University Circle Museums

Visiting the Historical Society and the Botanical gardens was a very fun experience for me. The Botanical gardens I always enjoy, more so in the summer because of the outdoor plants though. The Historical Society, on the other hand, I have never been to. I was very surprised by what the lady that worked there had to say and show us. I thought it was neat how they have records from people living in the area all of those years ago and how we are still recording at all today. It amazes me that someday people will look back and see how we were living and what was important to us in our time.

The lady at the Historical Society mentioned that they work with Hale Farm and I thought it would be useful to look up information about the lives of people there and apply that to my project. Also it would help me to contact Hale Farm again and talk to them about interpreters teaching students how to role play as the people who lived at Hale Farm. I think this will expand the education of students on the history of the valley as well as teach them better public speaking skills. Being an interpreter could be a great experience for students.

In regards to the Botanical Gardens, if I were curator, I would make use of more of the empty space in the lobby and around the gift shop for plants. The desert area was nice and the rain forest area was very pretty. I like how they raise butterflies and release them in the rain forest setting. I liked seeing the birds there too. If I a curator there I would probably expand and create a larder indoor plant exhibit so people will stay longer in the winter. If there were more rooms with different environments, people might walk around more and go back and forth between the rooms instead of just meandering through one way only without going back to previous rooms.

Botanical Gardens

I went to the Botanical Gardens for lunch and to explore around a bit (and I got to talk to the head of horticulture or something to that effect and I got the contact info for two people to work on my project!) and I greatly enjoyed the experience.

I liked that you had to go through the first main exhibit (the desert environment) to get to the second (the rain forest environment). The rain forest exhibit had a stairway (or an elevator, but I decided to get my exercise and take the stairs) that led up to a second level where one can look out and see the top of the plants and a few more butterflies that were fluttering around. I personally liked the way the museum was laid out and wouldn't change much, though there was one room (and Anna can attest to this) that was rather dark and it was right after a very light room, so I couldn't really see where I was going. I managed though...the room wasn't too big and there was only one way out and nothing really to walk into or trip over. So perhaps, if I were curator of the museum, I might put a small light in that room. :]

In talking briefly to the women involved in the environmental education (I think that's what their business cards said), I got some great ideas for a project. I might do something on the carbon footprint of Cleveland or Botanical Gardens specifically, since they said that the glasshouse would be getting a "green roof" and they also suggested I could write about the environmental impact the plants themselves are making on local environment and such. I'll be looking into this topic a lot more and I'll definitely be doing an interview or two in the next two months!

University Circle Museums

I liked the gardens i always like seeing all the cool plant life they have there and the butterflys and birds are cool even tho there setup is better in the summer it was still cool. ( even though some people dont enjoy plants cough *cyrus* cough) =P


The Exhibits there are the spiny desert which is filled with cactus and a lot of other desert plants, and the rain forest exhibit which is my favorite because of all the animals and insects. the layout of the building made it easy for you to be your own tour guide it was one thing after another it was a fun experience to go there if i could change it any way i would make more exhibits on the inside so that in winter people can get to see the greatness of the gardens and not freeze outside trying to observe the huge outside setup but otherwise i wouldn't change a thing i loved the gardens and the way it is set up my favorite was the rain forest exhibit



to be honest i dont know gow to really relate the gardens to any thing that i have gone to to other then the parks that we went to and i really dont know i am going to base my project on yet maybe some of you guys could give me some tips on what my project can be based on so comment me and help me out

Friday the 23rd

I don't know about everyone else - but I had a fun day - I was rather surprised by this I must admit...I have of course been to all these sites already, and was thinking it would be more of the same, but I really enjoyed making use of all the documents at our disposal at the library...I looked up my grandmother and grandfather's lineage which was very enlightening, found out that my grandfather is from Yugoslavia...all this time - up until Friday - I thought he was from Czechoslovakian - my family has had it wrong all this time...that was my ahh haa moment of the day.

Word cloud

In the spirit of art, here's a word cloud generated by the most frequently occurring words on this blog... wow! How's that for one of your teachers?

Stan Hywet Collage

So I finally got around to getting these pictures home and online, and now I'm sharing them with you all. This is from the Stan Hywet trip (hence the title) and I ended up taking the huge house as an opportunity to do my weekend picture-taking for Photography (the project was to make a collage out of something, as you can see). Enjoy!


