!!musiC@!!!musiC@!

>>> WE HAVE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC BUILDINGS HERE IN OHIO.

AND ONE OF MY FAVORITES IS THE KELTON HOUSE.

>> GOOD ONE.

AND I LOVE VISITING THE FRANKLIN PARK CONSERVATORY.

AND IF YOU GO DURING THE HOLIDAYS, IT IS GORGEOUS.

>> AND THEN YOU WILL LOVE WHERE WE GO IN THE FIRST STORY, ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO VISIT DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

WE HEAD TO THE CLIFTON MILL IN CLIFTON, OHIO TO FIND OUT MORE.

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

>>> MY FAMILY BOUGHT THE MILL IN 1987.

AND MY FATHER AND I IN OUR OTHER LIFE WERE A BIG PART OF THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S FRAGRANCE BUSINESS BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

GAVE UP THE SUITS AND TIES AND BOUGHT THIS AND SAID LET'S MAKE A GO OF THIS.

MY FATHER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIG HOLIDAY KIND OF GUY AND WE BOUGHT ALMOST 10,000 LIGHTS THINKING THAT WE'D NEVER NEED ANOTHER LIGHT AGAIN.

THREW THEM UP AS BEST WE COULD AND PEOPLE STARTED PULLING IN SAYING THIS IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL, YOU SHOULD SHARE THIS.

AND THAT WAS LIKE AN AH-HA MOMENT FOR MY FATHER.

AND HERE WE ARE 4.8 MILLION LIGHTS LATER, AND COUNTING.

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

THIS YEAR WE STARTED THE END OF AUGUST.

WE WILL BE DONE PROBABLY THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING.

WE TYPICALLY START AT THE FAR END OF THIS SIDE OF THE BOARD, WORK OUR WAY TO THE BRIDGE WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE NOW.

WE'LL GO ACROSS THE BRIDGE EVENTUALLY AND THEN WE'LL CLEAR THAT SIDE AND PUT THEM UP OVER THERE IN THE MILL.

AND THEN WE'LL DO THE ANIMATED MINIATURE VILLAGE AND THEN WE'RE BASICALLY DONE.

SO WE START DOWN THERE WITH A LINE AND JUST START LINING IT.

THERE IS THREE LAYERS, THE GORGE LAYER, THE MIDDLE LAYER AND THEN THE UPPER LAYER.

BUT IF YOU COME OVER AND LOOK CLOSELY AT ANY OF THIS, THESE ARE LITERALLY INDIVIDUAL STRANDS.

STRING THEM, STRETCH THEM, PUT IT DOWN, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.

ONLY NETTING WOULD BE WHAT WE CALL THE WATERFALL LIGHTS WHICH IS THE RIVER COMING DOWN OUT OF THE HILL DOWN AND AROUND.

AND SPLASHES OVER THE END.

AND THEN THE FALLS.

TO ME IT IS THE CENTER PIECE OF IT.

THERE ARE SO MANY LIGHTS.

IT IS JUST LIKE -- AND 1802, THE YEAR BEFORE OHIO WAS EVEN A STATE.

THE ORIGINAL OWNER WAS OWEN DAVIS.

HE GOES WAY BACK TO THE PEOPLE FROM THE REVOLUTION THEIR WAR THAT FOUND THE AREA.

BASICALLY THE OHIO TERRITORY.

AND STARTED UP A MILL.

WE'RE LIKE NUMBER SEVEN FAMILY I BELIEVE.

OTHER NOTABLE OWNERS WERE LIKE THE PATTERSONS WHO WENT ON, YOU KNOW, PATTERSON PARK, WRIGHT PAT, NCR.

WHAT YOU SEE IS ORIGINAL.

IT IS OLD.

BASICALLY LIKE A TIME CAPSULE.

AND MID 1800s, THERE WAS A SAWMILL AND PAPER MILL AND STRAW MILL, CIDER MILL, GUNPOWDER MILLS.

THAT WAS EARLY INDUSTRY.

