YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio –A downtown building is moving closer to becoming a new destination for preserving Mahoning Valley history and bringing the story of Idora Park back to life.
William Lawson, executive director of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, and state Rep. Lauren McNally discuss the completion of exterior improvements at MVHS’s newest site at 250 E. Federal St. and the state and local support helping advance the project.
Lawson says MVHS invested more than $1 million in exterior renovations over the past 11 months, addressing aging windows, water intrusion and the building’s roof. With the exterior secured, the historical society is now turning its attention to planning and fundraising for interior renovations.
MVHS plans to transform the four-story building into a public history facility. The first and second floors will eventually house The Idora Park Experience Museum, while the third floor will provide environmentally controlled storage for the historical society’s three-dimensional collections, along with exhibits and visible storage areas open to visitors.
Lawson says MVHS has raised more than $4 million toward an $11.5 million fundraising goal. McNally says securing state support requires building relationships and demonstrating how the project can strengthen tourism, historic preservation and the surrounding community.
McNally says the project will put the building back into active use while creating a destination for field trips, tourists, local residents and future generations to experience a significant part of the Valley’s history.