Of more than a dozen factories that General Motors intends to close: Statement from General Motors, “GM Pulls Ahead U.S. Plant Closures; Reaffirms Intent to Build Future Small Car in U.S,” June 1, 2009.
“We would do everything possible”: Katherine Yung, “Creative Tax Plan Key to GM Triumph,” Detroit Free Press, June 28, 2009.
Everything possible included setting up a war room: Ibid.
Originally, it was to have been manufactured in China: Statement from General Motors, “GM Announces Plan to Build Small Car in U.S.,” May 29, 2009; Steven Mufson, “After Many Tuneups, A Historic Overhaul; A Global Industry Is Transformed in Race to Reinvent U.S. Automakers,” Washington Post, May 31, 2009.
Then, while the Orion assembly plant was shut down: Tom Krisher and Dee-Ann Durbin, “Tiny Chevrolet Sonic Helps Detroit Shake Off Rust,” Associated Press, Jan. 11, 2013.
While waiting for the plant to reopen: Chrissie Thompson, “Goal: All 2nd-Tier Pay at Orion,” Detroit Free Press, Oct. 16, 2010.
Scores of Orion workers picketed: Kevin Krolicki, “GM Workers Protest Low-Wage Small-Car Plant,” Reuters, Oct. 16, 2010.
Another filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board: Brent Snavely, “Laid-off GM Worker Files Complaint Against UAW,” Detroit Free Press, Oct. 27, 2010.
The NLRB dismissed: Denial Letter, Case 07-CB-017085, International Union UAW and its local 5960 (General Motors LLC), National Labor Relations Board, Feb. 2, 2011.
So at 6 a.m. on August 1, 2011: David Barkholz, “GM begins Chevrolet Sonic Production at Suburban Detroit Plant,” Autoweek, Aug. 1, 2011.
Paul Ryan issues a joint statement: Press release, “Reaction of Wisconsin Congressional Delegation Members to GM’s Decision on the Location of its New Auto Line,” June 26, 2009.
Paul believes it is pointless to wait around: James P. Leute, “So What Does ‘Product-ready’ Mean?,” Janesville Gazette, June 27, 2009.
Chapter 14: What Does a Union Man Do?
It goes back to the lead mines: Carol March McLernon, Lead-mining Towns of Southwest Wisconsin (Charleston, S.C.: Acadia Publishing, 2008), 20, 28.
Chapter 15: Blackhawk
Blackhawk Tech is named for a famed Sauk Native American warrior: Michael J. Goc, “Origins,” Wisconsin Hometown Stories, Wisconsin Public Television.
In 1911, they became the first system: Video, “100 Years of Making Futures,” Wisconsin Technical College System, 2011.
Chapter 16: Ahead of the Class
ONE ROSE CAN BE MY GARDEN: Based on quote by Leo Buscaglia.
Chapter 17: A Plan and Distress Signals
The next day, on October 29, stories announcing: James P. Leute, “Public-Private Economic Development Initiative Is a First for Rock County,” Janesville Gazette, Oct. 29, 2009; Hillary Gavan, “Rock County 5.0 Launched with Cooperative Effort,” Beloit Daily News, Oct. 29, 2009.
“It’s a great idea”: Editorial, “Joining Forces for the Future,” Beloit Daily News, Oct. 30, 2009.
But now, signs of people’s financial collapse: Records, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Wisconsin.
Some aren’t finding an escape plan: Foreclosure records, Office of the Treasurer, Rock County, Wisconsin.
Or because, with unemployment in Rock County: Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Janesville-Beloit, Wisconsin, metropolitan statistical area, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. 2009.
Chapter 18: The Holiday Food Drive
Last year, for the food drive of 2008: Stacy Vogel, “Hundreds Turn Out for Food Drive,” Janesville Gazette, Dec. 20, 2008.
The food drive, he told a Gazette reporter: Stacy Vogel, “UAW/GM Food Drive Is About Helping, Not Mourning,” Janesville Gazette, Dec. 21, 2008.
This year, ECHO is giving away: Records from ECHO.
So when Marv is quoted again in the Gazette: Rochelle B. Birkelo, “Food Drive Comes to End,” Janesville Gazette, Nov. 21, 2009.
Part Three: 2010
Chapter 19: Last Days of Parker Pen
George Safford Parker was born: Obituary, “George W. Parker Dies in Chicago. Famous Pen Manufacturer Stricken at 73. Was Most Widely Known Janesville Citizen,” Janesville Gazette, July 19, 1937.
