EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio – Officials and volunteers have been preparing to put the city’s best foot forward in celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary.
Among the events starting at 1 p.m. July 11 will be the unveiling of a monument at Washington and Sixth streets to honor 152 veterans of the American Revolutionary War who are buried in Columbiana County.
Local resident Steve Barlow has several ancestors who fought in the war. About two years ago, while serving as president of the Mahoning Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, he began thinking about a monument to honor local Revolutionary War patriots.
“Their work helped Columbiana County grow and prosper,” Barlow said.
Initially, Barlow said, he envisioned a small memorial costing about $6,000. “I thought, surely, we could get a grant, and I started raising money.”
The grant didn’t materialize, but Barlow said Mayor Bobby Smith and city service-safety Director Bill Jones “got wind of” his plan and told him they wanted to talk to him about it.
With the talent of local artist Craig Wetzel thrown in, the project blossomed.
Barlow said they went to Wetzel and said they needed something to show people why they wanted donations, and the artist provided a couple of renditions.
“They said they wanted it bigger, which shocked me,” Barlow said. “It went from a $6,000 monument to a very expensive monument. Both Bobby and Bill said, ‘Don’t worry; we’ll get [the funding].’ And, son of a gun, they were right.”
Donations were forthcoming for engraved pavers – including those honoring Barlow’s Revolutionary War ancestors and those of other donors.
A large donation from a former city resident, with friend and family discounts from many businesses providing work or supplies for the site, have helped raise more than $35,000 for the monument.
Smith said the cost of the monument likely would be upwards of $50,000 without the discounts. “We are good stewards of donated money,” he said.
The 15-foot-tall monument features black granite shipped by sea from India, with five pieces carved by Richardson Monuments in Lisbon.
It will be surrounded by a border of black blocks, with gray pavers interspersed by more than 100 of the engraved red brick pavers.
Landscaping featuring black pearl stone will highlight the site, which will include an American flag that flew over the nation’s capitol, arranged by U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli of Salem, D-6th; an Ohio state flag; and a Betsy Ross flag. The monument will also be lit.
“I think it’s going to be beautiful,” Barlow said. “I can’t think of anything [for the monument] that wasn’t from the community.”
He also praised the mayor’s efforts.
Smith, meanwhile, gave credit to Barlow. “He was the mastermind of it,” he said, adding that community support made the project possible.
In addition to the monument’s unveiling, the July 11 event will feature speakers and the laying of wreaths. While the full schedule of events for the day wasn’t complete in time for publication, activities are expected to include musicians, the East Liverpool High School band and choir, an antique car show, a hot dog eating contest, children’s events, food concessions and more.
Also featured that day will be the new Corner of Time, a rest spot across the street from the monument designed and put together by the East Liverpool Beautification Committee with a $7,500 grant from the Beaver Creek Realtors Association and other donations.
The site features a restored antique-style clock in honor of Dr. Marc Hoffrichter, who was the driving force behind Task Force Fawcett, a $2.1 million city revitalization project in 1992.
In addition to bench and table seating, the spot features a double-sided, 4-by-8-foot sign depicting the city’s history from its beginning until more modern times. Black pearl landscaping stone adds a decorative touch to the flower beds lining the sidewalks.
For Smith, celebrating America250 is important for the city because it is the Point of Beginning, where surveying of the country’s Northwest Territory began in 1785. The area designated as the Point of Beginning is marked by a monument on state Route 39 near the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line and was declared a national historic landmark in 1965.
In 2024, East Liverpool was selected as one of the official America 250-Ohio communities as part of the celebrations surrounding America’s 250th anniversary.
Before being selected as an America 250-Ohio community, Smith contacted the executive director of the organization and asked, “Who are the other 249 cities being named? It starts here.”
Pictured at top: East Liverpool Mayor Bobby Smith, left, and Steve Barlow look over pavers received for the site of the war monument.