Voices from the Valley: Preserving the Voices of Rural History

Posted on Feb 27, 2024, by

How does one preserve the stories and history of a rural town like Chilton? Today we’re visiting the Chilton Public Library, where staff members are unveiling the untold tales that shape the community’s identity, through modern technology. A $4,947 grant from the Chilton Area Community Foundation, one of our geographic affiliate foundations, allowed the library to purchase podcasting equipment to record and produce the oral stories of local residents, artists, historians, business owners and more. The fledgling podcast is called Sharing Our Stories.

“Each episode of Sharing Our Stories is a journey into the personal, heartfelt, and extraordinary stories that define our town. From cherished memories to pivotal moments, we explore the threads that bind us and make our community a home,” says Rebbecca Barry, the library’s assistant director. In this episode, we visit the Franzen Family Farm, and we hear about The Lasting Impact of Boy Scouts.