COUNTDOWN
TO MILLENNIUM RADIO SERIES
The series aired on WOUB FM (91.3) and AM (13.40) at 8:30 a.m.
in late 1999 - to "countdown" to the millennium.
But the series is also here -
archived to the web, and you can access it by using a Real Audio Player. Just
click on the name of the show.
 |
| #1 Union organizing in the coal
fields. |
At the turn of the century SE Ohio was a "hotbed" of union
organizing. Thousands were employed in the coalfields and they soon began organizing to
improve working conditions. SE Ohio was in the forefront of this movement.
See Lesson Plan #1 |
| #2 Ethnic Mix |
The booming
coal mining communities that were spawned throughout southeastern Ohio attracted their
share of the eastern European immigrants that were coming to America in this period. Ethic
enclaves of Hungarians, Poles, Yugoslavians, etc. could be found in almost every coal
mining community. We will explore how this ethic immigration became part of the fabric of
Appalachia. See Lesson Plan #2 |
| #3 Company
Towns |
Many
of the communities in Appalachian Ohio were started as "company towns". Economic
forces outside of the region come here to mine for coal and clay. Often the most
economical way to do so was to build houses so that the workers had somewhere nearby to
live. Another interesting aspect of "company towns"
that we will explore is the equalitarian aspect that most of them possessed. Since there
was only one industry and primarily one class of citizenry, the workers, people who grew
up in these communities didn’t have as much of a "class system" as other
communities did. A study of the socio-economic structure of these communities is a
fascinating one. See
Lesson Plan #3 |
| #4 Other Industry |
Coal
wasn't the only industry that flourished in SE Ohio. At the turn of the century there were
numerous brick plants, iron plants and clay manufacturing facilities that took advantage
of the natural resources in the area. We will look at the variety of industries that were
here and how they influenced lifestyles in the region. See
Lesson Plan #4 |
| #5
Moonshining |
The
Prohibition Era brought an unanticipated boon to southeast Ohio. The residents here were
isolated enough and had the know-how to make homemade liquor - moonshine.
See Lesson Plan #5 |
| #6 The Ohio River and it’s
watershed |
The river is a major influence to the region. Its impact has been
felt in all aspects of the local environment, culture and socio-economic levels from
flooding to tourism. We’ll talk to local residents about floods like the 1937 Ohio
River Flood and the more recent ones. See
Lesson Plan #6 |
| #7 Impact of radio. |
Today we
take radio for granted. But many people in this region remember the impact that this
technology had on their lives. In this area radio was introduced before most homes had
electricity. It’s coming changed social habits and ,for the first time, people in the
area were connected by voice to places outside of their own community. See
Lesson Plan #7 |
| #8 New Deal
Programs |
The
rural nature of the region mean that many families were self-sufficient and here the
depression didn’t hit as hard as in many urban areas. But New Deal programs have left
their impact. The WPA built many of the bridges in the area. The CCC had camps here helped
to build the state parks we now use. See
Lesson Plan #8 |
| #9 The Millfield Mine
Disaster |
This event brought southeast Ohio in the national spotlight. It made national headlines
and showed the hazards of gas in the mines and problems of working in non-union
conditions. See Lesson Plan #9 |
| #10 WWII-Contributions of the
rural home front |
Since the 50th anniversary of WWII the American public has heard a
lot about the war and about how folks on the home front helped. What we haven’t heard
much about is the impact of the war on rural areas and how rural residents contributed to
the war effort. This feature will share those stories. See
Lesson Plan #10 |
| #11
The Family Farm |
Farming,
as a way of life, will be explored through memories of many that grew up and grew old on a
farm. The 1950s are an appropriate time in which to frame this look back. In the period
after WWII the WAY that people in this region farmed changed drastically. The industrial
know-how that had been centered around creating machines for WWII was switched over to
produce bigger and better farm machinery. Farmers who had worked co-operatively with
neighbors for years, sharing harvest and planting chores, how bought their own equipment.
But at what price? See Lesson Plan #11 |
| #12
The War On Poverty |
During
the 1960’s Appalachia once again gained national visibility as President Johnson
declared "war" on poverty. His speech that launched the Appalachian Regional
Commission was made at Ohio University. Many VISTA workers who came to the region at this
time. Some are still here and will talk about the emotions, challenges and tensions of
that period. See
Lesson Plan #12 |
| #13
Consolidation of Schools |
Partly as a result of Johnson’s New Society programs a number of school reforms were
made during this period. Many township schools were closed and school districts were
consolidated into larger districts. For many communities this took away one of the main
pillars of the community. Ramifications (failure to pass school levels) are still seen
today. This consolidation had been done before, in the 1930 and 40s one-room schools were
abandoned in favor of township schools. We’ll look at these trends in education and
the impact that they have on communities as well as education. See
Lesson Plan #13 |
| #14
The Back To the Land Movement |
For the first time this century Southeast Ohio saw sizeable numbers of people move
INTO the region. These were not natives who were returning to their roots. These were
young people who were fired up by the"back to the land" movement and were
looking for inexpensive land and small towns to try out their ideas about living simply.
The Mother Earth News wrote an article listing Athens as one of the "10 best
places to live" and people came – sight unseen, from as far away as California.
Their coming created a vibrant "counterculture" that, in some areas, has become
the mainstream culture. See
Lesson Plan #14 |
| #15
The Environmental Movement |
The issue of Jobs vs. the Environment butted head to head in the early 70s, as people in
the area became aware of what strip mining was doing to the region. The issues continue
today as some groups try to clean up effected watershed and a newer form of mining, long
wall mining, threatened property values as well as homes. See
Lesson Plan #15 |
| #16
Sustainability |
The
excesses of the boom and bust period in Appalachian history are directly responsible for
one of he newest movements - sustainability. Worker owner networks, small businesses,
micro enterprises - these are the most recent trends in the region. We’ll look at the
work that local non-profit groups are doing with eco-forestry, AceNet’s work in
trying to create markets for local businesspeople and we’ll talk to local residents
themselves about their views for the future of these new economic concepts.
See Lesson
Plan #16 |
