Westlake Historical Society seeks your story

Westlake Historical Society volunteer Natalie Nurse is conducting interviews with people who have a past or present connection to Westlake.

As a history major at Baldwin Wallace University, and previously as a student at Westlake High School, I have studied a myriad of events, throughout many different time periods, spanning all across the world. My fascination with history has remained constant, regardless of the era. It is not the great wars that have taken place or the monuments erected that continue to hold my interest, but the people.

I continue to be in awe of the impact that a single person can have on history. It's amazing to think that every single person has a unique story to tell and every story is important. Every person has shaped history.

They may not have created an expansive empire, but maybe they have done something as simple (or as great) as helping a person in need. Or maybe they were educators and passed their knowledge on to future generations. Whatever the case may be, they deserve to have their story heard.  

This is why I am starting an oral history project through the Westlake Historical Society. Oral history provides people with an opportunity to give future generations valuable insight into the past by relaying their own, personal histories to an interviewer (in this case, me). By talking about the past, each participant in this oral history project will be helping to piece together the story of our community, or the community they came from.   

I will be interviewing people about their lives, whether they grew up in Westlake, or currently live in Westlake or a surrounding area. There are no restrictions on those that can be interviewed; I simply ask that you are willing to share your story with me. Interviews can be conducted at the Clague House Museum, over the telephone, in person at Porter Library, whatever is most convenient for you.  

If you are interested in being interviewed, please send an email to westlakehistory@yahoo.com, write "Oral History Project" in the subject bar, and it will be forwarded to me. I look forward to starting on this worthwhile project!