The project to collect and preserve the history of an area where our ancestors settled is on track.
A possible title for the publication that will result from this efforts, Pioneers in the Ocoee District of South East Tennessee - A Social and Cultural History 1800 - 1997. We are still exploring options to find those best qualified to put this project together. We’ve had conferences with the deans of several Universities with strong graduate programs in history and with colleges and community colleges in our part of the state. We think that we may have a recommendation to give to the Board of Directors of our Association by their April meeting.
It is time now to request your help with the history of this area that should be preserved. “How?”, you may ask. By beginning now to search for old letters, newspapers, stories, articles from old magazines, obituaries, books, pictures, etc. But first locate a definite place in your home to keep what you find. Then as you find items and objects of interest and historical value, put them together in that definite, secure place. You will have many months to do your searching, but begin your search soon, in old family trunks, attics, old suitcases, Bibles - anywhere older things are kept. Also, ask relatives, friends and neighbors to help you collect items. With a tape recorder or video visit older people who may know some stories, history or happenings handed down from their parents, grandparents and friends, and you can record them on tape to be preserved indefinitely. Take pictures of interesting and historic places in the area, and old furniture and household equipment, family homesteads, old farm equipment, etc. and add them to your collection. Be sure to name and label them and tell what and where they are or were. See how many old pictures you can collect that show something of how people lived back then,
Be an exciting part of helping preserve the history and heritage of this area before it becomes lost forever. Help make history come alive for future generations so they may see how their forefathers settled and helped develop the land in this area. We are interested only in unpublished sources of stories, pictures, etc. except for very old ones.
Keep your collection together and carefully labeled until the committee appointed by the Roark-Conner Association requests you to send in your collection. If you prefer to keep original letters, pictures, etc. make copies of them to send in.
The committee will give credit in the book to be compiled, for any material used in the collection. Others not used, may be put in the Roark-Conner Association Collection in the libraries in Chattanooga and Nashville. So be sure you label and describe items in your collection very carefully. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated and will help make this project a great success.
Heritage Research Committee
Bruce Benton
Reba Wilson