If your grandmother had written a journal, wouldn’t you want to read it?  Have you been promising to write down your own memories?  Our history isn’t getting any younger and it is important to pass these stories on to your grandchildren.  People don’t live forever, and we realize how important it is to preserve our history while the storytellers are still with us.  The City of Lewisburg has proudly launched a Living History Project to make that possible.

 

The newly restored Lobby of Lewisburg City Hall is now home to a public Living History Exhibit, “Our Place in Time,” paying tribute to the people, places and events that define who we are and where we come from.  The exhibit includes short documentary films displayed on an easy-to-use computer kiosk.  Stories of our people come to life as we learn about the times in which they lived and the events that formed the foundation of our communities.  Tourists, residents and groups visiting the exhibit will experience our rich history through pictorial displays and be directed to the many historic attractions and businesses in Greenbrier County.

 

Preserving history begins at home and ours is a history that encompasses not only the lives of our people, but the accomplishments and contributions they have made to society.  “Our Place in Time” gives us the opportunity to join the many communities across the country that are highlighting their history in new, exciting ways which lead us to a better understanding of our place in the history of our country.  Our student programs throughout the County, including a Student Film Competition, will make it possible for our young people to work with professionals and community members to prepare them for keeping our history alive in the years to come. 

 

We are asking for your support to help preserve that which otherwise will be lost to the hands of time. 

 

The West Virginia Film Office, Carnegie Hall, The New River Community and Technical College and The General Lewis Inn are just a few of the partners that are joining with us to make this project a reality.  You can be a partner too!

 

We realize that you are asked often to support many worthwhile projects.  We also realize how fragile time is, which creates an even greater need to begin this project now. Your early financial support will insure that the stories, voices and smiles of our most elderly neighbors will be preserved for future generations. Your donation will help provide equipment, supplies and production expenses.  Local school students and community residents have already volunteered to begin the monumental task of interviewing county residents.  

 

The money you donate to this project does not go to the city.  Contributions are accepted by the City of Lewisburg and administered through a special “History Project” account.  All contributions are for the express purpose of the Lewisburg Living History Project and are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. Our financial summaries are available for public review upon request

 

If you have questions or would like a member of the committee to talk with you about special ways of giving, please call the Project Director, B.J. Gudmundsson, at 645-4998 or John Manchester at 645-2080

 

Our history is alive!  And we’re excited about it!  We hope that you will be excited as well.  We look forward to working together as a community to excite our young people about the past and to showcase our history to those who visit here!

 

Thank you for your support!

 

Sincerely,

 

John Manchester, Mayor, City of Lewisburg      

 

B.J. Sharp-Gudmundsson, Project Director

         

Nan Morgan, Advisory Chair