Stan Hywet: Snapshots by ~ob0eplayer4life on deviantART

For another version of this (where all the pictures are black and white but I've tinted a few of them like pink and blue), go here:
http://ob0eplayer4life.deviantart.com/art/Stan-Hywet-B-W-Tinted-106427455

Cleveland Industry

Cleveland began as a strong manufacturing city that was able to use its proximity to Lake Erie to become very prosperous in its time. However, in more recent years, Cleveland's industry has slowed drastically due to the outsourcing of jobs, and extremely significantly since the current financial crisis began, arcelor/mittal just laid off something like 1000 workers.

Cleveland has had a very difficult time bouncing back from the loss of manufacturing jobs, much more so than other cities. This may be because many companies want to leave Cleveland, and most already have, thanks to its dismal state at the moment. Thankfully a few loyal ones such as Sherwin-Williams have remained in the city, to help boost it back up. University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic have been instrumental in the recent semi-comeback of Cleveland, and will hopefully help more in the future.

I would hope that the Cuyahoga Valley stay as it is now, maybe with a little bit more development, to keep it mostly park land, instead of mowing over the natural beauty we have for some other city that could fail just as badly as Cleveland and Akron did. However, it certainly would not be a bad thing to see Cleveland and Akron be boosted up a bit more, although I can't really see this happening to Akron much. The future of Cleveland looks somewhat promising though, thanks to the medical institutions that are setting up their large, expensive, and job-creating shop there.

Cleveland; Will the Phoenix Rise Fom the Ashes?

---Ashley Costello---

At one time, Cleveland was one of the major steel producing centers in the United States. It was a major port on the Great Lakes feeding the steel industry by bringing in iron ore, and also by shipping out things such as crops. As the railroad became more and more popular, it helped stimulate Cleveland as a major port even more so because as the ships brought in the goods we could send them to the Midwest. Cleveland was also home to the wealthiest industrialists whose philanthropic support of the arts made the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Museums of Art and History and Playhouse Square destinations for not only it’s residents but tourists as well. Being an industrial leader was a double edged sword in that the abundance of natural recourses encouraged abuse that led to pollution and destruction which can be graphically illustrated by the burning of the Cuyahoga River.



The loss of Republic Steel, Oglebay Norton, Hanna Mining and BP, to name a few companies, contributed to Cleveland’s decline. The loss of jobs led to the draining of population and monies from the city and the region as a whole. Cleveland schools also suffered during forced busing further leading to a loss of quality education and population.

The revitalization of Cleveland lags behind, its rust belt sister cities for numerous reasons. These reasons, according to some readers of the Plain Dealer, can be delineated into local and or regional problems and possible solutions. On a local level Cleveland must provide a more diversified pool of employment by expanding its focus from just the health care industry to other industries as well. It must encourage new business by providing a clean and safe environment as well as a quality school system for the employees of these new businesses. Tax incentives, better infrastructure and safe and quality housing within the city is a must. The politics of the city must also change and the parade of one party leadership (or the lack thereof) that has been lackluster at best and colored by cronyism and corruption must be changed. As Harry Truman once said, “A leader has to lead; otherwise he has no business in politics.” In order to move forward the city of Cleveland needs bold, energetic, and dynamic leadership.

On a regional level the city of Cleveland and the state of Ohio must work together to attract new industry and businesses by making college education affordable and offering incentives to graduates who accept employment and live in North East Ohio. The city and state must join together to market our region as our sister rust belt cities do with a comprehensive public relations plan that seeks business and tourism on a global scale. Tax incentives for industries, the development of a public rail transportation system throughout the state as well as the reclamation and preservation of our lakefront and other natural resources must me fostered.

I don’t see a thriving metropolitan corridor existing in the Cuyahoga Valley between Akron and Cleveland in the future. The best use of the resource is protecting it within the park system within which it lies and promoting tourism by expanding the activities currently existing there. Certainly small private farms and related businesses as well as bed and breakfasts, skiing facilities, hiking and biking businesses should be encouraged and supported. The preservation of this important part of the history between Cleveland and Akron can be insured by its rebirth as a tourist destination and wildlife sanctuary.


