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New Play Looks At Rise And Fall Of Springfield's Crowell-Collier Publishing.

Tom Stafford is a journalist with more than 35 years experience at the Springfield News Sun. The reporter-turned-playwright has written a play about the closing of Crowell-Collier Publishing in Springfield. The closure meant the loss of 2,250 jobs just before Christmas of 1956. It was a major blow to the city and its residents.

In the following interview, Stafford talks about the play and the publishing company's long history. “Before the Bricks Fell: The Glory Days of Crowell-Collier Publishing,”will be performed as a staged reading at the Heritage Centerin Springfield. 

It will run as part of Springfield StageWorks' 3rd annual presentation of “Spotlight on History,” on Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30.

Recently WYSO's Wayne Baker reported on the ongoing demolition of downtown Springfield's largest structure, and the problems that have come with it.

Jerry began volunteering at WYSO in 1991 and hosting Sunday night's Alpha Rhythms in 1992. He joined the YSO staff in 2007 as Morning Edition Host, then All Things Considered. He's hosted Sunday morning's WYSO Weekend since 2008 and produced several radio dramas and specials . In 2009 Jerry received the Best Feature award from Public Radio News Directors Inc., and was named the 2023 winner of the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Best Anchor/News Host award. His current, heart-felt projects include the occasional series Bulletin Board Diaries, which focuses on local, old-school advertisers and small business owners. He has also returned as the co-host Alpha Rhythms.