Joseph Pavlansky - Campbell

IMAGES
of America

CAMPBELL

Shown is an 1899 map of Coitsville Township (Campbell) depicting the land division and owner of each lot. A vast majority of early settlers have been immortalized through city street names, such as Robinson, Blackburn, Creed, and Moore. The Mahoning River, which is located in the bottom left corner, was reformed during the formation of the steel mills. Before the industrial sector was built, the river had been much closer to present-day Coitsville Road at Wilson Avenue. (Courtesy of Florence Galida.)

ON THE COVER: Campbell pride is alive and well in 1946 with these Memorial High School cheerleaders. From left to right are Mary Ann Matosky, Betty Carney, Mary Ann Perno, and Alma Vrable. Whether on the gridiron or on the court, the cheerleaders have always added a fighting spirit to the football and basketball teams. (Courtesy of Florence Galida.)

IMAGES
of America

CAMPBELL

Joseph Pavlansky

Copyright 2016 by Joseph Pavlansky
ISBN 978-1-4671-1698-5
Ebook ISBN 9781439657171

Published by Arcadia Publishing
Charleston, South Carolina

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015960789

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To all the past, present, and future generations of Campbell, Ohio

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This photographic history of the city of Campbell is meant to stimulate our sense of pride in past generations who, through their blood, sweat, and tears, created a prosperous city from a land of swamps, forests, and hills. Most of the images were acquired from the collection that makes up the Campbell Historical Society, while other images came from private collections. These images were selected to give you a sense of how Campbell rose from the ashes of the steel mills and continued on through thick and thin. Every effort was made to ensure that dates, names, places, and information are correct. During my research, I consulted many people who were more than enthusiastic to assist with information and picture gathering.

This book never would have begun if it were not for the constant encouragement of my girlfriend, Antonietta Toni Iacobacci, and her unending faith in me. Thank you for your love and continual support through all my endeavors. I would also like to express my deepest, deepest gratitude to Florence Galida and her husband, John Galida, for opening up their home and the Campbell Historical Societys vast collection of photographs and references for my research. Through the many months of research, the Galidas endured my constant knocking at their door and popping in unexpectedly, just to get a few pictures. Thank you again for your love, friendship, and assistance.

I extend a special thanks to Mike Parise for his support and information and for being a great friend. Many years, we sat over coffee and cakes discussing the citys history, looking at old photographs, and reminiscing about the good old days. Finally, I got moving and put something together that will hopefully inspire many more years of Campbell historical talks.

My grateful thanks are also extended to Lorraine Sabol for her continuous e-mails and for taking time to meet with me to review photographs and talk about Campbells past. Many more thanks to Uncle Edward Zamets, Irene Moylan, Aunt Carol Dolan, Eugene Skelley, Karen Repasky, Lynette Hardman, Nancy Johngrass from the Hometown Journal, and anyone else I might have missed. Also a special thank you to Sarah Gottlieb from Arcadia Publishing for keeping me on track and answering my many questions.

Thank you to my mother, Bonnie; my father, Dennis; my sister, Shannon; and the rest of my family and friends for giving me a lifetime of love and support. And last, but most important, thank you God for giving me the opportunity and ability to put this book together for the benefit of all who read it.

I sincerely mean this when I say Campbell people are the greatest!

INTRODUCTION

Tucked away on a small area of land in northeastern Ohio, the city of Campbell and its citizens enjoy a rich history that began at the dawn of the steel industry and continues to this very day. Even before the mills sprung up along the Mahoning River, the occupants of the land worked for a better and brighter future.

Native Americans vastly used the lands of Campbell as hunting and fishing grounds, with the Mahoning River providing easy transportation in and out of the region. In 1630, the areas earliest recorded history began when King James I of England granted the Northwest Territory lands to the Plymouth Company of Massachusetts. Since that time, the land grants changed many hands until finding an owner with the Connecticut Western Reserve in 1662. Owners of the land held on to the rights until members of the Connecticut Land Company purchased three million acres for $1.2 million. With many of the original members of the company purchasing their own plots of land, Daniel Lathrop Coit purchased lots No. 1 through No. 28 in Township No. 2 located in the First Range, which eventually became Coitsville Township. During the early 1800s, much of the southwestern parts of Coitsville Township, namely land plots No. 16, half of No. 17 and No. 22, and No. 23 to No. 27 were sold to various settlers of Irish, Scotch, and English ancestry. These plots of land in the southwestern section eventually became the boundaries for East Youngstown and, later, the city of Campbell.

In 1835, the State of Ohio began construction on an 86-mile Pennsylvania-Ohio canal that ran along the Mahoning River near what is now Wilson Avenue. The canal ended the isolation of the local farmers and brought businesses and jobs to the area. With the expansion and efficiency of the railroad system, however, the canal was abandoned in 1877. As the area began to expand rapidly, the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company decided to settle along 300 acres near the Mahoning River in 1900, with operations starting in 1902. With such an expansion, people were needed to fill the employment slots left open by a sparse population. As word quickly spread of a new steel mill looking for employees, those seeking opportunity from the area and from Europe began to flood the east side of Youngstown looking for work. The area of East Youngstown became so inundated with people living in crude shacks and anywhere they could have a roof over their head that the section became its own entity. On November 19, 1908, the geographical location on the east side of Youngstown was incorporated as the village of East Youngstown. Elections were held on April 24, 1909, with David C. Hamilton as the first mayor, J.V. Murphay as solicitor, and Jerry Dailey, O.G. DeForgarossy, William Gordon, Joseph Maust, William H. Reed, and Isaac M. Fink as councilmen.

The village of East Youngstown was growing exponentially with people and businesses, and with that came the problems. Overcrowding, mill hazards, pollution, and the homesickness of the immigrants in a foreign land led to a difficult life in this compact locale. Knowing that they were stuck here for good, the men and women decided to make the best of their new opportunities. Soon, ideas were put into action, and the residents established a police department, fire department, education centers, and general stores to fit the needs of the families and workers. The village started to take shape and began to grow into a thriving community with everyone working together to survive and make a better life for themselves and future generations. Although the new community had suffered through mill workers rioting for higher pay, fires that destroyed several buildings, and a general outburst of violence during the strike of 1916, villagers rebuilt. By 1919, the steel workers had arranged for another strike, but this time without all the violence. The men, and even many of their wives, joined the picket line and held fast to their union beliefs. Not wanting to budge on the issue, the steel companies instead hired 5,000 blacks to replace those on strike. Eventually, the strike failed, and those who had strongly supported the unions were not hired back by the companies.