The Young Leaders Advisory Board (YLAB) of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society is hosting a bus trip to East Liverpool, Ohio, on Saturday, August 12. The trip will begin with a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Homer Laughlin China Factory with host Katie Bricker, East Liverpool Rotarian and General Marketing Manager for Homer Laughlin.

Brothers Homer & Shakespeare Laughlin formed The Homer Laughlin Company in 1871 to sell the pottery ware that was made in their hometown of East Liverpool. The current factory in Newell, West Virginia was constructed between 1904 and 1905, and at the time, it was the largest pottery factory in the world. After the tour, there will be time for shopping in the factory store where the popular Fiesta Ware® is sold.

Lunch will be at historic Bricker’s Cafeteria, a former Isaly’s store, and current East Liverpool institution. After lunch will be a guided tour of the Museum of Ceramics downtown, along with a walking tour of several other downtown historic sites with MVHS Executive Director Bill Lawson. The bus will depart for Youngstown at 5:00 p.m., and return to the Tyler History Center at 6:00 p.m.

The bus tour will depart the Tyler History Center, 325 West Federal Street in Downtown Youngstown at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 12, 2017. Cost of the trip is $40 per person for MVHS members and $45 for not-yet-members. The cost includes transportation on a deluxe motor-coach, lunch, and tour admissions.  The tour involves some walking and handicap accessibility to the Homer Laughlin factory floor is limited.

Pre-paid reservations are required and only 40 seats are available. You can register by calling the Historical Society with a credit card at 330.743.2589, or print and mail in the registration form  with your payment.