Hillbilly Elegy Trivia Answers—Week 1

To celebrate the release of Netflix's film "Hillbilly Elegy" we have been sharing trivia questions about Middletown local history. Answers to those questions, along with additional info and links can be found below.


1. JD Vance, the author of “Hillbilly Elegy”, spent time in downtown Middletown, OH. What was the original name of Central Avenue in Middletown?

ANSWER: D. Third Street  

http://www.midpointedigitalarchives.org/digital/collection/p16488coll5/id/223/rec/2 -


2. The author’s grandfather worked for ARMCO. What was Armco originally known as?

ANSWER: B. The American Rolling Mill Company

As the American Rolling Mill Company (Armco) was being constructed, the company's president and founder, George M. Verity needed a temporary office.

http://www.midpointedigitalarchives.org/digital/collection/Crout/id/6637/rec/3


3. In what year was the first Armco Bulletin published?

ANSWER: C. 1914

This is the inaugural, unpaginated, April 1914 issue of the Armco Bulletin, a monthly publication "to facilitate an interchange of thought and suggestion, and to create a better understanding of the activities and problems of the Operating Department employees." The title of this bulletin is, "Vigilance and Watchfulness Insure Safety: Think." 

http://www.midpointedigitalarchives.org/digital/collection/p16488coll21/id/17

4. The Middletown Mall once occupied the heart of Downtown Middletown. What other names was the mall know by?

ANSWER: A. City Centre Mart & City Centre Mall

. . . The Middletown Mall changed its name to City Centre Mart on April 1, 1977; the name changed again on May 1, 1987 to City Centre Mall. Using federal funds in an attempt to revive the downtown area, the Middletown Mall opened in 1974. Construction of the mall began in 1972. The mall, with its center at the former intersection of Central Avenue and Broad Street, encompassed all of Central Avenue from Main Street to North Verity Parkway, and extended north on North Broad Street and south on South Broad Street. A large parking garage on the north side of the mall was also constructed. Many of the stores and businesses already located in the area continued to operate as construction was underway. On April 1, 1977, the mall was renamed the City Centre Mart. On May 1, 1987, the mall was renamed again, this time as the City Centre Mall. The mall struggled to attract anchor stores, and its only major anchor store, Swallen’s Department Store, closed in 1995. In 2000, the roof was removed from the mall, and Central Avenue and Broad Street were reopened for traffic.

http://www.midpointedigitalarchives.org/digital/collection/Kramer/id/69/rec/2


Don’t let the fun stop with these trivia questions! Be sure to check back monthly for new content from Adam, MidPointe's Digital and Special Collections Archivist. Join us as he explores findings from the Library's vast catalog through local history videos and #TBT blog posts.

All the answers to the trivia and much more can be found in MidPointe's Digital Archives: http://www.midpointedigitalarchives.org/

MidPointe Library