Marlboro flag unveiled after preservation effort

The Marlboro Township Historical Society held a flag unveiling program April 30 at the Dr. Thomas G. Kersey Home and Office in Marlboro.

The unveiling was followed by additional talks and a reception at the church next door. At the unveiling, President Vondea Sheaffer said, “I’m pleased for you to see, for the first time in a very long time, Marlboro’s Civil War-era flag.”

Sheaffer recalled that in 2019, when Jody (McClun) Lund brought the flag to Marlboro, it was accepted along with other artifacts. “The flag we’re about to unveil tonight is now one of our most treasured and documented Marlboro artifacts,” she said. The 4-foot-by-8-foot wool flag has 35 hand-stitched stars, representing the number of states in the Union at the time. West Virginia became the 35th state in 1863, and the flag was used from July 4, 1863, to July 3, 1865, during the final two years of the Civil War under President Abraham Lincoln. It also features the traditional 13 stripes.

Sheaffer noted the flag was in good condition when received, but was professionally cleaned and conserved to ensure its longevity, with support from community members and a grant from Visit Canton and Arts in Stark. Areas of wear were stabilized, and the flag was mounted on archival fabric and framed with UV-protected plexiglass by John Tarzan of Maple Street Gallery in Hartville. The flag will be permanently displayed at the Kersey Home and Office.

A note attached to the flag from Lund’s great-great-grandmother was also preserved and framed. Written on a tag from the United States Express Company, the note helps confirm the flag’s age, with a reference to a 3-cent fee for a $2.50 money order in 1864. Additional documentation shows the flag once flew over McClun and Company, a dry goods store in Marlboro owned by William Webster McClun.

Following the unveiling, a reception was held at the historic church next door, now used as an Airbnb and owned by Mark and Shirley Ryan. The reception began at 6:30 p.m., with food catered by Jeff Walker Catering.

During the reception, Sheaffer introduced the Stark County History Project’s Pastports program, which encourages visits to historic sites. Marlboro Township Historical Society is one of the participating locations. She also welcomed Allison Gromofsky of Visit Canton.

Speakers included Marlboro Police Chief Ron Devies, who spoke about growing up in the community, and Jody Lund, who shared her family’s connection to William McClun and President William McKinley, including preserved correspondence and property records.

Sheaffer concluded by encouraging attendees to pick up a newsletter, consider supporting the organization and learn about upcoming events, and thanked Lori Keller for providing flag-themed cookies.