Dover library program to spotlight county manufacturing history

Dover Public Library will continue its America 250 celebration Thursday, Feb. 26, with a program on local manufacturing history.

Shelagh Pruni, director of the Reeves Victorian Home and Carriage House Museum, and Kim Jurkovic, local history librarian, will discuss their recent collaboration on a book, "The History of Manufacturing in Tuscarawas County." A book signing will follow.

The book traces the county’s manufacturing history from early grist mills and the iron and steel era to the post-World War II shift toward plastics and chemicals.

The program aligns with the Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial theme for February, “Ohio Works: Innovation and Industry.” Pruni said a book on Tuscarawas County’s manufacturing history fit the theme, particularly because the Reeves family played an important role in the county’s industrial development. She approached Jurkovic about co-authoring the project.

Pruni and Jurkovic’s book spans the county’s industrial growth from early blast furnaces to the modern era. It includes the iron and steel industry and companies such as Reeves Manufacturing Co., American Sheet and Tin Plate Co. and Dover Manufacturing Co., along with businesses including Clow Pipe and Heller File. It also looks at later diversification through companies such as Gradall, General Electric and Seiberling Rubber’s plastics division. The book concludes with companies including Snyder Manufacturing and Marlite.

Pruni has served as director of the Reeves Museum and Dover Historical Society for 10 years. She serves on the City of Dover Architectural Review Board, the Convention and Visitors Bureau board and the Birthright of New Philadelphia board. Before her museum work, she homeschooled her five children and assisted in managing her husband’s chiropractic practice.

Jurkovic is a graduate of New Philadelphia High School. She earned 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, including roles at the Reeves Museum and the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum. She is also curator at the Tuscarawas County Historical Society and local history librarian at the Dover Public Library’s Dover Historical Society Archives in the Local History Room.

The program will be held in the community room at Dover Public Library, 525 N. Walnut St. Registration is available at doverlibrary.org/events or by calling 330-343-6123.