The Reynolds Story
By Cody Berry There were two companies that competed for dominance in the bauxite fields of Saline County: the Aluminum Company of America, aka Alcoa, and the Reynolds Metals Company which may know as the makers of aluminum foil today. Reynolds started its life in 1928 as a subsidiary of the U. S. Foil Company. … Continued
More About Aluminum
By Cody Berry This time, I want to talk more about aluminum. Recently, I was looking for items to use in an exhibit on WWII, and I found a few small books about the Reynolds Metals Company and the Hurricane Creek Plant which operated in Saline County for many years. In a book from 1950 … Continued
From Alumina to Aluminum: The Hall-Heroult Process
By Cody Berry Last time we covered the Bayer Process which takes the alumina out of raw bauxite ore. This week we will cover the next step in the aluminum making process. In 1880, a 20-year-old first year student at Oberlin College in Ohio named Charles Martin Hall started his research into the production of … Continued
Can we make it to 20,000 followers by summer?
Our library currently has 13,000 Facebook followers. But we want to tell everyone we know about all the awesome programs, books, and materials the Saline County Library has to offer! So, we’re racing towards 20,000 followers in the most fun way possible… by fostering our community and having prize drawings! So, are you ready to … Continued
From Bauxite to Alumina: The Bayer Process
By Cody Berry Since our new exhibit is focused on the town of Bauxite, and the industry that built it, I wanted to answer some commonly asked questions. The question explored in this article: “What happens to the bauxite after it’s dug up?” Once the bauxite ore was mined, there was a complex process a … Continued
How Bauxite Built a Town
By Cody Berry We at the Gann Museum are pleased to announce that the museum has reopened after a very cold winter. Our new exhibit “How Bauxite Built A Town: 1896-1984″ pays tribute to the people who labored in and around the bauxite mines of Saline County during that time. The town of Bauxite holds … Continued
Lynda Hollenbeck: A Legend in Saline County Journalism
By Cody Berry Photo above of Lynda Hollenbeck courtesy of Destin Davis at the Saline Courier. On January 6, I learned about the passing of a legendary figure in modern Saline County history, the great Lynda Hollenbeck. Lynda was born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas on August 8, 1941, to Paul and Lillie Parnell. A graduate … Continued
Who was Mrs. Gann?
By Cody Berry Since March is Women’s History Month, I wanted to write a bit about some Saline County women. Last week I recounted my meeting with the local chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, so this week, I wanted to talk about Mrs. Gann. Unlike Dr. Gann, Sr., who was … Continued
It’s National Library Week!
National Library Week is here, and we’re celebrating! Thank you to all the amazing things libraries, librarians, and library workers do to help strengthen our communities, promote literacy, and so much more! Check out the events that Saline County will have Starting Monday, we’ll have events EVERY EVENING during National Library week! Pick your favorite… … Continued
East End’s First Birthday!
🥳Our youngest branch, the East End Branch, was opened on April 1st last year, 2024. So this year, we’re celebrating!!! 🥳 On April 1st, 2025 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, we’ll have crafts, activities, and treats at the East End Branch to celebrate one year of awesome library-ing! So, some of our stats for the … Continued