Coming Soon: A Real Treat

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On Monday, we at Notgrass History started cooking up a real treat. For several years, our local Jackson County Historical Society has had a goal of recording history stories from local folks. Since 2020 is the bicentennial of the incorporation of our county seat of Gainesboro, the time is right. Knowing that many of our local stories have broad appeal to the whole country, Notgrass History has teamed up with the historical society and the bicentennial committee to produce these videos. They have three purposes:

  • To be a permanent record for the historical society.
  • To be tools for local public school teachers to use in their classrooms during our bicentennial year and beyond.
  • To educate homeschoolers here and across the nation about the everyday lives of real people whose stories are similar to their own American ancestors.

Monday morning our videographer Titus and I set up shop at the local museum to interview our first four local folks. We collected a barrelful of treasures on our very first day of filming. I’ve written stories about 95-year-old Miss Katherine several times before. On Monday she walked from display to display around the museum, telling us the stories behind them; and she told us many personal and family stories. Here’s one.

Miss Katherine’s father owned a Chevrolet dealership in Gainesboro. Automobiles were so new that he had to convince folks to buy one. Often the answer was, “I don’t need a car. I have horses.”

Chevrolet service sign, Smith Center, Kansas. John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive (1972-2008), Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

She told us several stories about local physician Dr. Reeves, who was an entertaining storyteller. When Miss Katherine’s father tried to convince Dr. Reeves to purchase a Chevrolet, Dr. Reeves began to extol the virtues of his Ford. He told about the time that someone called him to come to their home lickety split because one of their sons had fallen off the roof. His Ford, Dr. Reeves said, got him there so fast that he made it before the boy hit the ground!

Miss Katherine’s father was successful at selling some Chevrolets, though; and then he had to teach the new owners how to drive!

One storytelling session down and more to come and so far no one I’ve asked has turned me down. I’m amazed at their generosity and their sincere desire to help. We gave each person we interviewed a chance to tell what they believe young people need to hear. You can look forward to those lessons when the videos are ready.

Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
That you may be wise the rest of your days.
Proverbs 19:20

 

 

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2 Comments

  1. I am so happy that you are doing this. I love the ones that Granville has done. It is exciting to me to see these stories (and these people) preserved for my grandchildren to hear. May God bless your work!

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