18-02-2025
Museum features ‘Making an Impact' exhibit highlighting local Black history
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — The Mahoning Valley Historical Society has a new exhibit called 'Making an Impact,' highlighting Youngstown's African American Community.
The exhibit is on the second floor of the Arms Family Museum which sits on a hill overlooking Wick Avenue.
The historical society's Brooke Bobovynik curated the exhibit.
'As part of Black History Month, I wanted to do something that highlighted our local African American community,' said Bobovynik.
Among the photos, was one of William Fitzhugh in the late 1800s, Youngstown's first Black mail carrier.
'That was the earliest individual I could find so I thought that was interesting to include him,' Bobovynik said.
Of the 38 photos selected by Bobovynik, several were of firsts: Samuel Stewart, Youngstown's first Black barber, Jesse Carter, Youngstown's first Black fireman, Edward Stonework, Sr., Campbell's first Black policeman and Elizabeth Powell, the Mahoning Valley's first female Baptist minister.
'The one thing that was really difficult to do with the exhibit was pick and choose what stories to include so I tried to make it as diverse as possible,' Bobovynik said.
There's also a 1951 photo of Campbell native and drummer Shedrick Hobbs, who recorded with The Temptations, The Four Tops, and Gladys Knight at the Pips.
No black history collection of Youngstown would be complete without a photo of former federal judge Nathaniel Jones.
'I wanted to include him because the courthouse downtown is named after him,' Bobovynik said.
There are also group photos such as the Booker T. Washington Settlement football team of the 1920s, the Youngstown Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club and the Roberts Deliberating Club, which had a limit of 25 members.
'This is actually my favorite. This is the old Rescue Mission building,' said Bobovynik. Before it was the Rescue Mission, it was the Black YMCA. The building is now empty but still stands today.
'All these stories though convey the same message that the African American had huge impacts in Youngstown,' Bobovynik said.
The exhibit will remain in place for at least two months and can be viewed during the museum's business hours.
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