Via Community News Service, for Rutland Herald
RUTLAND — Rutland resident Emily Wood is seeking community members to share their stories about living and growing up in Rutland.
Wood began her “History in Stories” oral history project in October, which aims to collect anecdotes from local residents to contribute to the Rutland Historical Society.
“I’m very open about what people could talk about as far as their story because everyone’s story is different,” Wood said.
She said memories tied to local businesses, locations and traditions are a few examples of the types of experiences she wants to help preserve.
Barbara Giffin, president of the Rutland Historical Society, supports the project and likened it to content found within their Quarterly magazine.
“(I) love (the project), and that’s what we try and do with our Quarterlies. We try and get as much information as we can into little stories,” she said.
Giffin said once they receive the records, they will decide how to store and share them, naming their website and Quarterlies as options.
Wood is using the Small Meeting Room of the Rutland Free Library for her recording sessions.
Amy Williams, assistant director of the Rutland Free Library, described the project as “fascinating” and “heartfelt.”
“The oral histories Emily is collecting build empathy, community, and a sense of group history. Personal accounts of lived events are important and often overlooked aspects of a community’s history and identity,” Williams said.
Wood’s passion for Rutland history began in late 2024 following curiosity about the Bardwell House, where she has lived for 14 years. She sought out personal stories and historical knowledge from long-time residents about the former hotel built in 1852.
“Hearing the stories about people that lived there made me curious about the history of the building,” she said.
Although she said the project was largely unsuccessful, she became intrigued by other locations with rich backstories, like the Rutland Free Library, and eventually brainstormed “History in Stories.”
The next two recording sessions are scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 21, and from 2 to 6 p.m. on Feb. 17. Visit History in Stories 05701 on Facebook to RSVP to the event and for more information.