AND THIS IS PART OF ACCOMMODATION LIKE THAT WENT C COLUMBUS.

AND HERE FLOUR, WHEAT, CORN, BUCK WHEAT HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY PRODUCT HERE.

PEOPLE WHO MARCHED OFF TO THE CIVIL WAR CAME HERE AND GOT THEIR LITTLE BAG OF CORN MEAL AND FLOUR TO TAKE WITH THEM AND STUFF.

CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT THAT KIND OF THING.

SO MANY PEOPLE SAY THIS IS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, ANYBODY CAN DO THAT.

AND I'M LIKE ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE YOU CLIMB OUT ON A BRIDGE 40 FEET ABOVE THE RIVER IN WEATHER WITH ALL THESE CORDS.

OR UP ON THIS HIGH ROOF.

I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO GOES UP THERE.

I DON'T ASK ANY OF MY PEOPLE TO GO UP THERE.

HE AND I ARE THE MAIN PEOPLE.

WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE GUYS WHO COME AFTER THEIR REAL JOBS OR, YOU KNOW, EVERY OTHER DAY PART-TIME TO GIVE US A HAND.

AND WE'RE UP AGAINST CITIES AND PARKS AND PEOPLE WITH BIG BUDGETS AND BIG CREWS.

AND THIS IS JUST LITTLE OLD US.

THAT DECK IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.

YOU WILL SEE A LITTLE WOODEN BOX, THAT IS THE SWITCH.

14, 200-AMP PANELS KICK IN.

SO FROM TOTAL DARKNESS TO JUST -- !

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

ANIMATED MINIATURE VILLAGE IS A LOT OF FUN.

I'M THE GENERATION PARENTS WOULD TAKE ME AND MY SISTER THEY WOULD SAY DOWNTOWN AND LOOK AT ALL THE WINDOWS WITH ALL THE COOL STUFF GOING ON.

SO THAT IS WHAT WE TRY TO RECREATE.

SANTA COLLECTION, THIS IS MY MOTHER'S DOMAIN.

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 2500 SANTAS IN ALL DIFFERENT AGES IN THE SANTA COLLECTION.

AT MY AGE AND STAGE OF DOING THIS NOW, HONESTLY, YOU WILL SEE ME SMILE A LOT WHEN NOW I GET GENERATIONAL PEOPLE COMING UP, CHILDREN OF CHILDREN WHO CAME HERE AND HAD SUCH AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE AND THEY ARE LIKE WE WANT TO SHARE IT WITH OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

AND THIS IS PART OF WHY WE KEEP GOING.

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

>>> HISTORY RUNS DEEP IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES NOT ONLY IN THEIR STRUCTURES BUT ALSO IN THEIR INDUSTRY.

>> REYNOLDSBURG IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES THAT TAKE PRIDE IN AN ITEM THAT YOU EAT EVERY DAY BUT YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE HISTORY OF HOW IT WAS DEVELOPED.

ANY GUESSES?

>> HONEY CRISP APPLES?

SOME VARIETY OF CORN?

>> THOSE ARE GREAT GUESSES BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MODERN DAY TOMATO.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE REYNOLDSBURG HISTORICAL SOCIETY WHO SHARE THE STORY OF THE LIVINGSTON SEED COMPANY.

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

>> HI THERE, HOW ARE YOU?

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

I KNOW THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT ALEXANDER LIVINGSTON, BUT HERE IS MY QUESTION, HOW COME IT IS REYNOLDSBURG AND NOT LIVINGSTONBURG.

>> THAT DOESN'T SOUND QUITE AS NICE.

>> NATIONAL ROAD CAME THROUGH AND HE CAME FROM ZANESVILLE AND SO HE CAME OUT HERE AND HE WAS THE POST MASTER.

AND HE WAS BRIGADIER GENERAL.

>> AND WE WERE ALMOST NAMED AFTER A MAN NAMED JOHN FRENCH.

WE WERE ALMOST CALLED FRENCH TOWN.