He was a lanky nineteen-year-old when he arrived in Janesville: Len Provisor and Geoffrey S. Parker, “History of the Parker Pen Co., Part III, Janesville,” The Pennant (publication of the Pen Collectors of America), Winter 2006, 5.
Run by two brothers of that name: Ibid., 4.
When he graduated, he was pleased to be hired: Ibid., 7.
So when Richard Valentine asked Parker: Ibid.
The John Holland Co. pens tended to leak: Len Provisor and Geoffrey S. Parker, “George S. Parker, Part IV, The Early Years, Return to Janesville c. 1884,” The Pennant, Spring 2007, 7.
“It will always be possible to make a better pen”: Website for the Heritage House/Parker Pen Museum, London, U.K.
The following year, he secured his first pen patent: Len Provisor and Geoffrey S. Parker, “George S. Parker, Part IV, The Early Years, Return to Janesville c. 1884,” The Pennant, Spring 2007, 8, 10.
Camp Cheerio on the grounds: Len Provisor and Geoffrey S. Parker, “The Early Years, George S. Parker, Part V, George Parker Travels the World,” The Pennant, Summer 2007, 12.
A housing development, Parkwood: “Parkwood Addition to Janesville Wisconsin was laid out and platted by the Parker Pen Company by Geo S. Parker, president and W. F Palmer, Secretary on June 17, 1916 upon the following described parcel of land,” Janesville city document, Rock County Historical Society archives.
He instructed the personnel in charge: Philip Hull, Memories of Forty-nine Years with the Parker Pen Company, 2001, 17.
When, after his death, the Arrow Park factory opened: Len Provisor and Geoffrey S. Parker, “The Early Years, George S. Parker, Part V, George Parker Travels the World,” The Pennant, Summer 2007, 12.
During World War I: “Parker Pen Writing Instruments: A Chronology,” Parker Pen Co.
In May of 1945, the treaty of German surrender: Timeline on website for the Heritage House/Parker Pen museum.
At the 1964 World’s Fair in New York: brochure: “Peace Through Understanding Through Writing, the Parker International Pen Friend Program,” New York World’s Fair, 1964.
Two years later, the year that Linda was hired: Mike DuPré, obituary for George S. Parker II, Janesville Gazette, Nov. 7, 2004.
In 1986, he sold the company: Ibid.
Then, in 1993, the Gillette Corporation bought out: “Company News: Gillette Completes Acquisition of Parker Pen,” New York Times, May 8, 1993.
Six years later, the pen business was bought out again: Jim Leute, “Writing Is on Wall at Sanford,” Janesville Gazette, Aug. 19, 2009.
So the final 153 workers: David Schuyler, “Newell to Close Janesville Plant,” Milwaukee Business Journal, Aug. 18, 2009.
Late every Friday afternoon: Lyrics to song, “May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You,” Meredith Wilson, 1950.
And there were elaborate Parker Pen floats: Timeline on website for the Heritage House/Parker Pen museum.
Then, on this August day, a corporate public relations manager: Jim Leute, “Writing Is on Wall at Sanford,” Janesville Gazette, Aug. 19, 2009.
Chapter 20: Becoming a Gypsy
By this winter, hundreds of Janesville GM’ers: Jim Leute, “It’s Been a Year. How Are We Doing? Where Are We going?,” based on General Motors figures, Janesville Gazette, Dec. 20, 2009.
So far, fifty-five have transferred: Jim Leute, “More Janesville GM Workers Get Jobs in Fort Wayne,” Janesville Gazette, Jan. 28, 2010.
Chapter 21: Family Is More Important than GM
They understand that their father: “On This Date . . . ,” Beloit Daily News, Dec. 22, 2011.
Wisconsin allows teenagers as young as fourteen: Guide to Wisconsin’s Child Labor Laws, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
In Ma
rch, 2006, a few months after the major cutbacks: Statement, Rick Wagoner, chairman and CEO, General Motors, March 22, 2006.
Nearly 35,000 took the offer: “More than 900 Take Buyout at Janesville GM Plant,” Associated Press, June 27, 2006.
In February, 2008, the day before Obama arrived: Bill Vlasic, “G.M. Offers Buyouts to 74,000,” New York Times, Feb. 13, 2008.
In May, the company will give: Jim Leute, “Former GMers Face Transfer Deadlines,” Janesville Gazette, May 11, 2010.
Chapter 22: Honor Cords
The 268 students, to be handed their diplomas: Ted Sullivan, “Blackhawk Tech Graduates Include Displaced Workers,” Janesville Gazette, May 16, 2010.
When she takes center stage at the Dream Center: Video excerpts, Blackhawk Technical College graduation, May 15, 2010.
