Historical Society of Columbiana & Fairfield Township, Inc.

06/14/2026

101 years ago today, the formation of the Army of the United States

Please enjoy Mark Isham's arrangement of Army Strong, Symbol of Str...

06/09/2026

Do you love the Park and love to garden? Here is a chance to help plant the summer annual display at Firestone Park!

06/05/2026

We recently enjoyed Brady J Crytzer presentation on his book "The Whiskey Rebellion" This is a great mini documentary on PBS.

The tale of the Whiskey Rebellion (1791-1794), the first major test of U.S. democracy.

06/05/2026

For those that don't know! Thanks to Vicki Hum Cosma for the clipping!!!!

05/31/2026

Springfield Township Historicl Society Afternoon at the Museum, June 7th, Speaker is Paul Rohrbaugh (Driving it Home General Motors Lordstown Complex 1956-2019) President McKinley 25th President of USA, born in Niles, raised in Poland and made his home in Canton.
Springfield Township Museum opens at 1:30. Program at 2:00. the Public is invited! 14188 Youngstown-Poland Road, Petersburg.

05/29/2026

A great piece of local history at Springfield Township Historical Society. I spent the afternoon looking into who was "G.G. Marks". It turns out, not to be G.G. but J.J. Marks.. No luck in Ancestry, newspapers with G.G. I look at a business Directory from `1900, no funeral directors;; I look at the Quadrennial Census of 1901 in Columbiana and I find a Mary E Marks owning Lot 38 in Columbiana. A 1910 Census record for Mary has her residing in the household of J.J. Marks, Beaver Township, occupation listed as Funeral Director.. Switch to J.J Marks in searching, we find the obituary, We found prior to having a funeral home in Columbiana in 1905, he operated a funeral home in North Lima. We also learn he sells his funeral business to Wick Fry in 1920. Mr. Fry operated until he retired and sold his business to Mr. Detwiler 1944. Page 17 of the Red Book has a photo of a funeral carriage dated 1903 of John Marks Funeral Home, Elmer Sitler, Driver. I love a puzzle and thanks to Springfield Township Historical for providing me with one!!!!

05/29/2026

Thank you to the Society for allowing me to visit and see how your 3rd grade program is handled. We have some new ideas to share with our program hosts for next spring! So many artifacts on display! I learned a few new facts about Columbiana today!

05/26/2026

What a great morning at the Museum!!! Jay Groner, Joyce Allcorn, Mary Louise Dicken, Janet Willammee and I were the guides for 78 CHS 3rd graders! The attention and energy from the 3rd graders were great. Interaction, questions and answers made my heart happy!!!!
Thanks to Janet for organizing. Thanks to the CHS 3rd grade teachers, Meghan Stein, Christina Beggs, Katie Maloney and Tyler Best. A little secret, we enjoy it maybe more than the students!!!

05/26/2026

Marine Corp LCPL Lawrence Alan “Larry” Esterly was born August 6,1948 to Merle and Laura Robinson Esterly. He spent his youth in Columbiana until moving to Lisbon to graduate from Lisbon High School in 1967. There he met his future wife, Marla Marchbanks.

In May of 1967, Larry graduated from Lisbon High School and was drafted by the local board, he chose service in the United States Marine Corps. He completed basic training Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Larry came home on a 20 day furlough, October of 1968 to spend time with his wife Marla and infant son Michael Jay. He reported to Camp Pendleton, California deploying on November 25, 1968 for Viet Nam.

Lance Corporal Esterly was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines. As a squad leader, he worked with his men in Quang Nam Province, a dangerous area where Marines faced ambushes, hidden ground explosives and intense combat.

July 18,1969, Larry was killed by flying debris from a hostile explosive device. He was 20 years old, just 43 days shy of his 21st birthday. Lance Cpl. Esterly was returned home and buried with full military honors in Lisbon Cemetery, Lisbon, Ohio.

Marla Marchbanks Esterly Lasko shares the following:
“Larry grew up in Columbiana and was passionate about sports. During his childhood, Larry and his friends spent many hours at the Firestone Park with tennis and pick-up basketball games, the preferred pastimes. He was proud to be on the Columbiana Clippers football and basketball teams. During Larry’s summers he could be found playing on the baseball team sponsored by American Legion Post 290, with his dad Merle coaching, mom Laura serving as scorekeeper and his sisters Connie and Debbie cheering for the team."

LCpl Esterly #2478678 MOS: 0311 Rifleman. Lawrence was drafted into the US Marines. He arrived in Vietnam 29 November 1968 and was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. The 1st Battalion was participating in Operation Mighty Play when Charlie Company....