NILES — Dawn and Jim Tallman, previous pharmacists at the Troutman Drug Store in Niles, presented to the Niles Historical Society in August a bound compilation of the Niles Weekly Register published by Hezekiah Niles from September 1817 to March 1818.

The Tallmans said the volume is an important link to Niles history. It was for Hezekiah Niles that in 1834 James Heaton, the founder of the settlement renamed “Heaton’s Furnace” Nilestown.

The Tallmans made the presentation to society members in the Victorian above Troutman Drug Store.

Hezekiah Niles was born on Oct. 10, 1777, in Chester County, Pennsylvania and passed away on April 2, 1839.

He was the editor and publisher of the Niles Weekly Register, a national news magazine based in Baltimore.

The Tallmans said the publication was the most widely circulated in the country and was rich in detail of many nationally significant events covering not only politics but economics, science, technology, art and literature.

By 1934, the Heaton’s Furnace settlement had reached proper proportions to be named a city.

James Heaton had planned the streets and marked off the lot divisions. He decided to give his settlement a new name.

The Tallmans said Heaton greatly admired Hezekiah Niles, editor of the Baltimore news magazine and agreed with his Whig principles. He named the city Nilestown.

Jim Tallman said Nilestown remained the name until 1843 when the Post Office Department for convenience shortened it to Niles.

“This is how Niles got its name,” Jim Tallman said.

In 1972, the Tallmans took ownership of The Troutman Drug Company and building on Robbins Avenue in Niles until their retirement in November 2017. The building remains under their ownership and houses Dawn’s father Oscar Darlington’s library on the second floor.

Oscar Darlington (1909-2006), received his Ph.D. in medieval history and retired as Dean of Fine Arts at Ohio Northern University. In his years as an educator, Darlington obtained this compilation as a gift and added it to his collection.

Dawn Tallman said her father had intended to donate the book to the Niles Historical Society.

Upon his death the Tallmans purchased the library from the Darlington family. In Darkington’s honor the Tallmans made the presentation to the society.