These are devastating times for the city of Cleveland, but it can survive these seismic setbacks because the city has must to recommend it; world class universities, museum and medical facilities, Lake Erie and land ripe for development.

Cleveland Industry tour

Cleveland is a pretty diverse city, with items of interest ranging from the arts (music, art, history, etc.) to the steel mill and other manufacturing places. In more prosperous times, I'd say that Cleveland does very well (as any city would in prosperous times, I guess), but today with the craziness of the economy, the setback of money problems was particularly evident in the steel mill. When we visited, nothing was running, and while our tour guide knew what he was talking about, it was hard to imagine what the mill would've looked like in more financially stable years.

Perhaps Cleveland is a bit slower to recover than other cities because it has placed a lot of its dependency on the steel mill and other factories that are suffering due to the economy. It was good to see, however, that the steel mill was trying to save money by not running at full tilt (as it were) every day. I think that if Cleveland just makes less of things but still stays in the business swing of things, it will be okay in the end. I could be totally wrong, though...I'm going to be honest and say that of any subject I've taken in school, economics is one of the few that so much of it went way over my head that I don't think, as one of my friends would say, that I could've looked and seen it with a telescope. I guess I'm just not money-minded, as it were.

But anyway...

I would hope that the Cuyahoga River is used in the next few decades, be it for transportation of goods and the like or even just one of the few natural features Cleveland has left. Rivers are a good way of connecting cities for trade and transportation, but sometimes it's nice to just be able to enjoy something in nature.

This really wasn't my best blog entry and for that I apologize...I'll try to make up for it with leaving excellent comments on others' blog entries!

Cleveland Industry Journal

Lienne Sethna

When Cleveland was founded in 1796, it soon became a manufacturing center due to its location near to numerous railroad lines and canals. Cleveland's economy used to be dependent on the manufacturing industry, however, now it is starting to move away from the struggling business and is coming to rely on the dozens corporate headquarters that are located in the city. Cleveland is finding it harder to rebound because it has lost dozens of corporate heads such as Office Max, BP, and its longtime resident National City Bank.

Sherwin-Williams encouraged me because of it's dedication to the city and its workers. My biggest concern for the revitalization is the fact that Cleveland's population has decreased substantially since the 1960s and has a 32.4% poverty rate.

The Cuyahoga River is no longer used as a way of transportation but I think that it is a good feature to the area and can be used as a way to advertise the beauty that exists in the area as well as the opportunities for business. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park brings in some tourism adds to the image of Cleveland and Akron being a wonderful place to live for all kinds of people. What I believe Cleveland lacks the most in it's inability to compete with other metropolitan areas is that the city is mostly thought of bad neighborhoods and the fact that it is the poorest major city in America which turns people looking for a place to live away.

Cleveland Industry

-- Cyrus Sethna --

Cleveland was once one of the greatest American cities. Cleveland began to grow significantly during the mid-nineteenth century. The city was ideally located to receive iron ore mined from Minnesota and shipped across the Great Lakes. Coal was brought to the city by rail from the southern United States. As a result Cleveland became a major American center for manufacturing and was home to numerous producers of steel who were able to utilize the raw materials brought to the city. By 1920, John D. Rockefeller had build his fortune and his legacy on Standard Oil, turning Cleveland into the fifth-largest American city.

In the late 1970's, there were numerous economic factors that led to the decline of the steel industry in Cleveland. The oil embargo and the economic recession contributed significantly to the decline of Cleveland's and other cities' manufacturing industries. As costs rose and demand dwindled, many steel companies, Cleveland's major economic assets, began the exodus from what is now termed the “rust belt” to the south, where workers were not yet unionized.

However, several other cities were effected by this great economic setback, namely Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The City of Pittsburgh had similar industries to that of Cleveland and was effected just as severely as Cleveland by the negative economic factors of the time. When the steel and heavy manufacturing withdrew from the city, Pittsburgh lost 200,000 jobs in three years. Pittsburgh was once the poster-city for rust belt atrophy, but in recent years, has made a significant recovery.

