“MOBSTERS, MADAMS, & MURDERS
IN STEUBENVILLE, OHIO”
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015
The May meeting of the Jefferson Township Historical Society will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 10:00 am in the White Church located in Eldersville on Fire Road across from the fire hall. You can key into your GPS the address of 11 Fire Road, Burgettstown, PA 15021.
Guest speaker for our May meeting is Susan M. Guy, author of “Mobsters, Madams, & Murders in Steubenville, Ohio.”
Gambling, prostitution and bootlegging have been going on in Steubenville for well over one hundred years. Its Water Street red-light district drew men from hundreds of miles away, as well as underage runaways. The white slave trade was rampant, and along with all the vice crimes, murders became a weekly occurrence. Law enforcement seemed to turn a blind eye, and cries of political corruption were heard in the state capital. This scenario replayed itself over and over again during the past century as mobsters and madams ruled and murders plagued the city and county at an alarming rate. Newspapers nationwide would come to nickname this mecca of murder “Little Chicago.”
Author Susan M. Guy was born and raised in Jefferson County, Ohio. Since 1994, she has been employed by the State of Ohio as a correctional officer.
Everyone is welcome to hear Susan speak. Refreshments will be available.
PLANT SALEYou should have this newsletter in time to walk out the door and attend the Plant Sale on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the White Church, Eldersville. There will be a wide variety of annuals, perennials, vegetables, and herbs. This is the perfect time to buy your Mother a plant for Mother’s Day on May 10. You could help us by baking cookies and putting 3 or 4 in a snack bag to be sold for $1.00 at the Plant Sale. As always, we sincerely appreciate your help.
HANDCRAFTED BIRD HOUSESmade by Dave Choman from lumber from the White Church when it was re-sided this past summer will be for sale for $10 at the Plant Sale.
GREAT NEWS The Historical Society has been notified by RANGE RESOURCES that it is awarding the Historical Society a grant of Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00) for the purchase of a storage building to house all of its precious historical artifacts in the Museum on the second floor of Heritage Hall. Laural Ziemba from Range Resources came to the Board meeting on Tuesday, May 5, and presented the check to the Historical Society. The one level, 24 x 24, storage building will be purchased from Yoder’s Backyard Structures in Atlasburg, PA. It will take four weeks for them to build the building. Meanwhile, Dave Choman has taken on the task of getting the ground ready for the placing of gravel and then the building. He has had help from Thurman and Peggy Yost, neighbor Clint Bowersock, Matthew Cooper and Walter Worstell. Why not stop by and see if you too could help or call Dave at 724 947 2116. The building will be placed across from the White Church where the garden shed sits and will face Fire Road. An attractive sign will be made and placed on the front of the building that Range Resources gave a grant to the Historical Society to purchase the building.
BAKE SALE will be Saturday, May 23rdfrom 9:00 to 2:00 Memorial Day weekend at the Walmart in Weirton, WV. Please put the date on your calendar and plan to bake and help us sell the baked goods.
MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY will be held at the Memorial on Monday, May 25th at 8:30 am. Diane Huggins and Judy Cooper are planning the Ceremony. Refreshments will be available at the White Church.
YARD SALE The annual Yard Sale will be Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27. You will be able to bring your donations into the White Church for the Yard Sale following our June 20 monthly meeting. If you need your donations picked up during the week of June 22, please call Dave Choman at 724 947 2116. Furniture, toys, tools, books, dishes, pictures, etc., all in good and saleable condition will be accepted. No clothing or shoes will be accepted for the Yard Sale. The White Church is air conditioned and handicapped accessible. Plan plenty of time to browse and buy.
RADA CUTLERY An ongoing fundraiser is the Rada Cutlery which we will be accepting sales through July 22nd. They offer a lot more than just knives. There are specialty Cookbooks, No-bake Cheesecakes, Pound Cakes, Dips, BBQ Sauce, “Souper” Soups, and Cheeseballs. If you do not have a catalog and would like to see one, please contact Jean Baltich at 304 748 6376. The Historical Society gets a percentage of all sales. In other words, if you make a purchase, you are helping the Historical Society. Dorothy Muzopappa is our high sales person for Rada Cutlery and she does not even drive.
PENOWA BOOK “PENOWA” book was authored by Frank Muzopappa. This is also an ongoing fundraiser for the Historical Society. Frank has graciously donated $10 to the Historical Society of every book sold. The books sell for $20 and may be purchased by calling Dorothy Muzopappa (Frank’s sister-in-law) at 304 748 2503. She wants to hear from you. You will enjoy the book.
WEB SITE The dates of all of these fundraisers – the Plant Sale, Bake Sale and Yard Sale – are posted on our web site which we invite you to visit regularly. The web site address is
DUES are DUE If you want to be a part of the Historical Society the dues are $15.00 for individual and $20.00 for family and can be paid anytime. Frank Malardie is our new Treasurer. If you choose to send in your dues, please make your check payable to Jefferson Township Historical Society and mail to the Historical Society at Box 383, Burgettstown, PA 15021.