Why Sycamore Works: an Oral History

A complement to the award-winning exhibit Why Sycamore Works, this book is a collection of oral histories. Written by Rob Glover.

Sycamore’s industry is the focus of the book, “Why Sycamore Works: An Oral History.” In this book, Robert Glover spoke with several people who played important roles in Sycamore’s manufacturing history. Six business leaders, selected for their in-depth knowledge and involvement in the ways that their companies functioned in town and cooperation within the Sycamore community, share their experiences. These interviews offer a glimpse of the sentiment and motivating details behind the town’s industrial prominence and suggest how each company acted as a central force in Sycamore manufacturing and in the trajectory of the town.

The book contains highlights from the interviews he had with Harold Engh (Turner Corporation), William Swedberg (Swedberg & Associates), Bob Boey (Anaconda Wire and Cable Company/American Bare Wire), Dean Copple (DuPlex), Bob Davis (Turner Corporation) and Clint Gittleson (Anaconda Wire and Cable Company/ IDEAL INDUSTRIES.