The next question that must be asked is “why has Pittsburgh, Cleveland's sister city, been able to make such a substantial comeback?” Some analysts claim that this is because “Pittsburgh already had its bust”. Well, the same is also true of Cleveland. In fact, both the health and education fields emerged in both Cleveland and Pittsburgh as the promising new industries. The kicker is economic diversity. Pittsburgh for example has been able to attract a motley assortment of industries, laying a strong and diverse economic foundation. Pittsburgh hasn't put all of its proverbial eggs into one proverbial basket. The City of Cleveland has been unable to fill the void left in its demographics, caused by the departure of jobs from the city. A host of baby boomers left the city, devoid of jobs when the heavy manufacturing dried up. Other rust belt cities have been able to fill this gap with younger people who are more likely to develop ties to their respective areas. While Cleveland is making an attempt to diversify itself economically, it certainly has a lot of distance to cover to catch up with some of its rust belt companions.

On the tour of Cleveland, I was encouraged by the fact that Cleveland does appear to be attempting to foster economic diversity. However, in recent years, the City of Cleveland has lost almost twelve corporate headquarters, TRW, OfficeMax, BP, Oglebay, and Norton to name a few.

In future years, I would like to see Cleveland using the Cuyahoga River to promote its own revitalization. The river holds the most promise as a natural feature that adds ambiance to potential real estate. The river is no longer needed to move materials or foster trade, so it should be used and maintained as a pristine natural feature that contributes significantly to property values.

This “thriving metropolitan corridor” is silly. Akron and Cleveland are two discreet cities, with two separate economies and two sets of problems. City government and residents must do their part to make their respective city as excellent as possible. After all, this is the twenty-first century and we no longer use the Ohio and Erie Canal for anything but recreation.

Cleveland Tour

The city of Cleveland, when it is not as prosperous and economically efficient, is slow moving. The steel mill is a good example of that. Nothing was running because of the poor economy. Cleveland might be slower to rebound as well because of the industries that move out and start up in other cities and states, like the Sherwin-Williams speaker mentioned.

What encouraged me though, was the steel mill and how Cleveland is able to produce it's own steel, which can be used for a number of things like construction equipment and appliances. I think a city that is able to produce it's own steel is a lot better off than other cities.

What worries me is how the Port Authority speaker mentioned that there are few exports leaving the city by ship, at least. There are many imports from foreign countries, but we aren't shipping out our own goods as much as we are receiving, which seems to me like an economic problem. Also, I think more people need to move into the city. Buildings could be better used as apartments, in my opinion.

The river links the cities of Akron and Cleveland but more so in the past than in the present. I would hope the river would increase connections between Akron and Cleveland in the future because I think if they were better connected, they could grow more prosperously. They could combine resources more effectively to provide what the other city lacks and both cities could thrive. The area seems to be lacking trade which could be brought in by a new convention center that would attract more business that other metropolitan areas have.

All together, I liked the steel mill most because I like learning about the metal and what goes into it to make it. I liked the machinery and the general appearance of the mill. I didn't like hats because they gave me a headache, but I thought it was kind of neat hearing the speaker talk through the headsets.

Cleveland Industry

Not sure if there was a writing prompt for this trip but I just wanted to sound off about the day we all had...I think I liked the time we spent at Sherwin Williams the best...I have been to the steel plant before, so that was not new to me...I found the breadth and depth of SW to be very interesting. Not sure I realized how long they have been around and surely did not know they own so many brands. I liked the way they seemed to value their employees by offering training, and doing things to ensure retention. They worked to validate their staff. I think this is sorely missed in most companies. People want to feel they are worth something to those around them...so on that note...thanks to all for their contributions throughout the day, and special thanks go out to Mr. Testa for his time, energy, and enthusiasm for these trips. Mr. Jo thanks for your time as well...

Just my 2 cents on the day.

Cleveland Industry

While on the trip you could see that in one area of Cleveland it looks like no one even could live there or even care about it, then another area has shiny huge buildings that show there is some life in the city. While at the Cleveland Port we were told several times about how the port hasn't had as much business this year due to the economy. Cleveland way back when was the place to be because of all the steel factories and other industries that existed there. Unfortunately most have moved away. Entire Industries have either moved to different sates or have died off completely.

One of my ideas as to why Cleveland has been slower to rebound then other industrial cities is that when a city like Cleveland has its downfall, most of the people don't stay there. They move to other places, other major Cities. Well those other large cities now have people that are living there and those cities are doing well. Cleveland I feel just has a lack of people and a lack of people that trust that their city to do well and make a rebound.

