The Pierce House Museum on Water Street in Barton will be the focus of much activity this summer because of a $9,000 grantnt from the Vermont Council on the Humanities. During the month of July, the Crystal Lake Falls Historical Association will sponsor multi-level writing workshops which will concentrate on local and family history. Writing from the workshops will be published in book form and become part of a special museum display along with historica1 and contemporary photographs.
The idea grew out of the Pierce House Museum's need for written material. Although the collection is rich with industrial artifact, there is little support documentation which record stories of Barton area residents in their own words. Avis Harper, Crystal Lake Falls Historical Association president, and Allen Adler, Barton resident, have recorded some oral histories. It is hoped workshop writing will add to this effort to record Barton area history in a personal, yet complex way.
Writing workshops wil1 be offered for all ages to those residing in Barton, Orleans, and Westmore. Children enrolled in Barton's Summer Recreation Program, will be encouraged to invite parents, grandparents, and other family members to help them create family journals and stories. Adult evening classes will be held at the Barton Library. Special classes will be held in area retirement communities for those unable to travel. All participants will be encouraged to reach beyond mere recitation of fact to explore story-telling based on personal experience and tell the stories they know best.
"This kind of program can be used as a model for towns and cities all over the state," said Michael Bourman, director of the Vermont Council on the Humanities. "Classes for young children atending with parents and grandparents will encourage reading and writing at home, as well as guide adults in ways to help children learn. By asking children to innterview older family members, we foster dialogue and mutual respect between generations."
"It takes a village to raise a child" was the response of Lyndy Sargent, Barton School Board member and a founding member of FOCUS - For Our Children Unified Support. The Family Writing Workshop is an activity which has the dual advantages of giving families an opportunity to work together on a fun project and to provide experience, practice and enrichment in writing to Barton area youngsters."
"It wil1 be a real boost to the community," commented Mrs. Harper. Not just for the Pierce House Museum, but for the schools and library as well." Local histcrians have pointed out that the project will encourage both literacy and respect for literature and history. In 50 years, the journals and published writing housed at the museum will
become the kind of written artifact which humanities scholars seek so desperately today.
The project has also captured the attention of area newspapers. Offering to give young writers in the Family Recreation Program a tour of the newspaper offices to acquaint them with the publishing process, Chronicle editor Chris Braithwaite promised support for the project. Of course the Chronicle supports any effort to improve
literacy," he said. "Don't corn farmers support good dental health?"
The Family Writing Workshop welcomes community support. To volunteer or obtain more information, please write Katherine French, Project Director, P.O. Box 154, Barton, Vermont 05822 - from Katherine French
"Some students are receiving tutoring and we're providing transportation for some of the students, which helped me recruit some of the ones whose parents were hesitant. One mother who was especially reluctant is now supporting the program. It turns out she can't read. When I feel I've done nothing else, I think about establishing the school as a friendly place for an isolated woman like this."
- Katherine French, Project Director
"Family Writing Workshop" Project Evaluation