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Dover Public Library will continue its celebration of America 250 on Thursday, February 26 at 6:30 PM. Shelagh Pruni, director of the Reeves Victorian Home and Carriage House Museum, and Kim Jurkovic, local history librarian, will speak about their recent collaboration to write a book The History of Manufacturing in Tuscarawas County. The book traces the manufacturing history of the county from the early years of the grist mills, the iron and steel age, to the post World War II era transition toward plastics and chemicals. A book signing will follow the program.
When the Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial met to discuss plans for the 2026 celebration, members designated a theme to each month of the year. The month of February was designated "Ohio Works: Innovation and Industry.” Shelagh Pruni, director of the Reeves Home, thought that a book about the manufacturing history of Tuscarawas County would be a perfect fit for February’s theme since the Reeves family played an important part in the development of industry in this county. She approached Kim Jurkovic, local history librarian, about writing such a book.
Together, Pruni and Jurkovic have created a book that spans development from the early blast furnaces to the modern era. The book includes a look at the iron and steel industry with the Reeves Manufacturing Company, American Sheet & Tin Plate Company, the Dover Manufacturing Company and similar businesses like Clow Pipe and Heller File. Manufacturing diversified in the county over the years with places like Gradall, General Electric, and Seiberling Rubber's plastic division. The book concludes with businesses such as Snyder Manufacturing and Marlite.
Shelagh Pruni has been the Director of the Reeves Museum and Dover Historical Society for ten years. She currently serves on the City of Dover Architectural Review Board, the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board, and the Birthright of New Philadelphia Board. Prior to her museum work, she homeschooled her five children for twenty school years and assisted in managing her husband’s chiropractic practice.
Kim Jurkovic, a graduate of New Philadelphia High School, has a history degree from Muskingum College and a master's degree in Public History from Kent State University. She has worked in the public history field in Tuscarawas County since 1997, with experience at the Reeves Museum and the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum. Jurkovic is currently the curator at the Tuscarawas County Historical Society and the local history librarian at Dover Public Library's Dover Historical Society Archives in the Local History Room.
This program will be held on Thursday, February 26 at 6:30 PM in the community room at the Dover Public Library, located at 525 N. Walnut Street. To register, visit www.doverlibrary.org/events or call the library at 330-343-6123.
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