
Craig Beach: From Snack Shack to Entertainment Mecca
LAKE MILTON, Ohio – In March of 1913, a devastating flood inundated the Mahoning Valley, as the waters of the Mahoning River rose 22 feet above their normal level after four days of continuous rain. Though no fatalities were reported, the disaster caused substantial damage to businesses and residential neighborhoods near the riverbanks.
In the immediate aftermath of the flood, the city of Youngstown expedited work on a new dam along the river in Milton Township that it had planned three years earlier. READ MORE
Yes, ‘Helltown’ Was a Real Place
NORTH JACKSON, Ohio – Along the western edge of what is today Meander Reservoir in Jackson Township, there lay the ruins of a former blacksmith shop that was once part of a thriving business district in this section of Mahoning County.
Little is known of this enclave, which during the late 19th century established itself along the western and eastern banks of what was then Meander Creek, spanning both Jackson and Austintown townships. The settlement has long disappeared, but its name has resonated through the local community for more than a century, begging an answer as to why the area earned a menacing moniker: “Helltown.” READ MORE

An Effort at Social Reform Ends in Sodom
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Allan Banner, a lifelong resident of Liberty Township, peers down a small ravine choked with weeds and overgrown brush on land his family still owns after more than two centuries. The site was home to his ancestor’s first business venture, a sawmill that supplied timber to the active coal mining operations approximately a half-mile south in a village that was then unofficially called Mineral City.
“My family – the Bards – settled here in 1817,” Banner says as he surveyed the old site. “Parts of my family were here from early on.” READ MORE
CLICK HERE FOR MORE WHAT’S IN A NAME? COVERAGE

Wampum: Small Town with a Big Reach
This section of western Pennsylvania along the Beaver River was populated by dozens of Native American communities during the mid-18th century, some playing pivotal roles as France and Great Britain fought for control of the Ohio Valley. READ

Coalburg: How a Small Hamlet Exemplified Local Industry
The crossroads at Bell Wick-Campbell and Chestnut Ridge roads in Hubbard Township had its name and destiny written as early as the 1850s. READ

Gretchen’s Lock: The Legend Endures
There is a section of Little Beaver Creek just north of Calcutta that flattens out, meandering southward toward the Ohio River. Here are remnants of an engineering feat that began nearly 200 years ago. READ

Video: A Road Trip to the ‘Center of the World’
Discover the quirky charm of Braceville Township’s ‘Center of the World’ in Ohio, where history and humor intersect to create a roadside phenomenon that continues to captivate and intrigue. WATCH

“Our Towns: What’s in a Name” promises to include fascinating human interest stories and videos, published across all our platforms.
This monthly series will examine our Valley and touch upon the most interesting monikers that have identified neighborhoods, small communities and crossroads throughout the region.
Each story will be told through the lens of our talented Business Journal newsroom staff.
With its sponsorship, the Cafaro Company is demonstrating its commitment to instilling pride in the Mahoning Valley and educating residents about its uniqueness and heritage.