What encouraged me as we toured Cleveland today (haha...was like a week ago now) was even though we passed some buildings that looked run down and probably vacant, there were some buildings that had been restored and looked to be new and full of people. My biggest concern with Cleveland's revitalization is that with many businesses struggling to keep afloat that there will be less momentum to revitalize Cleveland. In the next 30 some years I don't know if I can visualize anything other then different historic landmarks and places of interest along the Cuyahoga river.

The Cuyahoga valley helps to connect both Akron and Cleveland by being a medium between the two. Yes Akron and Cleveland are completely different cities but have similar histories and started in similar ways. But on a side note, thinking back I don't recall any mention of Akron during the Cleveland trip. Yes I know the focus was on Cleveland but if they were connected in a huge way wouldn't there be more talk of it? What we lack to be able to compete with other metropolitan centers is people hear the city Cleveland and think of how it is one of the poorest cities in the US and don't really look into the city and what its doing to attempt to rebound.

All in all I really enjoyed this trip, got to see things like a guided tour of a steel mill and the port which most people will never get to see. And even though Cleveland may have alot of troubles, it shows hope to rebuild and come back as a great city, just takes time.

--
Fosch!

Akron Industry

Akron was a great industrial spot along the canal because of its location. It had many resources which helped it to thrive, one being the canal; for the time the canal was one of the most modern and fastest way to transport goods from A to B. One canal boat could hold almost as much as a 18 wheeler does today, so as for what you could transport there were many possibilities. One of the major factors for Akron's industry was the rubber and polymer manufactures. I think that the tire industry probably could have only thrived in another place given it had such a great transportation method for the time.

Akron is working to rebuild the city to show everyone that even though alot of industry has moved out more jobs can and will take its place. Akron took a part of the city which was ran down and no one wanted to live there and transformed it into a great place to live. They are building houses and making it feel like a suburban setting while still having the advantages of being in a city. Places like the old Quaker square is appealing to people to come in and visit the city, to show that there is a great history behind the city.

I feel that akron is a great city mainly because of everything that I listed above, not only is it rebuilding but it has many great things to offer to everyone and not just from the history standpoint. I feel that what Akron lacks to be able to compete with other metropolitan centers is the attitude that people have towards the city. Some people think that Akron is some run down city that nothing goes on there, some don't even bother to go and take a look for themselves.

Akron is a great place to visit, also a great place to live. I am glad that I was able to spend the day touring the city. And yes, I know my blog is late...better late then never I suppose.

--
Fosch

Akron Industry

The canal was the defining feature of Akron in its prime. The manual labor that building the canal required, and the commerce that it brought to the region when it was completed made Akron a truly great place to live and work. Even today, the remnants of these things that made Akron prosper are helping lead the city to prosperity once again. The towpath and the canal bring visitors to the area every day. The old silos have been transformed into a hotel-thing. The old factories are now something of a tourist attraction. The community and fellowship that was so strong during the canal era is being brought back in the new housing developments, and the community's new plan for the park.

Akron is not only relying on the past to make a comeback, but modern technology as well. The polymer lab was working on some fascinating, and in the future, possibly world-changing research, such as a cure for diabetes, and synthetic skin and bones. Akron is cool.

My 2 Cents

I have seen a few of you write about how Akron is working to re-invent itself a bit...keep in mind that this area WILL make a powerful comeback in years to come...why you ask?...very simple...WATER!!...the states that surround the Great Lakes have created a consortium and have put through legislation that has already made it through the House of Representatives in order to keep the water for these states...other areas of the country are already experiencing drought, just ask parts of California, Arizona, Georgia, and Tennesse...

..

As people have moved to these areas in search of a better climate useage issues have outpaced the infrastructure and natural resources...a few of these areas need their water trucked in daily...there are even law suits over what state has the rights to rivers, etc...for instance, who owns the water rights, is it where the river originates, or where most of it flows, or even where it ends...??(this is mainly in the summer months)...once again water will be THEE resource that puts this area back on the map...much like the canal days when water helped bring industry to the area, the Great Lakes will be at it again providing new "industry" for the area.

Remember, you heard it here first...

