Manufacturing:
Past, Present & Future Endeavors in the Mahoning Valley
Welcome to our virtual exhibit!
In collaboration with Youngstown State University and local manufacturing industries, the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor has developed the digital exhibit, Manufacturing: Past, Present, & Future Endeavors in the Mahoning Valley. The exhibit highlights James Ward and Company (1841-1900), Brown, Bonnell and Company (1845-2011), and William B. Pollock Company (1863-1983) as early manufacturers. Vallourec S.A., McDonald Steel Corporation, and Rugged 3D are featured as current manufacturers in the area. Youngstown State University's STEM opportunities are also showcased. The exhibit emphasizes the continuous importance of the industry and careers in manufacturing.
Purpose
The Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor serves the community in a variety of ways, through preservation, education, and entertainment. We are celebrating Manufacturing Day by highlighting manufacturing in the Valley and taking a brief look at local companies from our past and present to see where the future of manufacturing is taking us in the 21st century.
Youngstown, Ohio
The Mahoning Valley has a long and prolific history of production, manufacturing and hard work. John Young founded Youngstown, Ohio in 1797. The area, at that time, was rich in natural resources such as water, timber, and fertile soil. It also contained minerals and large deposits of coal, limestone and iron ore, all components necessary for the production of iron and steel. Such natural wealth attracted both migrants from the East and immigrants from around the globe. Farming was an obvious endeavor that many engaged in, but the Mahoning Valley quickly became known for its manufacturing industries.