Oakley's History (Cincinnati, Norwood, Madison: subdivision, live, club)

[motorman]

The more you talk about this painful Cincinnati loss, kjbrill, the more you make me mad and sad--so just let it go.

Needless to say, your expertise here is much valued and what you've said is true...Cincinnati was once the "machine-tool capital of the world," and, back then, that alone, said it all. Not only Cincinnati Milacron and LeBlond, but the entire machine-tool industry along Spring Grove Avenue.

Thus, here we all are today--still a proud blue-collar/white-collar city with aspirations. Perhaps not the same now as then, but still important. Needless to say, many of us can still recall what Cincinnati once was (from its vibrant, wonderful downtown out to its industrial environs) and, therefore, we can look back to this, our collective past, with sadness. (as you said, kjbrill, in so many ways Cincinnati lost it all--and you're right.)

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by motorman

The more you talk about this painful Cincinnati loss, kjbrill, the more you make me mad and sad--so just let it go.

Needless to say, your expertise here is much valued and what you've said is true...Cincinnati was once the "machine-tool capital of the world," and, back then, that alone, said it all. Not only Cincinnati Milacron and LeBlond, but the entire machine-tool industry along Spring Grove Avenue.

Thus, here we all are today--still a proud blue-collar/white-collar city with aspirations. Perhaps not the same now as then, but still important. Needless to say, many of us can still recall what Cincinnati once was (from its vibrant, wonderful downtown out to its industrial environs) and, therefore, we can look back to this, our collective past, with sadness. (as you said, kjbrill, in so many ways Cincinnati lost it all--and you're right.)

Yes, but it is extremely painful. Recognizing this city was once the epitome of the machine tool industry in the free industrial world to the fact the only remainimg remnants are foreign owned gives me a big lump in my stomach. And in fact, I don't believe any of them still have operations in Cincinnati.

It is easy to say let it go. When it is your life work, a little more difficult. In addition to being my life's work, it was the life's income to so many Cincinnatians. That is the huge difference I miss.

[kjbrill]

So hard to resolve when your life's work went down the tubes. But it was not just the work, it was the income for thousands in Cincinnati, what comprised the middle class. Wiped out, kaput, gone. That is my biggest regret for what happened to the machine tool industry in Cincinnati, Hell the entire USA. We got zapped and our government did virtually nothing to assist us.

Big government only controls one thing - the military, because they control it. Other than that they could care less, even let the auto industry fall on its ass. If you are expecting government to help you, you are SOL.

[kjbrill]

Hey we lament the Middle Class disappearance from Cincincinnati. Where did it go? Just look at the machine tool industry disappearance, that is your answer. When I was a young man the machine tool industry supported a large percentage of middle class incomes in Cincinnati. Suddenly they are gone and along with them the middle class incomes. Yes, I am mad, solicitious, and a whole lot of other bad terms relative to the happenings.

[kjbrill]

Oakley has a long history. But to me, in the 20th century, Oakley was simply THE MILL. Thousands of people went to work there and the products just rolled out the door. Now it is what, pretty apartments and stores which don't add much to the economy at all. THE MILL had jobs and lots of them. I'll get off my box, but it doesn't make me any happier.

[Ohio123]

Its weird when the last 4 posts over 3 weeks are from the same person.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by Ohio123

Its weird when the last 4 posts over 3 weeks are from the same person.

What's weird about it, when it was a huge part of my life. I keep remembering what Oakley and THE MILL once were and how they are gone. So now we talk about Oakley Station, Rookwood Commons, and several other namby-pamby operations which are doing virtually nothing to contribute to the economy of Cincinnati like the companies on whose ground they sit once did. If I get the urge to come back and post more, I will.

It is like when the GM plant in Norwood closed. Several thouands of people out of jobs. You don't just replace this overnight. In fact, you may not replace them with equal paying jobs for years, if ever.

Oakley is now a bedroom community. It was once an industrial powerhouse. Which do you think is best for the City? Right now Oakley is no different than Liberty Township other than its older.

[Nor2012]

Rookwood Commons is actually located in Norwood. Norwood owns all of Rookwood. All the signs even says Norwood ohio. It's frustrating when people consider it as Oakley because it isn't. It's like people don't want to give Norwood credit for what's theirs.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by Nor2012

Rookwood Commons is actually located in Norwood. Norwood owns all of Rookwood. All the signs even says Norwood ohio. It's frustrating when people consider it as Oakley because it isn't. It's like people don't want to give Norwood credit for what's theirs.

That's right. For many years that land was all industrial factories. For a long time the people employed where the retail is now were just in an industrial environment, paying city income taxes to Norwood. But I don't think Norwood was overly anxious to point out those dilapidated factories were part of Norwood. Now that the factories are gone and Rookwood Commons claims an upscale environment, Norwoodians are anxious to claim the space.

[Wilson513]

People think that Rookwood Commons is in Hyde Park because that is what the developers wanted people to think. Its all designed and marketed that way.

After all, who would think of going to Norwood for an upscale shopping spree?