Did you know that during World War II, Akron was likely the biggest producer of condoms for U.S. troops? Or that Emmer Lancaster, an Akron native born in 1900, was the first Black member of the Akron Bar Association?
These nuggets of history and others are now on display at the Akron History Center. On Saturday morning, the long-awaited attraction in downtown Akron opened to visitors following the cutting of a “Ribbon of Rubber.”
Hundreds showed up for the grand opening, including Todd Williams, a longtime Akron resident. Williams said he loved seeing original rubber manufacturing artifacts. He was also astounded by staircases that doubled as an Akron civil rights timeline…