Railroads and Industry |
Age: 4th
grade and above
Objectives:
- To explore the economic benefits linked
to the railroads.
- To understand the the development of
industry.
Preparation:
Students should visit First
American Roads, Rails, and Rivers Online.
Summary:
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad brought
significant industrial change to the area of Bowling Green and
Warren County. After the devastation of the Civil War, the agricultural
economy and newly-improved railroad system helped revitalize
Bowling Green. Beside the familiar farm landscape of tobacco
and corn, strawberries became a significant agricultural crop.
From the early 1900s to the 1950s, strawberry production was
a major agricultural industry in Warren County. After harvest
growers loaded their strawberries onto the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad cars at the Tenth and Adams facility. Although growing
strawberries was a profitable, production slowly declined because
of the lack of cheap labor, crop disease, late-season freezes,
and outside competition.
Other major industries in the area included logging,
dressmaking, limestone, and oil. The logging industry became
successful because of the railroad system. In 1912 the Bowling
Green Lumber Company was founded. Dressmaking was one of the
largest industries in Bowling Green due to the garments of Carrie
Burnam Taylor. Her designs were known and in great demand throughout
the country.
The limestone industry made Warren County famous
across the nation from the 1870s through the 1930s. Warren County
limestone was used to build many significant buildings including
the classical revival style train depot which is the depot that
remains in existence today. Warren County limestone was prized
because of its resistance to weathering and because it bleached
whiter over time. It was used to build the Warren County Courthouse,
the Kentucky Building, and the Bowling Green Junior High School.
Instructions:
- Have students discuss what they saw in
First American
Roads, Rails, and Rivers Online. that relates to the
industry aided by the railroads.
- Have students compare what is being produced
agriculturally and the development of industry today as compared
to the early days of the railroad such as how the dressmaking
industry has changed, how buildings are built, and what agricultural
products are being produced. Also review the others means of
transportation used for these products to be shipped nationwide.
- Have students visit one of the sites
mentioned and make note of the physical changes in construction
such as the L&N Depot being solely built of limestone compared
to Plaza Hotel and Convention Center or other recent buildings
being constructed of brick, concrete, or other materials.
- Have students research a particular building
and/or house and complete the worksheet Reading
a Building. This can also be a chance for students to become
familiar with their particular neighborhood or local historical
buildings.
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