#18. Mabel Hartzell Helps to Shape the Community
Mabel Hartzell, ca. 1932
Mabel Hartzell was not only a founder and benefactor of the Alliance Historical Society, she also helped to shape the Alliance community through a life dedicated to civil service and education. The daughter of Dallas Hartzell and Margaret McArthur Hartzell. Mabel was adopted by Matthew and Mary Earley in 1886 after the death of her mother. Mabel received a teaching degree from Mount Union College in 1898 and began her teaching career at Clayshaft School in Bolton, and then Park Avenue elementary school in Alliance. She would then move to Alliance High School, where she taught for 30 years and served as the head of the Social Science Department. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Mount Union in 1905 and a master’s degree from Ohio State University in 1924. During a hiatus from teaching and after her retirement, she served several terms on the Alliance Board of Education. First elected in 1911, she was the first woman to serve on the board, being elected 9 years before women had the general right to vote.
Sorority sisters – Mabel Hartzell, front row with parasol
Mabel Hartzell never married, likely due to her dedication to her career as an educator. She was not only an educator, however, she was incredibly active in the Alliance community:
- Member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and Alumni
- Co-Founder of Alliance Chapter of the American Red Cross and a Director for 33 years
- Founder of the Alliance Historical Society
- Founder, President, and Treasurer of Mount Union College Women’s Club
- Founder and first President of Alliance Woman’s Club
- President of Alliance Sorosis Club
- President of Alliance Garden Club
- President and Woman of the Year of Alliance Quota Club
- Member of the Retired Teacher’s Association
- President and Board of Directors of the Alliance YWCA
- President of Associated Charities
- Director and Recording Secretary of Alliance Community Chest
- Director of City Savings Bank & Building Company
- Life Honorary Member of Stark County Historical Society
Daughters of America Drill Team
Member and State Counselor of Daughters of America
- Member and Past Noble Grand of the Rebekah Lodge
- Member of Daughters of Scotland
- President of Alliance Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)
- President of Alliance Suffrage Association
- Volunteer for Salvation Army
- Member of Ever Ready Club
- Member of First Christian Church and its Women’s Fellowship group, and a teacher of King’s Helpers Sunday School Class
Mabel Hartzell, ca. 1900
Mabel Hartzell’s legacy goes beyond her contributions to education and community service outlined above. Her beautiful Victorian house, which she donated to the Alliance Historical Society and is now known as the Mabel Hartzell Historical Home, is a centerpiece of Alliance history. It sits adjacent to Earley’s Hill Park, the land for which was donated to the City of Alliance by Mabel Hartzell in memory of her adoptive father, Matthew Earley. Thank you, Mabel Hartzell, for your service to our community!