By Jan H, Kennedy
FPS correspondent
July 8, 2008

Capt. Don Jordan bought and restored to original condition three New York City Fire Department trucks involved in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001. He is shown above with two he brought to the Minerva 175th Birthday Celebration last weekend.

If towns could talk, Minerva would have had tons of tales to tell at its 175th Birthday celebration last weekend.

The tales did not go untold, however, as 85-year-old Jerry Grimes, donned in 19th Century attire, waxed historically in the Community Building amongst artists and craftpersons. Grimes’ tales took on authenticity due to his position as curator of the Minerva Historical Society for the last 15 years. Plus, he was born and raised in the village.

He probably became curator because of his curiosity, he said, noting that both words start with “cur.”

“I’ve always been curious about things that went on around me, changes in the village, and I love this village,” he said. “The only way I’ll ever leave this town is in a prone position.”

 The village celebrated its 175 years for three days, highlighted by a Grand Parade Saturday, walking tours of houses, garden tours, a book sale at the library, food vendors, art shows, games and inflatable toys for children, live bands and a giant fireworks show Saturday night.

 Grimes said the most frequently asked question to him over the weekend was why so many historically significant buildings in the village were torn down. Many were referring to the Andrew Dietrich House at 311 Lincoln Way E. that was razed in 1967 to make room for Denny’s Market, and now the home of Classic 57 and Pizza Hut.

 “The town itself is not historically-minded to know what they have here that would be interesting to people visiting the town,” Grimes said. “In some communities, they fix up the old buildings and put little shops in them that draw people.

 “An example is when we painted the murals on the windows of the historical center bank; it brought people from Alliance, Canton and all over to see them,” he said. “You have to have something to bring people to town to spend their money.”

Visitors to the weekend party also had a close-up look at two fire engines that were involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center building in New York City. Capt. Don Jordan of the Nimishillen Township Fire Department has purchased and restored three 9-11 fire trucks. He sold the first one he bought, and brought the other two for the parade and display at Brock Park.

Tower Engine 293 was buried under rubble of the building, but its engine continued running and firefighters were able to use it to pump water 24-hours per day for several days, Jordan said. It also served as one of the department’s headquarters at the site.  Pumper 31 was stationed at the training academy when the airplanes crashed into the towers.

Minerva was founded where the Little Sandy Creek and the Stillfork stream conjoined to form the Big Sandy Creek. Isaac Craig was awarded the first land grant in 1813. He then sold it to John Whitacre, the man credited as the founder of the village, in 1818. A licenced surveyor who settled in Columbiana County, he discovered a drop in the Sandy Creek, which brought the thought of a mill to mind. He purchased the land by the waterfalls and opened a lumber mill there.

With the mill as a commercial hub, settlers soon began to settle around it. Whitacre platted his land and recorded it in Stark County in 1933, the official year of founding. The village experienced rapid growth when the Sandy and Beaver Canal was build in the 1840s. That was followed by the railroad in 1858. At one time, the village hosted five railroad terminals.

With accessible transportation at the ready, glass, carriage, toy, iron works, grain, wool and hide industries quickly opened doors to workers who moved to and built homes around the village.

A familiar face in the village at the turn of the century was President William McKinley, who owned a farm just east of the village.

The biggest loss to the village, Grimes believes, was the destruction of Whitacre’s old mill in 1976. After all, it was that mill that started it all. No mill, no Minerva, no 175th Celebration.