Sparrows Point

By the mid-20th century, Sparrow’s Point was the world’s largest steel mill. Its recent closing has affected thousands of workers who built their lives around the plant. MHC Speakers Bureau Scholar Bill Barry examines the human face of transition and the value of collecting Bethlehem Steelworkers’ oral histories.

Explore Bill Barry’s Website.

It became clear late last week that the Sparrows Point steel mill will not re-open, and the jobs it provided will not return. We talk with one of the thousands of unemployed steel workers, and with Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz about what the county plans to do to retrain and support the laid-off workers. 

Then, Sherban Young has received national attention for his knack for crafting mystery capers. We'll ask the Ellicott City author to drop some clues about his latest works.

Last Thursday, the hopes of those who thought the Sparrows Point steel mill might one day produce steel again were dashed. Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz announced that the owners' plan to level the buildings on Sparrows Point in the next few years, and sell off all the equipment.

Web Extra: Community College of Baltimore County President Sandra Kurtinitis

Baltimore city is getting ready to create its budget for fiscal year 2014--and its asking citizens how it should allocate those billions of dollars. We ask budget director Andrew Kleine how citizens can make their thoughts known through budgeting workshops.

The Sparrows Point steel mill and its surrounding communities will be recognized this weekend by the Maryland State Arts Council. We ask oral historians Elmer Hall and Louis Diggs about the significance of the towns on Sparrows Point.

At one point, Sparrows Point steel mill was the largest steel manufacturer in the world. With all that production came communities to support the steelworkers working in the mill. Now, those communities—and the way of life that developed around steelmaking--are being recognized by the Maryland State Arts Council.

Web Extra: Hall and Diggs on interest in Sparrows Point history.

An agreement signed last month by the United Steelworkers Union has left 1600 Sparrows Point workers without health benefits or an active pension plan.  We talk with Baltimore Brew reporter Mark Reutter about how it happened so quickly--and what's next for the plant.

Then – On Sunday, the Found Footage Festival brings the best of the worst of VHS to the Creative Alliance. Nathan Sterner talks to festival co-founder Nick Prueher about what kind of bizarre and inadvertently hilarious footage lurks in the nation's thrift stores.

At some point in the next several weeks, the sale of Sparrows Point steel mill from RG Steel to a Chicago-based liquidator Hilco Industrial is expected to become final.  The mill was sold at a bankruptcy auction for RG Steel last month.

Sparrows Point is synonymous with steel, but as steelmaking on the point comes to at least a temporary standstill, people are looking for ways to bring other jobs to the peninsula. Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz sees an opportunity in the Port of Baltimore, which is hoping to expand.  To figure out possible uses, he’s formed the Sparrows Point Partnership, which meets for the first time tomorrow.  Sheilah speaks with the County Executive about the partnership.

RG Steel, the company that runs the steel mill at Sparrows Point, is filing for bankruptcy. The plant is idle, and layoffs may be on the way. We’ll talk to a reporter and a union local president about the prospects for a new owner, and talk to people from the community about the toll of years of instability at Sparrows Point.

Lotfy Nathan is chronicling the lives of Baltimore’s “Twelve O’Clock Boyz,” the renegade dirt bikers who inspire some Baltimoreans and terrify others. He takes the final Maryland Morning Screen Test.