Memories of the Past

There are times in your life when you relive a moment that has long been forgotten. This happen last week for me at a meeting of the Hyde Park Historical Society. I was attending the meeting to give a short talk about my efforts with the Hyde Park Visual History Project.

Before I spoke, Vicky Goldman of the local Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter gave a presentation. Hearing her speak brought me back to a moment, when at the age of 11, I received an award from the DAR for a paper I wrote on George Washington. The ceremony took place at an old church in Green Bay with tradition wood paneling and a tall steeple. The members of the local DAR were dressed in period garments that connected them to the Revolutionary time period.

This makes me think about how early my interest in history started. I've always had a connection to events in the past as a way of thinking about where I am now. There is a strong sense of pride in where I come from and who I am.

I would make these same comparisons to people in Hyde Park. There are many people here with strong connections to the area and this is what I want this project to tap into. I think we forget how much the locality means to us and how rarely we take the time think about it. My hope is that in the future these connections will again be front and center. Especially with concerns about gas and food.