Ninety-five years ago this spring, a new addition to the downtown Youngstown skyline was rising in steel, brick, marble, and terrazzo.
On April 9, 1931, The Youngstown Vindicator published a multi-page feature celebrating the opening of the new Ohio Edison Building in downtown Youngstown — the landmark now known as OHIO ONE.
The feature captured more than the opening of a building. It reflected a moment in Youngstown’s history when architecture, industry, craftsmanship, and civic pride came together in a very visible way.
The pages offered a remarkable snapshot of the era, including interior office photographs, descriptions of advanced electrical systems, and detailed references to the marble, terrazzo, glass, ironwork, and craftsmanship that shaped the building. They also included advertisements from local companies that helped construct the project, along with the opening of the Ohio Edison Electric Shop, promoted at the time as “Youngstown’s Complete Electrical Center.”
What stands out most is the pride.
This was not just another office building. The Ohio Edison Building was designed to represent progress, permanence, and confidence in downtown Youngstown during a pivotal moment in the city’s development. It was a statement about the future — built with materials and details meant to last.
Nearly a century later, many of those original features remain. The marble, terrazzo, architectural details, and historic character continue to tell the story of a building that has served generations of Youngstown businesses, workers, visitors, and residents.
As we continue writing the next chapter of OHIO ONE, these old newspaper pages remind us that great buildings carry stories forward. They connect the ambition of one generation with the imagination of the next.
The name has changed, but the presence remains.
Ohio Edison Building then.
OHIO ONE now.
