Farmington Library, Unionville Museum and HDC consider joint fall timeline for capturing Unionville voices
The Unionville Historic District and Properties Commission (HDC) gathered Thursday, May 8, to formalize the first steps of a collaborative oral history initiative, centered on Unionville’s aging residents and fading narratives. The proposed project—still unnamed—will likely align with efforts from the Farmington Library and Unionville Museum, both of which have expressed willingness to partner and contribute resources. The full meeting is available to view on YouTube here.
Library Partnership May Accelerate Timeline
Jerusha Neely, recently appointed librarian of the Farmington Room at the Farmington Library, confirmed via email that the library intends to launch an updated oral history platform using “TheirStory,” a video interview software with transcription and export capabilities. Originally planned as a future project, Neely indicated that the timeline could be expedited if the HDC participates.
Lisa Johnson, a commissioner on the HDC, is scheduling an exploratory meeting with Neely in the coming weeks. Several commissioners, including Kelly Beattie, Barbara Madsen, and Matt Ross, expressed interest in attending.
Unionville Museum Already Collecting Stories
Matt Ross reported his recent conversation with Patty Labuthier at the Unionville Museum. The museum is mid-way through an oral history effort of its own, centered on Unionville residents aged 70 and older. Both organizations agreed to avoid duplicating efforts and will likely pool their findings under a shared framework.
Infrastructure and Outreach: In Progress
The Farmington Library’s “TheirStory” platform enables cloud-based recording, transcription, and export of interview content. The Commission noted this would alleviate the burden of developing a system from scratch. The team discussed tapping into existing 2010 interview guides, forms, and training templates still in the library’s archive.
Garrett Silliman offered to coordinate the creation of a dedicated Unionville HDC email address through the town’s IT department. This would serve as a central contact point for residents and volunteers.
Outreach will likely include entries in Farmington’s quarterly newsletter (targeting the late June edition), use of the “Explore Farmington” portal, and physical materials at local events such as the Unionville Museum’s upcoming exhibit on taverns.
UConn and State Library Ties Proposed
Anne Harrington suggested reaching out to the Center for Oral History at the University of Connecticut, which has supported public oral history work since 1968. The Commission also identified the Connecticut State Library as a possible archival destination for finalized interviews.
Interview Prep and Volunteer Training
Drawing from a recently-read manual on oral history techniques, Lisa Johnson emphasized the importance of thorough preparation before interviews—knowing the subject, developing questions, and understanding context. The group agreed this might necessitate a longer lead time but would ensure a higher standard of historical preservation.
Volunteer interviewer recruitment was floated, with suggestions to involve the Senior Center, Museum docents, and Library volunteers.
Project Launch Expected Fall 2025
Although specific launch dates were not finalized, a fall event remains the tentative goal. Commissioners are weighing the benefits of individual interviews versus a group event and discussed the possibility of a fall showcase at the Unionville Museum featuring curated interview segments.
A testing phase using commissioners as initial interviewees was proposed to refine procedures before opening the effort to the public.
Farmington Storage: Where We Keep Your Secrets (and Maybe a Few Oral Histories)
The Farmington Mercury is proudly sponsored by Farmington Storage, conveniently located at 155 Scott Swamp Road. Call us at 860.777.4001 for storage units big enough to hold your vintage Unionville artifacts, HDC minutes from 1993, or even just your in-laws’ patio furniture. Farmington Storage—your grandmother’s attic, but climate controlled and slightly more polite.
About the Author
Jack Beckett is the senior writer for The Farmington Mercury. When not combing through zoning language or unearthing the names of 90-year-olds with excellent recall, he’s trying to figure out how Einstein Bros. in Unionville still runs out of dark roast before 9:00 AM. (Come on, guys—it’s a lifestyle, not a trend.)
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