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LEAVITTSBURG -- In 1996, a group of Leavittsburg residents were concerned with the littering and debris at the intersection of West Market Street and South Leavitt Road and decided to do something about it.
The residents gathered and formed a group they called the Downtown Leavittsburg Improvement Association, which today is known as the Leavittsburg Heritage Association.
Shirley Combs said at the 1996 meeting she was elected president of the group, a title she continues to hold 30 years later.
The group's members gathered this week at the Leavittsburg Heritage Museum run on West Market Street to celebrate their 30th anniversary.
The members said the organization focuses on protecting the local history of Leavittsburg and LaBrae.
"Thirty years ago we were concerned with the way the intersection looked with the trash and garbage people were throwing there," Combs said.
Terry Ambrose, a member of the group, said at the time she was a newly elected township trustee and contacted Allen Knapp, who was the director of the Trumbull County Planning Commission.
She said Knapp attended the group's initial meeting and helped on what the group could do to clean up the areas.
Combs said a board was formed at the meeting.
"I was selected president and still am serving as president 30 years later," she said.
Coombs said the group was able to get volunteers who helped clean up the intersection, add flower boxes and barrels.
Terry and her husband Bill Ambrose knew Combs since their children were Beta Club members at LaBrae High School.
Combs said a building that was owned by the Polivika family was scheduled to be torn down off West Market Street near the former LaBrae High School site.
Combs said the building was an office building owned by Polivka Paving.
The newly formed group was able to acquire the 1930s building and began to get it cleaned up and remodeled.
Bill Ambrose did work on the building's ceiling.
Combs said several grants were acquired to get it remodeled and updated.
Terry Ambrose said when the former Labrae High School closed and was to be torn down, the members of the group were able to get items from the school to showcase at the new museum.
The high school had been constructed in 1917, and the group was able to acquire the blackboards from some of the classrooms.
The old high school was torn down in 2005.
After several years of work, the group was able to move into the museum for meetings, tours and open houses in 1999 and 2000.
Ambrose said the building had no electricity and no water, with donations helping to get it improved and kept open.
The group held fundraisers such as a canoe regatta event and put in a clothing shed by the building.
Ambrose said while there are many LaBrae and Leavittsburg school items on display, the museum also showcases the history of Leavittsburg and Warren Township such as the trains that traveled through the community and the local canal.
Combs said the Mahoning Park Dance Hall was a very popular place by the river that had popular bands come in and perform.
To continue to run the museum there were garage sales and other fundraisers.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the museum was able to get the help of resident Julia Shutt to get additional grant money
The grants were used for an outdoor display called the Leavittsburg Railroad Depot, which is located behind the museum.
Combs said the newest addition for the museum is a water wheel from the old field mill on the Mahoning River. It was given to the township by the Trumbull County Metroparks.
The association meets Thursdays at the museum for meetings and cleaning work and also has a monthly open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month
Combs and Ambrose said people often provide them with memorabilia and items to display at the museum.
One large display at the museum is the trophies, uniforms and attire worn by the different sports teams, cheerleaders and other school groups.
Ambrose said while the museum focuses on Leavittsburg and LaBrae items, the items from Braceville schools were given to the Braceville Historical Society to showcase at their museum,
"The museum has become a place for people to remember the past and history of our community," Combs said.
Combs said she never thought the organization -- which started as one for cleaning up an intersection -- would still be in existence 30 years later.
Ambrose said the goal is it to continue to move forward with the group.
She said Combs is a real "go-getter" in speaking with people to get items for the museum.
Combs was able to get an old light pole for outside the museum.
Combs and Ambrose said when people come into the museum, they remember the chalkboards and uniforms from LaBrae schools.
Combs said when the old high school was being torn down, the goal was to get many items for the museum
Bill Ambrose said the school had one of the best foundations many people had ever seen.
Linda Cowin, a member of the society, said it means a lot to her to have an organization like this which benefits from the highlighting of the local history of Leavittsburg.
"Thirty years have gone fast. It's great to be part of the organization. You learn a lot about Leavittsburg's history," Cowin said. "I wish I had a time machine to go back to see what it was really like."
Combs and Terry Ambrose said they remember that in the school gymnasium there were cement steps in the bleachers, which were nice, and also one room at the school was known as the popcorn room for food concessions.
"We run the museum on fundraising," Combs said
She said the membership is mostly retirees who do what they can.
"We want to sustain what we have now and continue to add to our history," Combs said.
Ambrose said people can make donations to the museum with items or monetary donations to help continue the displays.