AND WHEN JAMES REYNOLDS CAME, THE COMMUNITY EMBRACED HIM AND ACCEPTED HIM AND DETERMINED THAT THE NAME OF THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE NAMED AFTER JAMES REYNOLD AND WE ARE NOW REYNOLDSBURG.

>> WHERE DID THEY ORIGINALLY COME FROM?

>> THEY CAME FROM SCOTLAND, THEY HAD BEEN PROSECUTED.

AND SO THEY CAME OVER TO THIS TOWNSHIP.

AND CONGRESSIONAL LOTTED THE REFUGEE TRACT TO THE NOVA SCOTIA REFUGEES.

AND ONLY ONE REALLY CAME TO SETTLE.

JAMES CRAWFORD.

AND EVERYBODY ELSE SOLD THEIR LAND.

>> AND ONE THE EARLY SETTLING FAMILIES WAS THE LIVINGSTON FAMILY?

>> THEY CAME I THINK IT WAS 1815.

AND THEY BUILT A HOUSE UP ON WAGNER ROAD.

ALEXANDER WAS BUILT IN 1821.

>> AND NOW HE IS FOREVER FAMOUS BECAUSE HE IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOMATO.

>> THE ORIGINAL TOMATO WAS SMALL, PLANTS HAD IRREGULAR SIZES, THEY WERE HOLLOW.

KIND OF A WATERY GREEN PEPPER.

>> AS A YOUNG CHILD HE FOUND TOMATOES OUT IN THE WILD AND TOOK HIM HOME TO HIS MOTHER AND SHE QUICKLY SAID DON'T EAT THOSE, THOSE ARE POISONOUS.

BUT AS HE GREW UP, HE CULTIVATED THE FIRST EDIBLE COMMERCIAL VARIETY.

>> AND SO HOW DID HE GO ABOUT DEVELOPING THIS VARIETY?

DID HE HAVE FORMAL TRAINING AS A SCIENTIST?

>> HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TRAINING.

IT WAS A LOT OF EXPERIMENT.

>> HE HAD A FIELD AND HE THOUGHT I'LL PICK THE BEST TOMATO OFF ON EACH PLANT.

AND SO HE'D GO TO EACH AND PICK ONE TOMATO AND SAVE THE SEEDS.

AND NEXT YEAR HE GREW THOSE AND GOT THE SAME THING BECAUSE GENES WERE IN THE STALK OF THE PLANT ITSELF.

AND SO HE WENT AND PICKED THE BEST LOOKING PLANT.

AND GREW A FIELD OF THOSE AND THEY CAME OUT REALLY GOOD.

AND THEN HE TOOK THE BEST OUT OF THAT CROP AND NEXT YEAR HE PLANTED THAT.

TOOK HIM, WHAT, 20 YEARS?

>> IT WAS A LOG PAINSTAKING PROCESS.

>> TOOK A LONG TIME BECAUSE EVERY YEAR HE WOULD GET THE BEST AND THEN PLANT IT AGAIN UNTIL HE GOT WHAT HE WANTED.

>> AND THAT WAS THE MOMENT WHERE HE CONCENTRATED ON THE PLANT AND NOT JUST THE SEED.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND HE HAD SUCCESSFUL TOMATO AND HE STARTS SELLING THEM AND ORGANIZES A SEED COMPANY THAT BEARS HIS NAME?

>> CORRECT.

THIS HOUSE HAD A BUILDING AND GOT BLOWN DOWN IN A STORM WHERE THEY PACKAGED SOME OF THIS SEEDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> ALEXANDER LIVINGSTON SEED COMPANY IS STILL IN EXISTENCE.

AND HIS COMPANY TAKES OFF, BUT TOMATOES TAKE OFF EVERYWHERE, RIGHT?

PEOPLE GROWING THEM AND ALL SORTS OF COMPANIES SELLING THE SEEDS.

HE VISITS THE FAIRS TO COLLECT ALL THE SEEDS?

>> HE WANTED TO DEVELOP A YELLOW TOMATO, PURPLE TOMATO.

