A chance encounter gave Carl Jacobson an idea.

The 58-year-old was the last hiring group at the Ohio Works plant. When the plant closed as part of steel's collapse in the late 1970s, lives were thrown into disarray. Some 35 years later, those lives have never really connected the way they did under molten metal and brown haze.

Carl wants to give that group a chance to reconnect, and that's what the Saturday and Sunday reunion gatherings are about at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor.

I got a chance to talk to Carl Friday, and that will make for a story in Sunday's paper. But till then, read below the lineup for Saturday and Sunday and see about attending this reunion effort.

And check out Carl's story Sunday. It was a great chat that should make for a great read.

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YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor — also known as the steel museum — will host several events in conjunction with the Summer Festival of the Arts next Saturday and July 14 at Youngstown State University.
A series of steel company and railroad employee reunions will take place during the weekend. Current and former steel and rail employees and their families are encouraged to stop by the museum at 51 W. Wood St. (across from St. Columba’s Cathedral) to reconnect, enjoy a cup of coffee, and share stories.
While specific reunion times have been set for some companies, anyone may visit at any time.
Here is the schedule:
next SATURDAY
US Steel: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Republic Steel: 2 to 4 p.m.

july 14
Youngstown Sheet and Tube: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Railroad workers: 2 to 4 p.m.

In addition to the reunions, Clayton Ruminski will conduct a presentation supporting his photo exhibit, “Iron Valley: A Century of Change at Hubbard Furnace,” at 1 p.m. next Saturday. Ruminski’s photo exhibit is on display at the museum.

Also on display all weekend will be the permanent exhibit “By the Sweat of Their Brow: Forging the Steel Valley.”

The Western Reserve Modular Railroad Club’s model train exhibits will also be available for viewing.

The steel museum will offer free admission and parking during the entire weekend. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. July 14.

Free parking will be available on the YSU campus.