Industry Along the Canal

As I do every other field trip I enjoyed this one also. This trip was probably by far the most informative one yet.
I believe Akron survived as an industrial city along the canal for many reasons. Because of the Canal being located right along the city it gave businesses many opportunities for moving and shipping products to other places, without the availability of cars. While the city has fallen downhill they are trying very hard to bring industry back to Akron. One of the most thriving businesses currently is actually the University of Akron. Even though it is not really a business it is doing very much for the city as a whole. With the purchase of the old silos of Ferdinand Schumacker the university is also in the process of building brand new sports facilities with the last zips game at the rubber bowl last week. Projects like the north loft apartments that we toured bring money to the city. One thing that the city falls short on these goals is many factories such as Goodyear and Firestone are downsizing. Therefore losing money for the city.
While I wouldn't consider Akron a great city it far from just a city. Akron's industry benefits greatly from its strategic location. While having water transportation along the canal they also have the availability of trains. WIth the canal in its location the combination of CLeveland andAkron makie it a thriving corridor because it provides a direct route to lake erie. The one thing that Akron and Cleveland lack though is the availability ofa subway transit system. This system is very beneficial to the many other thriving cities in our country.
I enjoyed this trip and I am looking forward to the next one.

Akron Industry

Akron thrived on the Ohio and Erie canal because of its location at the "summit", a spot that once connected Lake Erie to the Ohio River. When B.F. Goodrich started his tire business in the small village the population increased by 200% and the land area went from 7,254 to 16,120 acres.

To rebuild it's cultural and economic success, the city hosts the National Hamburger Festival every summer, a tribute to Akron's role in the invention of the hamburger. Also, the Soap Box Derby encourages children from around the country to race their gravity powered cars down a steep hill. The Goodyear World of Rubber Museum honors the company that made Akron flourish in the early 20th century.

Akron has turned from the booming industries into a business center where many people make a living. I don't believe that it is just a city in the Cleveland area because it has its own history, however, they are connected by the Cuyahoga Valley's towpath and they do share some history when they were both key spots on the canal.

Akron cannot compete with other metropolitan centers because it lacks the ability to grasp people's attention. It has some areas of interest like Quaker Square and the Art Museum, but the overall brilliance of Akron left when the rubber industry declined in the 1970s.

Akron Industry

**I would like to preface this entry and just comment that I wasn't able to do anything before the Spaghetti Warehouse due to prior Saturday morning engagements, so I will answer/journal about as much as I can...

The city seems to be progressively moving towards economic success by the research and experiments done at the University of Akron. I'm not going to lie--a LOT of what the guy said went over my head, but as long as there ARE people that understand polymers and all that good stuff, I'd say Akron's in pretty good shape.

Akron Industry Trip

-- Cyrus Sethna --

Why did Akron succeed as an industrial spot along the canal? Most of Akron's growth in its early years can be attributed to being at the "summit" of the Ohio and Erie Canals. The history of the rubber industry and Akron's history go hand-in-hand. Rubber transformed the City of Akron from a small canal town into a fledgling city. Lots of rubber manufacturers started coming to Akron starting with B.F. Goodrich in 1869. For a while Akron, Ohio was the fastest growing American city.

Akron has taken many steps to try and spruce itself up again. The whole "Quaker Square" deal is a classic example. The hotel made out of silos is nifty, when my parents got married they put their guests up there. It's just a very neat place to stay with some local color. When I was little I'd always wonder what it was like to be inside as we drove past. I'm a huge fan of Quaker Square. It was an excellent idea to spruce up the former site of the Quaker Oats Company, but now it's not even a shadow of what it was when I was a lad. I'm really bummed about the largest model train display that used to be at the Depot but is no longer there.

These, "Ooh, come look at us!" attractions are examples of how the City (or people in the city) is using its history to boost itself a little economically. I wouldn't go so far as to say that they have failed completely; however, they aren't really glowing successes. I don't really need to point out why, just look around Akron. People aren't going to flock to Akron, Ohio to see where the rubber industry got its start or where Ferdinand Schumacher made a somewhat yucky breakfast food.

Akron was once a great City, but now it has shrunk considerably on the map. I wouldn't say it's just Cleveland's mistress, but it definitely doesn't have as much to offer as Cleveland does. I don't really see how Akron and Cleveland could interact more than they already do. They're two discrete cities with only a defunct canal in common.