Not long ago, she drove up to Madison: Sharon Kennedy, testimony before Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Workforce Development, Feb. 12, 2009.
“Kristi Beyer Turns Hardship into Victories”: Newsletter, CORD, Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, June 1, 2010.
Kristi will be profiled again: Neil Johnson, “Hard Work Turns into Second Careers,” Janesville Gazette, June 15, 2010.
Chapter 23: The Day the White House Comes to Town
So it did not escape his notice: “Remarks by the President on the American Automotive Industry,” The White House, March 30, 2009.
As a sign of the changes at GM: Ibid.
The White House had pushed him out: Bree Fowler, “Wagoner Leaving GM with Compensation Worth $23M,” Associated Press Financial Wire, March 30, 2009.
The specific form of this caring attention: “Remarks by the President on the American Automotive Industry,” The White House, March 30, 2009.
By the time that the executive director of the White House: Annual Report of the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers, The White House, May 2010, 25.
More than one hundred people are waiting there: Attendee List, Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, June 11, 2010.
This morning he is in Washington: Paul Ryan on the Scott Hennen Show, YouTube, June 11, 2010.
Montgomery is seated at a small skirted table: Photograph with story by Bob Shaper, “White House Official to Janesville: ‘Don’t Wait,’ ” WKOW 27, June 11, 2010.
This is a listening tour, so Montgomery listens: Materials for presentations during Montgomery visit, Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, June 11, 2010.
A version of this very idea: “Bridge to Work,” Fact Sheet and Overview, American Jobs Act, The White House, September 8, 2011.
During his wrap-up, Bob begins: Text of remarks by Bob Borremans during Montgomery visit, June 11, 2010.
On the day before he is in town: News release, “Georgetown Appoints Edward Montgomery Dean of Public Policy,” Georgetown University, June 10, 2010.
Three days after Montgomery’s visit, President Obama says: “Statement by President Obama on Dr. Ed Montgomery,” The White House, June 14, 2010.
Another year will go by: News release, “Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announces new director for administration’s Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers,” U.S. Department of Labor, July 6, 2011.
The federal Government Accountability Office will say: “Treasury’s Exit from GM and Chrysler Highlights Competing Goals, and Results of Support to Auto Communities Are Unclear,” U.S. Government Accountability Office, May, 2011, 32–41.
Chapter 24: Labor Fest 2010
It comes late in the afternoon: Catherine W. Idzerda, “Weekend’s LaborFest Has Something for All,” Janesville Gazette, Sept. 3, 2010.
This “Jobs Now!” rally: Krissah Thompson and Spencer Hsu, “Tens of Thousands Attend Progressive ‘One Nation Working Together’ Rally in Washington,” Washington Post, Oct. 2, 2010.
The Midwest Territory of the Machinists Union: News release, “Janesville, Wisconsin, Laborfest ‘JOBS NOW’ rally draws statewide attention,” International Association of Machinists, Sept. 1, 2010.
When it is his turn, Milwaukee’s mayor, Tom Barrett: Video posted on Facebook, “Barrett for Wisconsin, Janesville Jobs NOW! Rally,” Sept. 5, 2010.
The president’s shirtsleeves are rolled up: Video, “Presidential Remarks on the Economy, Laborfest in Milwaukee,” C-SPAN, Sept. 6, 2010.
“The cornerstones of middle-class security”: “Remarks by the President at Laborfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,” The White House, Sept. 6, 2010.
Since this is an election year, political candidates: Candidates at the Janesville LaborFest Parade 2010, YouTube, Sept. 6, 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy03uejOAH4.
His campaign issues a statement: News release, “Walker: Obama Admits $1 Trillion Stimulus Bill Failure, Continues to Call for End to Boondoggle Train,” Scott Walker campaign, Sept. 6, 2010.
He tells a Gazette reporter today: Ann Marie Ames, “Rock County Close to Home for Walker,” Janesville Gazette, Sept. 7, 2010.
He is wearing a white polo shirt and khakis: Candidates at the Janesville LaborFest Parade 2010, YouTube, Sept. 6, 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy03uejOAH4.
Chapter 25: Project 16:49
The school system has more than four hundred: Homeless data, School District of Janesville Demographic and Student Membership Report, 2016, 8.
Kayla Brown, Cory Winters, and Brandon Lucian are Rock County teenagers: R. E. Burgos, director, Sixteen Forty-Nine, 2010.
Finally, one woman in the audience: Ann Marie Ames, “Movie Showing Highlights Plight of Janesville’s Homeless Kids,” Janesville Gazette, Sept. 18, 2010.
