Car Bombs to Cookie Tables

An essay collection that delves into the untold stories of this historic Rust Belt city.

The story of Youngstown, Ohio, often begins with iron and steel and ends in decay driven by postindustrial economics, violent mobsters, and corrupt politicians. This collection of essays aims to provide a more complete picture of one of the Rust Belt’s former steel industry strongholds through diverse, personal perspectives.

More than a look at Youngstown’s industrial past or its issues with crime, this anthology explores Youngstown experiences from the Baby Doll Dances of Lowellville to the punk rock scene of the 1980s and 90s, and from the joys of Brier Hill pizza to the contemporary life of B&O Railroad. Through evocative personal essays by writers including Christopher Barzak, Rochelle Hurt, Eric Murphy, and others, readers gain a sense of the Mahoning Valley’s past, present, and future.