Greene County Historical & Genealogical Society Awarded Grant to Launch Porch Stories Project

GREENE COUNTY — The Greene County Historical & Genealogical Society has been awarded grant funding to develop the Porch Stories Project, a digital oral history and community memory project focused on preserving the stories, photographs, and lived experiences of people connected to Greene County.

The Porch Stories Project will collect recorded interviews, community-submitted photographs, local memories, and stories from across the county. The project is designed to honor the everyday lives that make up Greene County’s history, including stories from families, farmers, workers, students, business owners, community leaders, longtime residents, former residents, newer residents, and young people who are still shaping what Greene County will become.

“History is not only found in major events or official records,” said Katie (Howard) Dudley, a Greene County native and project coordinator. “I learned most of the history of Greene County by sitting around tables, whether that was in a kitchen, a bar, or at a church picnic. That’s where the real history of this place gets told. This project is about making sure those stories are heard, preserved, and shared.”

That same spirit will guide how the interviews are recorded. Rather than asking every participant to come to a formal setting, the project will meet people where their stories feel most natural. Interviews may be recorded on a front porch, around a kitchen table, at a family property, in a local bar or business, at a community gathering place, or anywhere else that feels comfortable and meaningful to the person(s) sharing their story.

The project will culminate in a longer-form video featuring stories from Greene County residents and people with Greene County ties, along with a social media campaign that highlights local voices, photographs, memories, and places throughout the county.

As part of the project, organizers are also planning a photo walk that will display historic photographs of Greene County communities, including images of town squares, storefronts, gathering places, and other familiar locations. The goal is to help residents and visitors see local places through both past and present perspectives.

Community participation will be central to the project. Current residents, former residents, family members, workers, students, alumni, and anyone with a meaningful connection to Greene County are encouraged to share stories, nominate someone to be interviewed, contribute photographs or materials, volunteer, or serve as a town contact within Greene County. Town contacts will help connect the project with people, places, stories, and photographs from communities across the county.

The Porch Stories Project is especially interested in stories that connect generations. Young people are encouraged to participate, ask questions, learn from older residents, and help carry Greene County’s stories forward. The project welcomes stories from people of all ages and backgrounds, recognizing that every person with a connection to Greene County has a piece of its history to contribute.

To learn more, volunteer, suggest a story, or express interest in serving as a town contact, visit https://www.porchstoriesproject.com/ or email porchstoriesproject@gmail.com.

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