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    The Bonanza was owned by the White Collar Line, also known as the Cincinnati, Big Sandy and Pomeroy Packet Company. This steambost mainly ran the Cincinnati-Pomeroy Route.

     Lawrence County, Ohio has seen many wars. Many Lawrence Countians served their country bravely. For those men and women, no sacrifice was too great. In honor of those who have served, this site has a history of how each war affected Lawrence County and how the residents responded.
     At the end of each history are links to residents who served during each war. This list is far from complete. If you know of someone who served, please contact us at lorishafer@briggslibrary.org.

     The first documented mention of the war was on February 9, 1860. On that date, J.W. Dauphin, a local photographer, placed an advertisement in the Ironton newspaper stating, “Get Your Pictures made before the Dissolution of the Union.”
     On January 1, 1861, the Union flag pole was raised in front of the Ironton House with a thirty-three gun salute.
     Four Irontonians had the special honor of attending the Inaugeration of President Abraham Lincoln on March 4, 1861.

     On February 15, 1898, the battleship, U.S.S. Maine, was sunk in the harbor at Havana, Cuba. Spain was held responsible for the sinking. The American people were furious. As a result, war was declared on April 25, 1898.

     The “war to end all wars” was first mentioned in the Ironton Tribune in a “extra” on April 6, 1917.
     Lawrence County men between 21 to 31 registered on June 5, 1917. The first bugle sounded on April1 0, 1917 for Company 1 who drilled at the Princess Armory on 3rd Street near Vernon Street. On June 10, 1917, M. Waite Russell was commissioned captain of Company 1. George Kingery was named 1st Lieutenant. Lester Abele replaced Horace N. Hill as 2nd Lieutenant. Horace Hill was transferred to Fort Benjamin Harrison for further training.

     On September 1, 1939, newspaper boys were screaming “Extra” and Hitler had started a war.

     In April 1938, a year after the devastating 1937 flood, Ironton began a $3.85 million flood project. The project was to prevent Ironton from facing destruction by flooding in the future. As a result a flood wall was built to encompass the town. Although flooding still occurs fairly often, Ironton has never been under water as it was in 1937.

     The Mural of dedicated to the Waterloo Wonders is not signed or dated. In the Phyllis Hamner Room, a drawing of the Waterloo Wonder floodwall mural can be found the in the Waterloo Wonders binder. The drawing was designed by Joshua McKenzie and dated December 30, 2003.

     The Mural dedicated to the Lawrence County Veterans who gave their life in combat was completed on August 7, 2002. Gary Tillis and Patty Shively were the artists. Patty also painted the Memorial Day Parade Mural.

   The Iron Bank and Star Bank Mural was completed in October 1994. Thomas H. Swick was the painter and is from Chesapeake, Ohio. Swick also painted the murals for The Ironton Steamer, and the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad.