Join the Sharon Historical Society as we celebrate the release of our newest book, “Lost Department Stores of Sharon, Pennsylvania,” with a special lecture. In this lecture, we’ll explore the Shenango Valley’s downtown and its beloved stores, and how shopping has changed. From glamorous window displays to the bustling aisles, these once-vibrant stores were a staple of the community. Christmas time was always a delight for all ages. For those interested in the region’s history, “Lost Department Stores of Sharon, Pennsylvania” offers a memory-rich account of the valley’s shopping scene.
Book Synopsis: At the height of its steel-powered glory, Sharon, Pennsylvania, wasn’t just a manufacturing hub—it was a shopping destination. Step back into the heart of the Shenango Valley, where bustling downtown streets once echoed with the footsteps of eager shoppers and the windows of grand department stores dazzled with holiday displays. The names alone—The Sharon Store, Whitmer-Smith’s, Reyer’s, and C. H. Yeager & Company—conjure a comforting memory of sophisticated style and lost glamour. As the local economy began to collapse in the 1970s due to plant shutdowns and the ensuing population decline, shoppers shifted to suburban plazas and indoor shopping malls. Through rare photographs, vintage advertisements, and firsthand memories, this book captures a vibrant past now faded, yet never forgotten. Author and historian Taylor Galaska presents a heartfelt tribute to the stores that shaped the shopping experiences of generations, a reminder of a time when downtown Sharon was a vibrant commercial hub, and a reflection of the enduring spirit of a city that continues to evolve.
This lecture is provided by Taylor Galaska, President of the Board of Directors of the Sharon Historical Society. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2014, when he joined at the age of 15. A graduate of Westminster College in New Wilmington, where he earned a bachelor’s in marketing and professional sales, Galaska’s true passion has always been local history. His first book, Grand Homes of the Gilded Age, which was released in 2022 as the Historical Society’s first coffee-table-style book, has received much praise. Since then, Galaska and the Shenango Heritage Press have released Built by Steel: Frank and Julia Buhl’s Mansion and Legacy (2022; coauthored with Laura Ackley), Black Gold: Boomtowns, Prominent Men, & Grand Farmhouses of Hickory Township (2023), The Magic City: The Men, Mills, & Homes of a Company Town Forged in Steel (2024), and The Civil War Era in the Shenango Valley (2025). This lecture is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No reservations or tickets are required.
The book will be on sale before and after the lecture; the author will also be available to sign copies.
The event will be at the Sharon Municipal Building, City Council Chambers, 155 West Connelly Blvd. Sharon, PA 16146 on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 6:00 pm.