Campbell, Youngstown Residents Team Up for Clean Up

Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Iron Soup Inc. finds support from Youngstown volunteers in advance of Black Monday's thirtieth anniversary

On Saturday, August 25th, residents and local supporters working to revitalize the Campbell Works Company Housing will be joined by a contingent of volunteers from Youngstown to clean up the landscape and secure the many abandoned units that pose a threat to the residents. Built in 1918-20 and recognized as a national historic site as the "first pre-fab concrete estate in the world", the houses and their residents were left to an uncertain future thirty years ago on Black Monday, September 19, 1977, as Youngstown Sheet and Tube closed the nearby mill.

This year, residents formed the non-profit organization Iron Soup Inc. to lead the revitalization of the incredible, historic homes. Volunteers are securing broken windows and missing doors and clearing the neglected landscape. After reading about Tim Sokoloff and Iron Soup in the Vindicator, Youngstown north-sider Tyler Clark decided to help and quickly found an equal enthusiasm from friends.

"The response was immediate and universally positive," said Clark of the feedback from his call to action. "There's a new wave of energy right now in Youngstown that believes anything is possible and is opening its heart to give to the city and the region."

The invitation also spurred donations towards the effort from St. John's Episcopal Church and M-7 Technologies. The group is still seeking loaned commercial mowers and donated lunches and refreshments for the volunteers on Saturday. A list of needed items is online at http://www.altruismcenter.org/ironsoup.

"The outpouring of support since the article appeared in the paper has been overwhelming," said Sokoloff. "From donations to volunteers, it's exciting to see the level of interest in reaching out to and helping our project—our home." Sokoloff touted the innovations his group is planning to incorporate, such as using solar power for street and walkway lighting and stored rain water for irrigation.

About Iron Soup Inc.
Iron Soup Inc. is a non-profit company formed to protect and restore the historic Sheet and Tube Company Homes in Campbell, Ohio.

About the Center for Altruism
Youngstown's Center for Altruism provides human resources and project management for community endeavors.

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