Part Four: 2011
Chapter 28: The Ambassador of Optimism
This morning, the Gazette has published a guest column: Mary Willmer, guest op-ed, “All Can Play Roles in Moving County Forward,” Janesville Gazette, Jan. 4. 2011.
The ball was at Monona Terrace: Jason Stein, “First the Dance, Then the Work,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 4, 2011.
Mary had fun watching the state’s new first couple: Ibid.
It was a splendid ceremony: Video, “Inauguration of Governor Scott Walker,” C-SPAN, Jan. 3, 2011.
When the time came for the gubernatorial inaugural address: Ibid; transcript of Governor Scott Walker’s inaugural address, Jan. 3, 2011.
Directly behind him, seated in a chair: Video, “Inauguration of Governor Scott Walker,” C-SPAN, Jan. 3, 2011.
As Mary and Diane watched Walker: Video of coverage of Scott Walker inaugural ball and protests, News 3 WISC-TV, Madison, Wisconsin, Jan. 3, 2011.
The name was meant to draw attention: Scott Foval, “Progressives Vow to Hold GOP Lawmakers Accountable,” Wisconsin Gazette, Jan. 13. 2011.
To show up Walker: Post, Rock the Pantry Facebook page, Jan. 3, 2011.
He is setting off this morning on a tour: Photo gallery, “Wisconsin Open for Business: Governor Scott Walker Unveils the New ‘Wisconsin Welcomes You,’ ” Office of Governor Scott Walker, Jan. 18, 2011.
Before that, his day’s schedule begins: “Wisconsin’s Governor Comes After Illinois Business,” WREX, Rockford, Illinois, Jan. 18, 2011.
When he strides through ABC’s sliding glass doors: Brad Lichtenstein, 371 Productions, As Goes Janesville (Independent Lens, PBS), 2012.
Diane stands close and looks him straight in the eye: Ibid.
“Oh yeah,” Walker replies: Ibid.
“You’re right on target”: Ibid.
The leaders of Rock County 5.0 have decided: James P. Leute, “Walker Backs Interstate Expansion; Touts State’s Business Opportunities,” Janesville Gazette, Jan. 19, 2011.
“You’ve made our job a whole lot easier”: Ibid.
From Beloit, Walker goes on today: Ibid.
Mary types on her BlackBerry: Mary Willmer, post on Facebook, Jan. 18, 2011.
Chapter 30: This Is What Democracy Looks Like
The next day, a Saturday, will bring out: Joe Tarr, “Wisconsin Capitol Protests Massive for
Second Consecutive Saturday,” Isthmus, Feb. 26, 2011.
In 1911, a dozen years before the assembly plant began turning out Chevrolets: Ken Germanson, “Milestones in Wisconsin Labor History,” Wisconsin Labor History Society.
In 1932 . . . Wisconsin was the first state to establish: Ibid.
It was in Madison in 1932, too: AFSCME History Timeline, website of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
And in 1959, Wisconsin became the first state: Primer on Wisconsin Labor History, Wisconsin Labor History Society.
The grad students have designated the rotunda: “Uprising at the Capitol: Week 2,” Isthmus, Feb. 25, 2011; Ben Jones, “As Protest in Madison Goes into Its Second Week, Many Camp Out in State Capitol,” Marshfield News, Feb. 25, 2011; John Tarleton, “Inside the Wisconsin Uprising: Teaching Assistants Help Spark a New Movement in Labor,” Clarion, newspaper of the Professional Staff Congress, City University of New York, April 2011.
Ian’s has been deluged with phone calls: Steven Greenhouse, “Delivering Moral Support in a Steady Stream of Pizzas,” New York Times, Feb. 25, 2011.
At 1 a.m., the Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly: Jason Stein, Steve Schultze, and Bill Glauber, “After 61-Hour Debate, Assembly Approves Budget-Repair Bill in Early-Morning Vote,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 25, 2011.
The vote lasted ten seconds: Mary Spicuzza and Clay Barbour, “Budget Bill: Lawmakers, Already Frustrated, Brace for Impending Battle over Budget,” Wisconsin State Journal, Feb. 26, 2011.
The groggy GOP legislators then filed out: Photographs, “Anger in Orange,” Wall Street Journal, Feb. 25, 2011.
The capitol police are now saying: Clay Barbour and Mary Spicuzza, “Campout: Huge Protest Inside the Capitol Will Break Sunday for Cleanup, Police Say,” Wisconsin State Journal, Feb. 26, 2011.
Janesville Page 31
