View of the interior and large mural of the Idabelle Firestone Gathering Place and Garden at the Legacy Center. (Submitted photo)

FIRESTONE LEGACY AND VISITORS CENTER

It sits right at the Main entrance to the park, on East Park Avenue. Couldn’t be a better location for it. When it came on the market, there were all kinds of possibilities for its use.

It could have been the main administration and maintenance building for the park. It has three bays for storage which the park is much in need of. It has two big office rooms, and a smaller room at the back. It was well kept as a jewelry store but at other times it had been a tire store, so we are told. I was enthusiastic about it and offered to pay for a third of it, with the park in need of a finer-looking facility and Tourism (looking for a spot to store their lights). All efforts to get these groups involved failed, so I bought it for the Restoration and Beautification Committee and the Firestone Park Cultural and Custodial Committee.

A GREAT ADVENTURE

And it has become a great adventure developing it and researching for it. It gave the two committees a home for the first time in their history. At first, we struggled thinking what to make of it, but once the ideas started coming, it has been an exercise in discovery, in history, and a welcome addition to tourism for the city and the park.

The first idea that emerged was to make a Firestone Park timeline; we were indebted to Jay Groner for the information and Chris and Karen at Sitler’s for display ideas. First came the carpet, which had to be green … like the grass in the park. Then the search for Firestone items began. It was interesting and enjoyable to delve into Harvey and his family, his gift to the city, and information about his early years in Columbiana leading him to Akron for a major facility location. We have a small collection of books on all things Firestone and keep building on them as we discover many kinds of books related to the family, and the business. A favorite for some of us as been the book Harvey wrote himself, telling his business story. A Columbiana farm boy with ideas and the energy and wits to go somewhere. How proud we should be of our heritage! And in many ways we have just begun to celebrate it and explore it.

WHAT WILL YOU FIND AT THE LEGACY CENTER?

The timeline, of course, and many photos of family members. Did you know that Harvey and Idabelle had a daughter as well as five sons? We didn’t, and found pictures of her. She died young, shortly after Harvey passed. We found Harvey’s high-school graduation speech, Idabelle’s songs and gardens, the deed that gave the park to the city. We learned about Harvey and the Vagabonds — his friendship and adventures with Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. There are three pillars in the park at Mirror Lake celebrating their friendship.

Other displays to explore include many Restoration and Beautification projects, how they were developed, and their budgets. Many pieces of art line the walls as local artists have painted scenes in the park. There is even a display case showing aircraft and automobiles of the time period.

We have helped the Playground Project Committee by displaying their projects and ways to contribute to the cause. There is a Firestone Memories Board where visitors can write their recollections to share with others who have enjoyed the park over the years. There is also a comprehensive display of Postings from the Park that appeared in the Morning Journal. The articles actually tell the story of the park’s restoration and beautification.

As you enter the building, there is a full wall mural of the Idabelle Firestone Gathering Place and Garden. This was an idea from Sitler’s who executed it. It is really stunning and a must-see as it represents one of the stars of the park. Accompanying it is information from the architect, Paul Hagman, telling how he designed it, and the construction materials used.

A VIDEO CENTER

At the back of the big open room is a video center with tapes of the dedication of the park and many other important happenings over the years. Just going up recently will be a display celebrating the members of the Restoration and Beautification Committee, with many news articles and pictures of the past 10 years. There are architect plans detailing the gardens now prominent in the park; they tell the story of Harvey Firestone and Alling DeForests’ visions of the park as a classroom for learning about native species, as well as flora and fauna in the park.

FUTURE DISPLAYS

What is planned for future displays? The Master Plan in the restoration process, the dog park development, the stadium project, the pavilions and their history, the beautiful new pool parking lot with its bioswales, the new additions now being undertaken … the Senior Courts, the Sports Courts, the Legacy Trail, the history of the swimming pool, the baseball and softball fields and their history. The list goes on and on, and its an interesting enterprise which can be shared and enjoyed by local residents as well as guests to the city and the park.

At the Legacy Center we are selling prints of the mural in Main Street’s pocket park. They were donated by the Blakeman Family and celebrate Columbiana over the years.

If you like what you’ve just read about The Legacy Center, come to see it….days and hours posted on the electronic sign and the door. Add your name to the guest book and enjoy a tour!