Once known as the �Rubber Capital of the World;� Akron now hails as the �City of Invention.� As the fifth-largest city in Ohio; it has grown from an industrial center to a hub of culture and science. During this change; Akron�s downtown went from a vibrant retail district to being somewhat empty; however; the city was reborn with a baseball stadium for the Akron RubberDucks (the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians); new restaurants; concert venues; and in its role as a host for national events such as the 2014 Gay Games. As recently as 20 years ago; rubber workers made up a large part of Akron�s population; but the number of people employed in the rubber industry dropped by half between 2000 and 2007. In 2001; Akron was named among the country�s 10 high-tech havens by Newsweek; and it is now considered the center of �Polymer Valley.�
#22072 in eBooks 2016-09-20 2016-09-20File Name: B01A4B2JHG
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Donald W. MooreGreat book and great service!!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Barn FreshPretty interesting with plenty of pictures.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Interurban history brought to lifeBy Roger C. ParkerKenneth G. Johnsens Yakima Valley Transportation Company; the latest in Arcadia Publishings Images of Rail series; does what Arcadia Publishing does best: keeping the stories and photographs of regional railroading alive for future generations at a fair price for future generations.This is an exceptionally valuable addition to anyone interested in reading about; or modeling; the electric interurban railroads that transformed America in the early days of the Twentieth Century; then went into a slow decline as better roads and automobiles became available.The Yakima Valley Transportation Company was an exceptionally long-lived line; thanks to its later ownership by the Union Pacific; and also thanks to its sizable freight traffic--primarily; apples.Like others in the Images of Rail series; the Yakima Valleys is told in hundreds of sharp black and white photographs taken over a period of 90 years. The result is a portrait of a small city and its rail-based connection to the rest of the country. There are enough photographs of construction details; street scenes; and rolling stock to keep an interurban modeler busy for years.There are even photographs of steam engines at work building the line in the 1910s!Best of all; the Yakima Valley continues to live; thanks to the authors volunteering to keep trolleys alive and on the streets of Yakima during the 70s and 80s; and the activities of a local group to re-establish trolley service to the Yakima Convention Center.Kenneth G. Johnsens book reminds us that transit history wasnt convinced to the large urban centers traditionally covered in the railroad press; smaller cities; too; had colorful interurban lines that; often; survived well past their peak.The Yakima Valley Transportation Company represents an excellent value interested in reading about; or modeling; interurban railroads serving smaller cities and agricultural areas during periods of growth; expansion; decline; and rebirth. Note: although I received an early review copy; this is a book Id re-buy for myself or a friend.
