Bites and Bits of History: George B. Moyer – Youngstown’s First Detective

Mahoning Valley Historical Society announces its November Bites and Bits of History lunchtime program at Tyler History Center. “George B. Moyer: Youngstown’s First Detective” is the title of the free presentation at noon on Thursday, November 17, 2022 in the Thomas Ballroom. The program will be presented by MVHS Curator of Education Traci Manning.

In 1895, George B. Moyer was appointed the first Detective in the Youngstown Police Department, a position he served with distinction. Through the use of original police registers, this presentation will explore the early history of YPD, several landmark crimes, and Moyer’s legacy.

Additional info: George B. Moyer, the first Chief Detective of the Youngstown Police Department, was born on September 20, 1855 in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. He attended school in Sharon.  In 1872, he came to Youngstown and engaged as an iron worker in the mills. He worked in various mills in Pittsburgh and Sharon until the spring of 1882 when he was appointed a Patrolman by Youngstown Mayor Lawthers. After serving five or six years, Mr. Moyer resigned and established a private detective business, in which he was very successful, making a specialty of burglar and other large cases. His work often took him to the most remote parts of the country.

In 1895, the Board of City Commissioners created the Office of City Detective and Mr. Moyer was appointed as the first to fill that position. Detective Moyer served the Youngstown Police Department for a total of 35 years, retiring around 1915.

Traci Manning holds a B.A. in Religion from Gettysburg College, M.A. in Applied History from Shippensburg University, and studied secondary social studies education at Wilson College. She spent six years working for the National Park Service in various parks as an education park ranger before coming to MVHS in 2012. At MVHS, she oversees outreach and educational programming for students, adults, and the general public; including curriculum-based school programs, family and youth programming, workshops, special events, lectures, tours, and other public programs.

Bites and Bits of History lunchtime programs are presented by the John and Loretta Hynes Foundation.