Bucksport Captures Present & Future in New Oral history Collection
A new book, “Tell Your Story, Write Your Story, Share Your Story,” aims to serve as a “time capsule” of life in Bucksport, Maine, according to organizers Lisa Ladd and Vanessa Newman. The project builds on previous locally-focused oral history volumes: “Still Mill,” published in 2014 following the closure of the town’s paper mill, and “Heart and Soul” released five years later.
Though, this latest collection differs in scope, shifting focus from a specific event to a broader portrait of the community today. Ladd and Newman envisioned the book as a way to bridge divides between long-time residents and newcomers, and to foster positivity amidst increasing social polarization.
The initiative began after the 2016 presidential election, inspired by storytelling programs like NPR’s The Moth Radio Hour. What started as a modest idea quickly expanded into five workshops and four author visits, supported by a grant from the Maine Humanities Council, including a visit from the state’s poet laureate.The project was a collaboration between the buck Memorial Library,the Bucksport Bay Healthy Communities Coalition,and Wednesday on Main,a local summer event series.The book features contributions from residents of all ages, including children from the library’s story hour, students from the REACH school, and retirees. It includes perspectives from longtime residents, former mill workers, and those who have recently moved to Bucksport. While some prompts were offered, the project was largely open-ended, and also incorporates transcribed stories from individuals less pleasant with writing.
Though not specifically centered on the mill’s closure a decade ago, the impact of its loss remains a recurring theme. “A lot of what we hear is still that question of ‘where do we go from here?'” Ladd noted. Despite the mill’s absence, Bucksport has seen an influx of new residents and ideas in recent years, mirroring a trend observed in othre maine towns.Ladd, the town’s library director, and Newman, who works for the healthy communities coalition, both acknowledged experiencing tension within the community regarding “people from away.” They view the book as a exhibition of their commitment to the town and a platform for diverse voices.
“We were hearing from community members [about] their differing perceptions and not having a place to put them,” Newman explained. “And now they have a place.”
Organizers hope the project will lead to the formation of an ongoing writing group and inspire similar initiatives in local schools and other communities. “Tell Your Story,Write Your story,Share Your Story” will be archived in both the Library of Congress and the Maine State Library. It will be available at the Buck Memorial Library,BookStacks,and at a public launch party scheduled for Saturday,September 6th,from 1-4 p.m. at the Bucksport Trading Post.