AND HE WOULD GO TO THE STATE FAIRS AND TALK TO THE GROWERS.

>> LET'S DESCRIBE SOME OF THE ITEMS YOU BROUGHT HERE.

>> THE SEED BOX THAT HAD THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF SEEDS WHEN SOMEONE WOULD GO TO PICK OUT WHATEVER THEY WERE GOING TO PLANT THAT YEAR.

AND SO HE GOES BACK TO 1876.

>> I LOVE SOME OF THE NAMES THAT HE CAME UP WITH.

>> YEAH, THE ACME, THE GOLDEN QUEEN I BELIEVE.

>> YEAH, FIT FOR A KING.

>> AND THE CATALOG THAT ONE THERE IS DATED 1888.

THERE IS A LOT OF ORIGINAL ARTWORK IN THERE OF PEN AND INK, COLOR, IT HAD TO BE QUITE A JOB TO MAKE THIS CATALOG.

AND THIS IS A BOOK LIVINGSTON AND THE TOMATO, I BELIEVE HE WROTE THAT, THESE ARE SEED BAGS.

THERE IS A PICTURE OF ONE OF SEED PACKETS.

AND A RECIPE.

HE WROTE A LOT OF RECIPES.

>> AND THE TOMATO STILL REALLY IMPORTANT TO REYNOLDSBURG.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE HAVE A FESTIVAL EVERY YEAR, IT IS IN THE SECOND WEEK OF AUGUST.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO GROW THEIR OWN TOMATOES IN THIS COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING FROM THE SMALLEST TOMATO ALL THE WAY UP TO THE LARGEST.

AND FUN VARIETIES AND PEOPLE THAT KIND OF CREATE THEIR OWN LITTLE CREATIONS TO MAKE SOMETHING FUN AND INTERESTING.

>> A FASCINATING LIFE AND THANKS FOR SHARING US THE DETAILS OF MR. LIVINGSTON IN REYNOLDSBURG.

>> HE WAS AN AMAZING SHARE.

AND ONE THING I ALWAYS LOVE TO SHARE, ALEXANDER LIVINGSTON WAS A BIG PROPONENT OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

HE SERVED A LOT OF PEOPLE GETTING THEM SAFELY THROUGH COMMUNITIES.

HE WOULD USE HIS WAGON TO TRANSPORT SLAVES TO THE NEXT SAFE SPOT.

SO REYNOLDSBURG HAS A FASCINATING HISTORY.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>>> CAN YOU WHISTLE?

>> SURE.

>> ARE YOU SURE?

>> SOME OF THE TIME I CAN.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

[ whistling ] >> WELL, THANK GOODNESS THEY HAVE INVENTED WHISTLES.

I COULDN'T SUSTAIN THAT FOR TOO LONG.

>> ME EITHER.

AND BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A MAJOR SUPPLIER OF WHISTLES CLOSE TO HERE IN WORTHINGTON, OHIO.

WE SENT JEFF DARBY TO THE AMERICAN WHISTLE CORPORATION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ITS HISTORY.

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

>> COLUMBUS NEVER WAS A BIG INDUSTRIAL CITY THE WAY CLEVELAND AND YOUNGSTOWN OR DAYTON WERE, BUT WE DID MAKE THINGS HERE.

WE MADE STEEL FOR A LONG TIME, WE BREW BEER HERE ESPECIALLY IN THE MICROBREWERIESES.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN INTERESTING COMPANY THE AMERICAN WHISTLE CORPORATION.

WE MAKE WHISTLES HERE IN COLUMBUS.

ONLY PLACE THIS TYPE OF WHISTLE IS MADE IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

HELLO, PHIL, HOW ARE YOU?

>> JEFF, HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING HERE.

>> AND YOU KNOW WHAT, I WORE MY SUNDAY BEST FOR YOU.

>> I LIKE THE SHIRT.

>> AND MACHINES DO THROW GREASE OUT SO -- >> I DO HEAR THE SOUNDS OF PRODUCTION.

