It is hard to believe it has been nearly ten years since my first “Growing Up in Working Class Youngstown” article–nearly 500 now (all available at the “On Youngstown” tab). Every year I share a list of your favorites, on the basis of which articles were most viewed. Here’s an opportunity to read the ones you missed and revisit some old friends. So without further ado…

10. Memories of My Childhood Home. Many of our homes in Youngstown are no more including mine. I walked through my old home in my memories, which might bring back similar memories for you.

9. Cornersburg. I recount the story of this neighborhood on the southwest corner of Youngstown, including the businesses that have a long history of serving the community.

8. Top Ten Fair Memories. On the weekend before this year’s fair, I recounted my own favorite memories of the best county fair in the country. My favorites might be different from yours but a lot of us enjoyed thinking of all the things we love about the fair.

7. Joe Flynn. Most of us remember him as the bumbling Captain Binghamton on McHale’s Navy. I cover his acting career and how he never forgot his hometown of Youngstown.

6. Street and Trolley Cars. At one time public transportation in Youngstown, as late as 1959, was streetcars and trolley cars. At one time there were 59 miles of streetcar lines in the city.

5. Woodrow Wilson High School. I’ve written about the various high schools in Youngstown. I enjoyed great help from an alumnus on this one who provided some great images of this grand old school that is no more.

4. John A. Logan. A military and business leader who crowded so much into 35 years that Logan Avenue bears his name.

3. The Shields Family. The Shields family were leaders in the local cattle and meat business in Youngstown at one time as well as actively serving on the Fair board. And yes, Shields Road is name after them.

2. Devil Strips. You know that strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street. A lot (though not all) of us from Youngstown call it the “devil strip.” Most others don’t. We had a lot of discussion about this!

1. East Palestine. I posted this shortly after the rail accident. I wanted to know more about this community near Youngstown and so I told the story of the town before the rail accident. Apparently many others wanted to know more about the town as well. It was the most viewed post on my blog in 2023.

So those were your top ten favorites. Look for a post next week with all of my “top ten” posts from the past ten years.

I hope amid all your holiday preparations, you have some time to revisit your favorites. I wish you all a joyous holiday!

To read other posts in the Growing Up in Working Class Youngstown series, just click “On Youngstown.” Enjoy!