PCM collecting oral histories of how corn changed county

Storyteller and facilitator Sandra Harris (left), Pat Allen, Don Wilson, Andy Hertel, Larry Jones and Melvin Ford prticipate in an oral history session at Roachdale last week. Other participants were Barbara Brookshire, Delores Risk, Wayne and Joe Buser, Ron Barker and host Charley Riggle. (Courtesy photo)

ROACHDALE -- The Putnam County Museum went to the Roachdale Hardware Store recently to collect oral histories.

Citizens in their 70s, 80s and 90s shared stories over a two-day period about growing up in Putnam County in the early 20th century with cows to milk, summer kitchens, horse-drawn plows and Model A Fords.

They laughed to remember a time when high school boys picked up the principal's little car and put it down crosswise on a street between two buildings so he couldn't drive it out.

They remembered collecting bags full of milkweed floss for stuffing life jackets during World War II and shelling bags full of walnuts to be sold for a little cash.

They remembered borrowing from the bank with a simple signature and a handshake and recalled eye-opening trips to visit farmers in the Soviet Union, Colombia and Scotland.

The oral history project is part of the Putnam County Museum's bicentennial plans for an exhibit titled "How Corn Changed Putnam County."

The storytelling sessions were facilitated by Sandra Harris of Indianapolis, who is a professional storyteller.

Bonner Scholar Daniel Chen of DePauw University made video recordings of the sessions and plans to edit and transcribe the video to be shared with future generations.