Mecca Township Historical Society of Ohio

10/17/2026

10/15/2026

This may be a long shot, but can anyone help identify these students?

These photos are of the high school students at the West Mecca School (which stood where Mumma's/J&C Towing is now) and are from the Armstrong family collection. The only student known is Leah (Harris) Armstrong. She graduated in 1916, aged 16, and according to "Mecca" by Thomas Kachur, those in her graduating class were:

Frank Clemmens
Florence Johnston
Lawrence Taylor
Stella Lechleitner
Floyd Hill
Mildred Ranck (she would have been 16 years old)

Fun fact: the "kid hack" driver, 23-year-old John Armstrong, hauled the students to and from school by horse and buggy. He and Leah fell in love and were married that December.

10/12/2026

–Oil Items–
Western Reserve Chronicle,
March 13, 1861

“There is no change to note in the oil business in Mecca. The wells continue to yield about as they have heretofore done, new wells are constantly being put down, and new steam engines are daily being taken through this place. We think the number of engines now in Mecca, cannot fall short of 275 or 300. The price of real estate, although considerably higher than last year, still continues comparatively low. The Oil Refinery we are informed is now completed, is in full operation, and is throwing out a very superior article of oil.
The oil territory is much more extensive than was at first supposed. Oil is found from Powers corners south to the line of Bazetta, a distance of two and a half miles. At Abells corners, two miles east of Powers Corners, a well is in full operation, yielding, (as we are informed) from 4 to 6 barrels per day."

(Powers’ Corners is the intersection of Rt. 88 and Hoagland Blackstub)

10/05/2026

For only $20, you can sponsor an ad in our 2027 calendar! Spots are limited!

The Mecca Township Historical Society is excited to announce that we are creating a 2027 12-month calendar featuring historic images from our community's past. Each month will feature a photograph from our local history, highlighting the people, places, businesses, and events that have helped shape our community. The calendars will be available for purchase during the holiday season, with proceeds helping support the Historical Society and our ongoing efforts to preserve and share local history. As an all-volunteer-run historical society, we are inviting local businesses, organizations, families, and individuals to help make this project possible through a $20 calendar sponsorship.

Become a Monthly Calendar Sponsor | $20 per space
For just $20, you can have your name, business, organization, or memorial message featured on one of the 12 monthly calendar pages. Each month has two sponsorship spaces available, located on either side of the month name at the top of the calendar page. Sponsorships are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so you may request a particular month if it is still available.

For example:
January 2027
[ABC Company] [In Loving Memory of John Smith]
Your sponsorship can include:
Your business or organization name
Your personal or family name
An "In Memory of" or "In Honor of" message
A short message of your choice

Because of the small size of the sponsorship space, logos and artwork cannot be included. The Historical Society will format the submitted name or message to fit the calendar design with clean black and white text. We have space for 24 sponsorships, 2 per calendar page in an area approximately 1.5" high by 3" wide.

Deadline: October 26, 2026

If you would like to sponsor a particular month, please indicate your first and second choice when you apply. We will do our best to accommodate requests, but spaces are limited to two sponsors per month.

Ways to pay:
–Sign up for a sponsorship through our secure fundraising partner, Zeffy (Preferred) by the posted link in our comments or through our website.
–Bring cash or check to our History Share on October 15, 2026 at 6p.m. at the Mecca Town Hall
– Send a check to: Mecca Township Historical Society, P.O. Box 171, Cortland, OH 44410
If you mail a check, please send us an email or Facebook message notifying us that you did and what you would like your text to say.

10/05/2026

Reading Daily Times
Reading, Pennsylvania
July 1, 1867

PETROLEUM FOR GENERATING STEAM. - The President and his party, on Tuesday last, were treated to an excursion down Boston Harbor in a Government steamer which used petroleum for generating steam. If the oil can be made to answer the purposes of coal, and at the same time offer an economical inducement, as is claimed for it, the invention will certainly prove important. We incline to think, however that the cost of such fuel will be the great impediment. Petroleum is now very low in price, and the market overstocked, but the production of the oil is gradually falling off, and it is likely that it will ere long cease.
About five years ago petroleum was discovered in Mecca, Ohio, and people flocked to the oily region as the Mohommedans do to the shrine of their prophet in the Arabian Mecca. But the petroleum devotees found but little profit in the Ohio Mecca.
There was abundance of oil at first, and hundred of wells were sunk, but the oil basin was soon pumped dry, and the last of the victims long since abandoned Mecca in disgust. The oil deposits in Pennsylvania has proven to be very large, but its exhaustion is only a question of time. However, if petroleum can be used successfully for generating steam, may not the invention enable us to use common coal oil for the same purpose, at an allowable cost."

10/03/2026

✨Bristol Civil War Monument Rededication Ceremony✨
October 17th from 10am-2pm

Join the Trumbull County Historical Society and the Bristol Historical Society for a day of living history as we rededicate the restored Bristol Civil War Monument, the first of its kind in Ohio and the second in the Country. Experience a faithful reenactment of the 1863 dedication ceremony, complete with period music, a Lincoln address, Civil War encampments, and a commemorative “Path of Honor” walking tour. This event honors local sacrifice and reflects on the enduring themes of unity and memory as our nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

10/03/2026

Ghost Walk returns in just 2 weeks!

📅 Ghost Walk Dates:
🎃 October 16 & 17
👻 October 23 & 24

Join the Trumbull County Historical Society and the Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County for one of the area's favorite fall traditions. Stroll through historic downtown Warren as costumed guides bring to life the hidden history, local legends, mysterious happenings, and unforgettable characters that make our community's past ghostly!

Whether you're a longtime Ghost Walk fan or joining us for the very first time, this is a fall experience you won't want to miss. Gather your family and friends, put on your walking shoes, and prepare for an evening of history, mystery, and just the right amount of spooky fun!

Purchase tickets ahead of time here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ghost-walk--2026-2

Or sign up to be a tour guide! Its easy! 2 volunteers are needed per group, one to lead and one to follow to light the path for the group. Sign up here: https://ghost-walk-tour-guide-sign-up-copy.cheddarup.com

10/03/2026

Join the Mecca Township Historical Society to preserve Mecca's fascinating past and shape its future! Become a member today and join a community dedicated to protecting and promoting our local heritage. For just $10, you can help support our efforts to collect, preserve, and share the stories of Mecca's people, places, and events. Scan the QR code here or visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/mecca-township-historical-societys-memberships

10/01/2026

Early Settlers, Part 9: The Waldorfs

Born in New Jersey, Philip Waldorf came to PA, where he married Rachael Fell in 1809. They settled in Vernon. Rachael died in 1817 after giving birth to their second child, a daughter.

On October 3, 1818, Philip married Lydia Giddings, and the couple had fourteen children. They came to Mecca around 1834 and settled on Lot 2 of the Cowles tract, located on the south side of Rt 88 in West Mecca. Philip built a cabin without windows and doors. He owned 5 cows worth $40.

“Lydia Giddings, wife of Philip Waldorf, was a pioneer woman, the mother of thirteen children*; such spinning and weaving as was needed by that little flock would astonish the mothers of today! And yet they were comfortably clothed and fed and taught industrious ways. One daughter, Fannie Hillyer, was born and still lives in Mecca.” – Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve.

They lived out their lives here and were buried in West Mecca Cemetery.

*one child died in infancy which is why the text reads she had 13 children instead of 14.