Plus, Dad and Mom got married in 1946 and started their own family in 1949. I cannot begin to tell you how much I have learned from these setups and the number of original Oak Ridgers I have met with their families.Īs for me, my families came here in 1944 - and Dad’s family stayed. We have shared and displayed for this community for 19 years. (Sadly most of those remarkable souls have passed from us.) We chose to honor everyone from the housewife to the leak tester, etc. These 60 Oak Ridgers wrote about their work and lives here in Oak Ridge. Then in 2002, at the newly named Secret City Festival, “60 Heritage Honors” was presented to selected original Oak Ridgers who came here in the 1940s and stayed for 60 years. Several area business and friends sent him special recognition.
ORHPA’s second festival setup was in 2001 to give honors on “Ed Westcott Day.” Ed told me later that this was his first public appreciation honor. 20, 1922-March 29, 2019) became a founding member of ORHPA I never expected to meet this icon, not to mention working with him as he told of his experiences and to see the historic photos he had made over time. For example, we had a fear the beloved Midtown Community Center (also known as the “Wildcat Den”) would be razed by the city.įamed Manhattan Project and Cold War photographer Ed Westcott (Jan. The Oak Ridge Heritage & Preservation Association joined its first outside setup at the city of Oak Ridge’s MayFest celebration in 2000 … acquiring names on a petition to “Save The Wildcat Den.” Looking back on these events, they have become treasured memories. The annual Secret City Festival is now upon us!