What does Akron lack that prevents it from competing with other metropolitan areas? I don't thinik that this is the right question. The question is what does Akron have that prevents it from being on a level playing field? The answer is simple. There are too many poor minorities that are scaring the rich white folks away. And the few rich white folks that make it there get bored because there isn't really anything for them to do. There are only so many times you can go to the Akron Art Museam. The soap box derby is cool.

Akron Industry Trip

--Ashley--

Akron succeeded as an industrial spot along the canal for many reasons. For example, many jobs were created as a result of the commerce flowing through the canal. Some of those jobs were building the canal boats, guiding the boats through the locks, and loading and unloading the cargo. This leads to another important reason as to why Akron was very successful at that time. The canal was a great way to transport many goods faster and at one time.

Akron is slowly trying to gain back its economical and cultural success. Not only did they preserve some history by turning the Quaker Mills into hotel’s and offices, they also have the Inventor’s Museum, and Akron University has expanded which attracts many students. The Akron Polymer Science Building is also beneficial because they are helping expand the study of polymers to invent or improve things such as bullet proof vests. Another thing Akron is trying to do is to create as comfortable, and more suburban living place within the city limits. Most are near the park system where they are trying to connect the Cleveland and Akron bike trail.

Also, at my dad’s request, they have the Firestone golf classic.

Akron seems to be heading in a good direction so far, but as Anna said, there is still room for growth.

Akron and the Canal

The canal allowed Akron to be successful. It gave the people jobs and the resources were great. The city now is trying to rebuild things for a historic past. Like the interbelt night club that is going from being a gay bar to soon a jazz club.

Akron is a great place because of it's historic sites. Also helping Akron is the Akron University, which is home to many many students. Especially attracting many people for the polymer lab.

While Akron is a historic and great city, it definitely has a lot to do to be at once where it used to be. If it could restore itself to a better time, things would be great. Not just in the city, but also in the suburbs. Now when you drive through Akron one block a way from the loft houses are government housing. Akron is still today and important part of Ohio.

Tour of Akron

Akron succeeded as an industry mostly because it had the canal. The canal transported goods faster than any other method of transportation at the time and also provided jobs for the people of the area. Men had jobs building the canals and locks, cutting the stones, and building and working ships to use in the canals. There were plenty of jobs available. Akron also succeeded because of the tire companies that were started there like Goodyear and Firestone. These places thrived because they were some of the first places to make rubber tires and they somewhat monopolized the business. This industry probably could have thrived other places though too, like Cleveland.

Akron is moving towards a more communal setting with houses in a more neighborhoodly order. They expect young people in business to move in and the way the houses are set up, they are trying to create a nicer community setting with people on their porches and garages in back as opposed to in front of houses. Economically, Akron is getting more involved with Polymers by studying new uses for them, like enzymes. One thing they are learning how to create is polymer bandages to heal skin quicker on burn victims.

Akron is a great city because it is trying to bring people from all angles by creating a more community setting yet still supporting industries there. The polymer lab probably helps to draw in many students interested in the field and the city's history also helps bring people in, like the hotel that was converted from the quaker oats building. The Cuyahoga Valley helps connect Akron with Cleveland because of the many paths and the railraod that bring the cities togethor. People can travel to each city easily and see the beautiful scenery on the way. In the past, the canals have been able to connect the cities through trade and business. I honestly can't think of anything Akron is majorly lacking in, but it is not a perfect city and there is definately room for growth.

Google Tip: How to getter better information from the Net

Okay, so you're looking for some information for a school project, but having a hard time verifying the information you find. Here's how to tailor your search a bit better...

Use the 'site' command during your search. This will allow you to get information from, let's say, only reputable domains like .org, .gov, and .edu (both of these have been vetted somewhat, and the .edu domain can only belong to educational institutions, hence making the data a bit better). Here's how it works:

You want to search for information about fishing in the Arctic for a school report on economic growth. So you type in 'fishing', 'arctic' in the google search bar. That would return the following results: 8.6 million results, mostly about fishing 'getaways', resorts, etc. Now try this:

fishing arctic site:.edu <---- enter this in the search bar... notice the site: command

That gets us about 48,000 results, most of which are scientific in nature, and all of which are from an educational institution. Neat, huh?'

Okay, now try to find some reliable info on the current situation in Iraq, as reported by the government... (that's .gov) Happy hunting!