Staff photo / Bob Coupland
Cameron Coffey, visiting the area from Pennsylvania, looks over historical information signs about Weathersfield businesses, churches, places and people placed at Weathersfield Township Community Park by the Mineral Ridge Historical Society.

The Mineral Ridge Historical Society oversaw the effort with $20,000 in American Rescue Plan funds provided by the Trumbull County commissioners.

Marci Buchanan, society president, said she and society members gathered information on the local schools, churches, businesses and other aspects of the township, as well as photos to be displayed.

Buchanan said the park’s historic walkway has signs on the Mineral Ridge blackband ore, coal, school bell, early schools, businesses, homes, churches, railroad and trolley as well as Riverside Park, Ohltown and Salt Springs.

Buchanan said Mineral Ridge has the distinction of unearthing blackband ore.

“The coal miners put their lives in danger getting the coal from the mines,” she said.

COAL MINING

Buchanan said Trumbull County was No. 1 in coal production in 1875 and noted coal mining was a major industry in the 1870s in the Mahoning Valley.

Buchanan said she and residents Linda Ference, Brenda Miele and Janet Hartley met for six months discussing the project and what information to include. Each sign has a QR code.

“We are hoping the signs will bring people to Mineral Ridge and help the local businesses,” she said.

Ference said she has heard favorable responses about the signs.

Buchanan said the township at one time had coal mining so there are signs explaining the coal process and the ponies used to pull carts after the coal was extracted from the mines.

“We decided to do the coal miners memorial because it is the community’s heritage. Mineral Ridge is named after coal mining and being on a ridge,” she said.

Buchanan said when she first started researching coal mining, she visited coal mines in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

“One thing I found out about the travels was there were memorials for the coal miners,” she said.

After seeing memorials in Pennsylvania and southern Ohio, Buchanan said “I thought it would be fitting that we have a marker in Mineral Ridge since it is central to Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Coal mining was a major industry in both counties.”

Trustee Ed Whittaker said Buchanan and her team at the historical society “do an outstanding job of preserving and displaying the proud history of Mineral Ridge and Weathersfield Township, and we are grateful for their efforts.”

Township Administrator David Rouan said “Marci’s vision for the park is amazing.”

He said in addition to the signs at the park, there also are veterans banners displayed of local military personnel and the recent opening of the new pickleball courts.

VETERANS BANNERS

Rouan said the 48 veterans banners will be given to the families who purchased them this fall to have as a keepsake. He said the banners have the name and history of each veteran who served.

Rouan said the signs can be easily viewed by people since the park is well attended for various events such as bocce and pickleball, the Little Rams cheerleaders, and for people who come and sit and relax in the gazebo.

“We are thrilled that we have this resource available to our residents. We are very proud that a number of grants were used to make all this possible,” Rouan said.

The park is located at the corner of state Route 46 and Stewart Street.

“When Marci approached the trustees of what she wanted to do, we thought it was a fantastic idea,” Rouan said. “We were most hopeful she could secure the grant.

“It is important and nice that people have a sense of their history in our community. That is what she and the others have been able to do.”

Rouan said resident June Lucas, a former state representative, donated coach steps for the park.

Whittaker said this is the first year for the veterans banners.

“We just wanted to show our veterans and their families our sincere appreciation for their service and sacrifice while providing our community with a visible reminder of the past and continued service of our many Weathersfield Township military veterans,” Whittaker said.

Rouan said people already are asking about next year’s banner program.

“As we hold our annual festivals and people come to visit our community, they will be interested in looking at the historical signs and learning more about our community,” Rouan said.

Rouan said he found all the signs fascinating with the detailed information and the photos on them.

“It is amazing that Marci has been able to accumulate all this information, and to present it in a way that is interesting and engaging. With the images on the sign, it draws people over to want to look at them and read it. The way she has written each article is what makes them so interesting,” Rouan said.

He said the two granite markers at the north end of the park have images on them focusing on the coal industry in Mineral Ridge.

Rouan said that over the years, trustees have been able to add lightpoles, sidewalks, flagpoles and a gazebo to the park. Officials said the park is accessible for the nearby bike trail and the interstate to Route 46.

Buchanan said the signs also help advertise the local Moss Ancestral Home and Mineral Ridge Historical Society house, both located north of the park.