Jim Sayce, Storyteller

*As in Pacific County — not as in politically correct (although it could be.)

I don’t think today was a “launch” exactly, but when Community Historians gathered for a little reunion prior to the CPHM Annual Meeting, I was given an opportunity to talk about a plan that is slowly hatching among a group of us Community Historian “alums” (Michael Lemeshko, Tucker Wachsmuth, Jim Sayce, David and Dayle Olson, Kathleen Davies, and me.)

Nancy Bell Anderson, Storyteller

Thus far, the plan is to hold monthly meetings — the 1st Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon, September through May — open to all members of the public who are interested in local (i.e. Pacific County) history.  The format will feature a  speaker on a specific topic for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes with the remaining time devoted to discussion about that topic or any other “historic” interest brought forward by the assembled group.

Mary Garvey, Storyteller

We are planning to focus on early jobs and industries in Pacific County for the first year and to solicit speakers with expertise or knowledge of the specific topic — hopefully some of the revered elders of our Pacific County community — perhaps singly or in group presentations.  We are looking at subjects such as early oystering, logging, farming, blacksmithing, storekeeping, fishing etc.  We are somewhat past the brainstorming stage but are very much interested in soliciting additional ideas for topics and/or speakers, so please feel free to respond to this blog with ideas you might wish to add.

Irene Martin, Storyteller

We will begin our History Forums at the Oysterville Schoolhouse which has been generously offered to us by the Oysterville Community Club at no charge — though we will have a donation box available to show our appreciation for their generosity.    If we find need of a larger venue, or if there is any other overriding reason for changing sites, we can cross that bridge later.

Tucker Wachsmuth, Storyteller

So… I hope those of you with questions/answers/concerns about local history will bear all this in mind and begin to spread the word.  And I would feel remiss in not giving a shout-out to Diane Buttrell who set the tone for talks of this sort at the Oysterville Schoolhouse several years ago — her focus on contemporary rather than historic concerns and minus the “forum” aspect.  Nevertheless, she was definitely inspirational in our vision of answering Jim Sayce’s question to me back in 2010:  “Sydney, when we are gone, who will tell the stories?”  We hope it will be you!