Rockdale’s mining history started way before Alcoa came to town in the 1950s, but these two pieces of history from Alcoa played a significant role.
In the upper left photo, that’s Dan Ratliff standing in one of the buckets from Alcoa’s draglines. Luminant, who owns the bucket now, is gifting it to the City of Rockdale as a unique part of Alcoa’s history to put on display. No location has been decided on at present.
In the top right photo, Gary Griesbach is measuring the No. 2 crucible which has an important history as the crucible used to cast the 16-foot Goddess of Liberty II which has been on top of the Capitol Building in Austin since June 14, 1986. The Goddess of Liberty II replaced the original Goddess, which had been on top of the Capitol for 97 years.
The black and white photo on the bottom right shows, “For Goddess of Liberty.” After being assembled, The Goddess of Liberty II was on display at Alcoa in 1986. Her facial features are purposely made grotesque so that she will appear normal from the ground.
Crucible No. 2 could be transformed into a fountain which, instead of molten aluminum, would pour water into a pond or other structure.
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