>> AND WE'RE WELL UNDER WAY ON ONE OF THE HOTTEST DAYS OF THE YEAR.

ARE YOU READY TO SEE IT?

>> I AM.

>> COME ON IN.

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

>> IT IS ALL UNDER WAY.

IS IT EVERYTHING YOU DREAMED IT WOULD BE?

>> I THINK IT IS.

I LOVE FACTORIES.

>> AND YOU KNOW WHAT, SINCE YOU'VE GRACED US WITH YOUR PRESENCE, THERE IS YOUR WHISTLE RIGHT THERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OUR COMPANY HERE HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1956.

>> SO THIS PANEL EXPLAINS PROCESS.

>> YEAH.

AND WE'LL BE DOING A LOT OF THIS TODAY.

I'LL SHOW YOU SOME OF THIS AND LET'S START THE TOUR.

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

OVER HERE, PRESS NUMBER ONE, I'VE NAMED IT BIG JUNIOR.

WATCH HERE IN THE BOTTOM, TWO PARTS WILL FALL DOWN THERE ON TWO STREAKS.

SO HERE WE GO.

WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS BRASS IS BEING FED IN BETWEEN THESE TWO SHOES.

AND THEN INSIDE THE SHOES WE HAVE TWO MICKEY MOUSE EARS.

HERE IS A PIECE OF THE SCRAP BRASS.

>> OH, OKAY.

>> YOU SEE BIG JUNIOR HAS A ONE MICKEY MOUSE SHAPED FORWARD AND ONE FACING BACKWARDS.

>> SO THIS IS THE DYE CUTTING MACHINE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT POPS THOSE THINGS THROUGH AND SCRAP CUT OFF, WE RECYCLE IT, AND BRING IT BACK LOOKING LIKE THAT.

I CAN GET ABOUT 6,000 OUT OF EACH ONE OF THESE COILS.

>> AND BIG JUNIOR IS RIGHT HERE.

AND BIG JUNIOR IS STANDING RIGHT BESIDE GREAT, GREAT GRANDPA PRESS NUMBER TWO.

BECAUSE BIG JUNIOR WAS MADE IN 1975.

PRESS NUMBER TWO WAS MADE IN 1905.

BASICALLY HOW IT WORKS, WE'VE GONE TO THE PROGRESSIVE DYE, PRESS NUMBER FIVE, AND MADE THESE PARTS AND THESE ARE STACKED UP LIGHTER.

GOT THEM ALL STACKED UP IN THE THEATER BOX.

AND THIS CYLINDER HERE, INSIDE IT HAS A LITTLE SHAFT.

AND IT STRIPS OFF THE BOTTOM ONE AND SENDS IT BACK INTO -- >> ONE AT A TIME.

>> YEAH, ONE AT A TIME.

AND WHEN IT GETS BACK IN THERE, THEY ARE LIKE THIS AND ANOTHER CYLINDER POPS THIS OUT AND THEN THE PRESS SENDS THE FIXTURE THIS DIRECTION AND WRAP IT IS AROUND THE TOP AND RETRACTS AND KICKS IT INTO THE SIDE BOX THERE.

NOW IT IS LOOKING LIKE A WHISTLE.

>> IT SURE IS.

>> AND LET'S TAKE MICKEY MOUSE TO PRESS NUMBER THREE.

I DIDN'T COME UP WITH A NICKNAME FOR THIS ONE THOUGH.

I BELIEVE IF YOU LOOKED THE YOUR WHISTLE, THIS IS THE DYE THAT WE USE, THIS IS THE DYE INSERT.

THESE ARE MADE OF HARDENED STEEL.

AND, YEAH, THAT IS.

THERE IS A DIE INSERT IN THERE FACING THE CEILING.

AND THIS SAYS COACH BACKWARDS SINCE IT IS A STAMP.

THESE PARTS ARE SET IN ONE AT A TIME.

>> MICKEY MOUSE EARS GO IN THERE.

>> YEAH, THEY SLIDE RIGHT OVER TOP OF THE ONE INSTALLED HERE.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE THAT EXISTS RIGHT HERE THAT IS OVERLAPPING.

