Reed said. “Seeing people get really excited about this project and the community connections and partnerships we’ve made over the last eight, nine months have been incredible.”

TCHS is in the process of assembling a steering committee that will work on the project with a mix of local, regional and national representatives, some with connections to the entertainment and museum worlds.

The progress made in 2023 makes for an even longer to-do list in 2024 that includes finishing the expansion of the Morgan History Center and having exhibitions there while making progress on the science fiction museum.

According to Reed, progress means, “Planning phases and fundraisers for the science fiction space. We’re hoping the bulk of the fundraising for the first phase of work — getting the current building renovated — will be done in 2024. (There is) picking a name, branding, marketing, logos and getting an exhibit design firm under contract and an architect selected.

“Also some site planning in that general area of town as well and working with local government officials on developing that campus, if you will, a little bit better. And deciding which objects are going to go in the museum space and really researching those … Of course a big thing next year, depending on fundraising, will be purchasing additional acquisitions for the collection and hopefully accepting more donations.”

MacLennan added they also will work on developing partnerships with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

“We definitely envision this as a triangle of nationally significant objects within an hour-and-a-half radius of each other,” he said.

Countdown …

Listed are the Tribune Chronicle’s top 10 stories of 2023 so far:

10: Eastgate Council of Governments seeks more than $140 million in grant funds to “transform” our Valley.

9: New commerce parks coming to Warren and North Jackson.

8: Newton Falls sees many ups, downs in 2023.

7: Diverging Diamond project begins in Howland.

6: Warren pay raises draw protest, petitions