MOVING ON— City historian, Bob George and Melissa Woody from the Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce look at a framed list of employees of the Olin plant when it moved to Charleston and Cleveland. Banner photo, JOYANNA WEBER
Preparations began Friday as the “Journeys of Progress” team set up the local exhibit for display on Saturday.
Lisa Pickel, directory of existing industry for the Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce, helped choose the industries that would be highlighted in the display.
“Since I deal with industry so much I knew which industries journeyed here,” Pickel said.
Bob George, Cleveland City historian, said he tried to focus on the main industries that have come to this area.
Some of the companies featured include Eaton Electrical, Cleveland Tubing, Southeastern Container, AbitibiBowater, Arch, M&M Mars and Merck. When choosing the items to display, she said she looked for what would catch people’s eye.
With more than 100 industries to choose from, Pickel said it was hard to decide which ones to highlight. She also said those who have journeyed here are really what has made Cleveland and Bradley County a success.
Pickel and George were joined by Melissa Woody, vice president of the convention and visitor’s bureau at the Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce, said this week has a special place in her heart because her father came from New Finland to work at Bowater.
“Journeys of Progress” continue as Cleveland and Bradley County see new technology based industries, such as Wacker, coming to the area, Pickel said.
Throughout the Journey Stories exhibit the library is asking for input through evaluation forms. The evaluation forms focus on the exhibit or program as a whole and does not ask the participate to specify which event they attended.
Ben Judkins of Ocoee Region Multicultural Services said he designed the form to give scale ratings and room for personal opinions.
Judkins said giving people the opportunity to write will tell more specifically how the exhibit effected them.
The evaluation forms will be handed out during events and will be available at the entrance to the exhibit. Judkins, who wrote the grant proposal for “Journey Stories,” said many organizations that give grant money ask the recipients to evaluate the program. This information is also used when applying for future grants
This week’s “Journey Stories” activities include “Journeys in Progress” with Tom Wheeler of Cleveland Utilities Monday at 7 p.m., Lunch and Learn “Our Home in Cleveland” on Wednesday and “Journey to Jobs of the Future” with Gary Farlow on Thursday at 7 p.m.