SO THE PRESS WILL COME DOWN AND MOVE IT DOWN UNDER THE SURFACE A LITTLE BIT AND BY DOING IT, IT STAMPS IT AND MOVES BOTH OF THOSE PARTS UP AND SHAPES THE WHISTLE.

>> LET'S SEE WHAT DIE INSERTS WE HAVE.

THIS MIGHT BE AWARD WINNING.

>> SO THAT WILL PROBABLY BE AN AWARD WHISTLE.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY WE CHECK OUT THE SOLDERING STATION?

MOST OF IT IS AUTOMATED.

IT STARTS OUT IN A BOWL FEEDER, ALL THOSE LITTLE TIPS THERE.

AND PUT THOUSANDS OF THOSE IN THERE AND THEN EVERY NOW AND THEN THERE IS A SPIRALING RAMP THAT GOES TO THE TOP AND KEGTSS UP WITH A TRACK THAT STRAIGHTENS THEM UP AND PLACE IN A CRADLE.

MOVES TO THE NEXT STATION WHERE IT WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH THE BACK.

ROTATES AROUND THE FRONT WHERE KELLY IS WORKING HERE.

AND THEN THAT OPEN GAS FLAME OVER THERE PUTS MELT ON ALL THAT SOLDER FACE.

>> AND THIS IS A PARTICULAR PROCESS TO GET EVERYTHING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

>> AND IT IS KIND OF HARD TO SEE, WE HAVE TWO VIBRATORIES, THE SQUARE ONE AND THEN WHAT I CALL THE BIG BAGEL BACK HERE IN THE BACK.

WE CAN PUT ABOUT 5,000 IN THAT ONE TO RUN SIX HOURS IN THERE POLISHING THEM OUT.

AND 1,000 OF SMALLER ONES WE USE THAT ONE FOR CUSTOM ORDERS.

>> SO THEY POLISH THEM SMOOTH.

>> YEAH.

AND WE HAVE A NEW PRODUCT THAT WE'RE MAKING, AND IT IS A PLASTIC WHISTLE.

AND CAN I RARNG FOR ARRANGE FOR HELP US MAKE ONE?

>> LET'S DO IT.

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

>> THIS MACHINE RIGHT HERE IS A SONIC WELDER.

AND WE MAKE THESE IN OUR INJECTION MOULDING MACHINES.

AND THAT IS TWO HALVES.

AND WE MAKE A SYNTHETIC CORE.

WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU LIKE TO PUT IN THERE?

>> I THINK BLUE IS NICE.

>> THERE YOU GO.

JUST SET IT RIGHT DOWN IN THERE.

THAT'S IT.

GIVE HER A SHOT THERE.

>> OKAY.

DONE.

>> JEFF, YOU'RE HIRED.

YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS NOW SONICALLY WELDED TOGETHER WITH THAT FREQUENCY YOU JUST HEARD.

AND WE CAN MAKE ALL SORTS OF COLORS.

AND I FIGURE THAT YOU WOULD WANT AN OSU WHISTLE OR OHIO STATE WHISTLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO I WANTED TO MAKE THAT FOR YOU.

AND BEFORE YOU BLOW THAT THING, CHILLS MIGHT RUN UP AND DOWN YOUR SPINE THE FIRST TIME THEY DID ME.

ARE YOU READY?

>> I'M READY.

>> SOMETHING ELSE, ISN'T IT?

>> SO HOW CAN PEOPLE COME AND VISIT?

>> PEOPLE CAN SCHEDULE OR CALL US OR GO ON AMERICAN WHISTLE.COM.

>> AND A SMALL FEE?

>> YES, THERE IS.

LOOK AT DID YOU ARE PAYING FOR THE TOUR OR PAYING FOR THE WHISTLE.

YOU GET ONE OF THEM FREE.

>> WELL, THIS HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU FOR MY EXPERIENCE AND FOR MY SOUVENIRS.

