Preserving History Is Vital To Community
POSTED: July 17, 2008
Community means different things to different people. In the small villages and rural towns that make up Chautauqua County, like in so many other counties across the country, community is more than a shared zip code or similar demographic. It is a shared experience, an extended family and a cooperative effort to contribute to the common good.
Regardless of how dispersed our families become and how global our community grows, the fundamental community ties remain. On that level, it is essentially our shared history that connects us – our collective memory of faces and places and events.
How many times do we refer to houses by the names of owners past? How often do we speak of restaurants or businesses long gone – or community leaders or characters who have passed away?
Alumni weekend was celebrated last week in Westfield. Reunions are an excellent example of how shared histories bring people together. Many who attended may have moved away from their hometown, but they remember the teachers and fellow classmates who were once a large part of their lives and who, in ways large and small, still influence their lives and inform their decision-making.
A shared history is always there, but it should not be taken for granted. Over time, the stories fade and the story-tellers age and die. A collective history must be preserved to endure. On a community-wide level, that is largely the function of town historians and historical societies. They play an essential role in the long-term viability of a true community.
The French Creek Historical Society is seeking help from current and former residents of French Creek Township interested in preserving the history of the community. Through the tireless efforts of a small group of faithful members, the society has endured, but help – financial, organizational and otherwise – is needed to sustain the society. Last week the society held its annual picnic at the Cordwood Building Museum and Community Center. Anyone unable to attend who would still like to be involved in preserving the rich history of the French Creek area may contact Rick Maas as (814) 725-1229 or by e-mail at hefrees@aol.com.
The preservation of our shared history is essential and, at a certain point, irretrievable. Historians and historical societies preserve and supplement the record and pass the torch to the next generation. When the torch falls, what’s lost is gone forever.
