About Book
Ghosts in the Sky
Following on the heels of Power in the Clouds, Ghosts in the Sky further explores the untimely demise of Dayton Power and Light Company (DPL). Revisiting the history and evolution of the plant, former DPL employee Gordon Jones offers a firsthand account of the inner workings of a large coal fired power plant, from day-to-day operations and potential dangers to employee culture. At the heart of any plant lies its workers, and DPL was no different. Sprinkled with humor, Jone’s narrative pays tribute to the hard work and dedication of his former coworkers. Jones also relates how America’s move away from coal fired power plants, resulting in the decommissioning and demolishing of their plant, delivered a crushing economic blow to his community, serving as a microcosm of industrial communities across America.
Why write a sequel to Power in the Clouds? For Jones, the answer is personal, but it’s also simple. It’s a story about working-class Americans who helped keep the power on for their country, and their story deserves to be told, chronicling a watershed moment in American industrial history. While the page is turning on coal fired power plants, Jones not only reflects on the past but also looks to the future, envisioning a new chapter for decommissioned plants. And through this captivating collection of pictures and stories from former employees, the legacy of Dayton Power and Light Company lives on. So, whether you are a former employee or progeny of DPL, a member of the community, or someone who is curious about how a power plant works, you, too, can help keep the memories of alive.
