SALEM - The Salem Preservation Society is sponsoring a "Cruise for the Reilly Project" from 3 to 7 p.m. on July 17 at 990 W. State St.
The cruise is being held in cooperation with the Salem Dairy Queen, Victorio's Pizza, the Centers for Hearing Care, R. Mark Shivers, M.D., Schuster Construction Co., Big Dog Express and Quaker Manufacturing. The registration fee is $5 and all vehicles are welcome.
There is paved parking guaranteed for the first 100 entries. Spectator parking is available in adjoining lots.
The society is attempting to raise $654,000 for Phase I to replace and restore 1,400 feet of the Reilly Stadium brick wall. Some sections are badly deteriorated, raising safety concerns.
Plans call for replicating the original metal gates and brick ticket booth while adding a garden with seating and greenery.
The school district doesn't have the money for the restoration and the cruise is one event of an ongoing fund raising effort.
The stadium is named for Civil War Gen. James W. Reilly of Wellsville whose estate was divided up between Columbiana County schools.
Prior to the war, Reilly served in the Ohio House and in the summer of 1862 was appointed to the rank of colonel in the 104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry that was being recruited from Columbiana, Portage, Stark and Summit counties, according to Civil War historian Tim Brookes, a Wellsville attorney.
In September 1862, the 104th OVI, consisting of troops from Salem, Lisbon, East Palestine and East Liverpool, was ordered to Cincinnati along with seven other Ohio units to defend the city.
Union forces were under the command of Gen. Lew Wallace who, a lawyer like Reilly, had served in the Indiana House.
After the war, Wallace was appointed governor of the New Mexico Territory and wrote the book "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ."
Reilly mustered out of the army and resumed his legal career in Wellsville and was involved in the community while remaining politically active in the Republican Party. He served as a delegate to the Ohio state constitutional convention from Columbiana County.
He died in 1905 in Wellsville at 77 and is buried in St. Elizabeth's Cemetery.
According to Brookes, he left an estate estimated at $250,000.
After a some 375 claims were presented, Brookes noted, "The money was eventually divided among Columbiana County schools. In Salem, the windfall was used to purchase and construct an athletic field, which explains why Reilly Field in Salem is named after the Wellsville general. Thus, one of Columbiana County's most heroic soldier-sons is today remembered more for the football stadium that bears his name than for his martial exploits."
Reilly School was built and the stadium enlarged in 1928, exactly 100 years after Reilly's birth.
In 1929, the stadium acquired the historic distinction of being the site of the first high school football game under lights in Ohio.
In October 1960, three weeks before he was elected President, then-Sen. John F. Kennedy made a campaign appearance at Reilly Stadium .
The cruise will include a DJ, door prizes, 50/50 raffle and food including the full Dairy Queen menu and Victorio's Pizza by the slice, sno cones and water will be available for purchase while the "Rah! Rah! sundae is available all summer to benefit the wall.
The registration fee includes door prizes and a chance to win one of three trophies for Best of Show, People's Choice and Participant's Pick. Specialty certificates will be awarded for: the oldest car; oldest truck; oldest bike; oldest convertible; oldest Rat Rod; farthest traveled; oldest crusier; and youngest cruiser.
The rain date is July 24.
For more information visit: www.salempreservationsociety.org, or call Jon at 330-692-1414.
Larry Shields can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