>> THANK YOU FOR VISITING WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR THE TOUR AND LEARNING THE PROCESS.

>>> WOSU CURIOUS C BUS ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR REGION, ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE.

DIVISION OF FIRE RECENTLY TURNED 200 YEARS OLD.

AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS GROWN TO 35 STATIONS COVERING THE STATION.

ALONG THE WAY, SOME OF THOSE STATIONS HAVE GARNERED SOME INTERESTING NICKNAMES.

THIS LED ONE CURIOUS VIEWER TO ASK, HOW DO COLUMBUS FIRE STATIONS SUCH AS THE RIVER RATS GET THEIR UNIQUE NAMES?

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

A FIRE STATION GETTING A NICKNAME OR ADOPTING A MASCOT IS A FAIRLY COMMON PRACTICE.

AND COLUMBUS IS NO EXCEPTION.

COLUMBUS FIRE STATION 10 IS IN THE HEART OF FRANKLINTON, A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH ITS OWN NICKNAME, THE BOTTOM, BECAUSE IT WAS PRONE TO FLOODING BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FLOODWALL.

AND SO THE FIREFIGHTERS AT STATION NUMBER 10 BE LED TO BE KNOWN AS THE RIVER RAT.

THE LOCATION OF A FIRE STATION OFTEN PLAYS A ROLE IN ITS NICKNAME.

AND THAT WAS THE CASE FOR STATION 5, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 211 MccASTRONAUT NAUGHTEN ROAD.

AND IT CAME TO BE CALLED THE HOUSE OF THE RISES SUN.

THAT NO LONGER IS THE EASTERN POST STATION BUT THE NAME STUCK.

FIRE STATION ONE WHICH IS LOCATED AT 300 NORTH 4th STREET IS KNOWN AS THE EAGLES NEST BECAUSE IT IS A TALL THREE STORY BUILDING AND STAFF HAVE TO GO UP AND DOWN A LOT OF STEPS TO GET ANYWHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

STATION 2 IS THE JOHN NANCE STATION DEDICATED TO A LONG TIME COLUMBUS FIREFIGHTER WHO DIED IN A 1987 ARSON FIRE.

BUT IT ALSO HAS A DIFFERENT NICKNAME, IT STARTED DECADES AGO WHEN THEIR LADDER TRUCK CARRIED A MONITOR NOZZLE ON ITS RUNNING BOARD TO PROTECT IT FROM THE WEATHER, THEY HAD A CANNABIS COVER FOR IT WHICH LOOKED LIKE A BULLDOG SO EVENTUALLY THEY CAME TO BE KNOWN AS THE BULLDOGS.

ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL NICKNAMES COMES FROM A CONNECTION TO THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL.

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

STATION 14 WHICH TODAY IS LOCATED PARSONS AVENUE IS KNOWN AS THE ELVIS STATION.

THE STORY GOES THAT WHEN THE STATION WAS HAVING ITS ANNUAL INSPECTION PARTY, SOMEONE PUT OUT A BUST OF ELVIS PRESLEY AND THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF AT THE TIME WAS NOT ENTIRELY PLEASED WITH THE PIECE OF ARTWORK AND ASKED WHY IT WAS THERE.

THE CAPTAIN EXPLAINED THAT THEY WERE FOLLOWING THE DIVISION SYSTEMS MANUAL TO, QUOTE, DO THE BEST TO FIT IN WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, END QUOTE.

AND SO THE STATUE STAYED AND EVENTUALLY NEIGHBORS STARTED DONATING COLLECTIBLES SUCH AS PAINTINGS OF ELVIS ON BLACK VELVET.

IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE ELVIS HAD A LOCKER OF HIS OWN WITH A 70s FIREFIGHTING GEAR RIGHT NEXT TO A GUITAR.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR CURIOUS C BUS?

HEAD TO WOSU.ORG/CURIOUS TO SUBMIT YOUR IDEA AND SEE WHAT WE'VE COVERED SO FAR.

>> THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN CATCH ALL OF EPISODES ON COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOOD.ORG.

>> AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS.