Preserving Industry: The McDonald Steel Project

November 10, 2025
Jonathan Cambouris, Museum Administrator

In July 2024, the McDonald Steel Corporation—a 650,000-square-foot steel mill on about 52 acres in McDonald, Ohio—was sold to AP McDonald LLC, an affiliate of Applied Partners LLC, for approximately $3.2M. The buyer announced plans to dismantle the existing structures and redevelop the site for future industrial or commercial use.

Due to this significant occurrence, the representatives from McDonald Steel approached the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor, locally known as the Steel Museum. The Museum’s team immediately recognized the Company’s historic importance in Mahoning Valley’s steel-making legacy. Preparations were soon underway to safeguard the materials and in future, tell the story of McDonald Steel’s enduring impact on the region’s industrial heritage.

This large-scale effort was made possible by a grant from the Youngstown Foundation, with administrative support through Youngstown State University. The funding afforded essential equipment, including three rolling scaffolds and a mobile cart designed for moving materials through narrow spaces, which also served as temporary shelving. The grant also supported the work of Dr. John Liana to document and process the inventory, and Museum Consultant, Leah Sydney to develop a conservation plan for the artifacts.

Initial efforts focused on administrative records and blueprints, all of which were detailed in a finding aid, recorded with the artifact’s type, description, and location within a spatial labeling system. Wooden patterns, miniature steel shapes, signs and safety gear subsequently followed.

Remaining funds were directed toward the conservation plan’s first objective—to replace unstable storage materials with professional grade, archival safe alternatives. This included acid free boxes, bins and gloves, ensuring each item was properly handled and kept safe, for long-term sustainability.

The McDonald Steel Collection is now stabilized, organized, and made significantly more accessible for research, thanks to the generosity of the Youngstown Foundation and the mutually beneficial relationship between the Ohio History Connection and Youngstown State University.

The work performed would not have been possible without the dedication of the Museum staff and its evolving network of volunteers, including Dr. Brian Bonhomme, Jonathan Cambouris, Dr. John Liana, Susan Lowery, Sabrina Krause, Martha Bishop, Carl Kovach, and Rick Rowlands to name a few.

Assessments are currently underway to develop a future exhibit module that will share the story of McDonald Steel’s important legacy.