Correspondent photo / Sean Barron H. William Lawson, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s executive director, and Sharon Letson, Youngstown CityScape’s executive director, unveil a commissioned painting during the 15th annual David and Pat Sweet Grass Roots gala Thursday at the Tyler History Center in Youngstown. Lawson and the MVHS were honored at the event. The artwork depicts the three buildings the MVHS owns.

YOUNGSTOWN — A pivotal way to preserve the city’s past, engage in and appreciate its present and promote its future can be found in another “P” word: partnerships.

“They are a true anchor to our community,” said Sharon Letson, Youngstown CityScape’s executive director.

She was referring to the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and H. William Lawson, its longtime executive director. As a result of being that anchor — as well as working with CityScape and other partners for the city and region’s community development and betterment — both of them were honored at the 15th annual David and Pat Sweet Grass Roots gala Thursday evening at the Tyler History Center, 375 W. Federal St., downtown.

Also, the historical society, established in 1875, is about to celebrate its 150th anniversary. In addition to the Tyler History Center, the MVHS operates the Arms Family Museum on Wick Avenue and the former IBM building on East Federal Street, downtown.

The award was named after Sweet, who served as Youngstown State University’s president from 2000 to 2010, and his wife. In 2010, the Sweets were the first award recipients.

During his tenure, Sweet worked on continued efforts to further build and create partnerships between the university and community.

The MVHS also brings greater “joy, knowledge and a sense of place” to the region while working with CityScape on numerous projects to further beautify the area and promote the Mahoning Valley’s rich history and heritage, Letson said.

Lawson is “in love with this city and its history,” she continued.

In addition, many people want Youngstown to succeed, and he is a major part of efforts to see it occur, Letson added.

During his remarks at the dinner and program, Lawson quickly went into history mode, ticking off a number of important dates in the city’s history, as well as certain time periods that mark its successes and struggles.

“On June 27, 1796, an opportunistic guy named John Young landed his canoe on the shore (of the Mahoning River, downtown) and looked this place over,” Lawson said, adding, “Anywhere you go in the city of Youngstown, something is historic, and it’s our mission to bring out as many of these stories as possible.”

On June 15, 1850, the city elected its first mayor and village council and in 1868, Youngstown’s population grew to more than 5,000, with a new mayor and council, Lawson said. Also, Youngstown was incorporated as a village in 1848 and chartered as a city in 1867.

After the Civil War, the city grew as a major industrial site, with ironmaking as a key aspect of manufacturing, followed by steel production. By 1880, the majority of the population was comprised of foreign-born citizens, and the average age of residents was 21, he noted.

Lawson told his audience of several hundred community leaders, elected officials and others that what many people see as a plethora of concerns, hostilities and uncertainties permeating today’s society aren’t new. Every generation and decade has undergone challenges, difficulties and hardships that may have seemed insurmountable at the time, he said.

As an example, Lawson cited the financial panic of 1873, which triggered an economic depression that affected Youngstown and much of the world for several years. Many banks and related industries collapsed.

According to American Experience, 89 of the country’s 364 railroads went into bankruptcy, an estimated 18,000 businesses failed within two years and the nation’s unemployment rate soared to 14% in 1876.

In the 1920s, a new city charter was established to provide guidelines for governance, but many of the city’s elected officials and leaders also received endorsements and support from the local Ku Klux Klan, Lawson noted.

Given that the city’s past is filled with difficult moments and times, the only viable option is to have the resolve and ability to continue moving forward, he said.

Lawson, a 1981 Boardman High School graduate, joined the MVHS in 1987 and was a museum guide, registrar of collections and assistant director before becoming four years later.

Under his leadership, the historical society acquired the Harry Burt and Ross Radio building in 2007 while developing the Tyler History Center at the same location. Last year, the MVHS bought the former IBM building on East Federal Street, which will house additional collections and artifacts, including the Idora Park Experience.