Kingston Springs awarded $8k to preserve town’s history through podcast

The Town of Kingston Springs was awarded a Tennessee America 250 Grant from the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. This grant, in the amount of $8,750, will be used for gathering, recording, editing and hosting local stories related to the history of the Town of Kingston Springs.  

Kingston Springs City Manager John Lawless will work with Cate Burgan, founder of the Kingston Springs Gazette, to produce a podcast – Stories from the Springs – set for release in the fall.  

According to Lawless, “Capturing Kingston Springs’ oral history is an investment in the community. Oral history not only tells us how the Town of Kingston Springs came to be but also captures the past experiences of everyday life as the community was forming. Stories of past traditions, celebrations, floods and tornadoes, businesses that sustained generations and influential community members that helped shape dozens of lives – these are the things we’re looking to preserve.”

The Town of Kingston Springs will be conducting this Oral History project as part of Tennessee’s America 250 commemoration. Over the coming months, video interviews will be collected, cataloged and archived online. These interviews will be stored on the town’s website for public viewing and can be used not only for America 250 programs and events, but for ongoing listening sessions, school projects, community exhibits and other media presentations.

Gathering this oral history is anticipated to be a 12-month project. However, once established, this will be a living podcast with plans to keep it growing for years to come.

“This project is about preserving the voices and memories that make Kingston Springs unique. Every longtime resident, business owner, educator and family has a story that contributes to the history of this town, and we want to make sure those stories are not lost to time,” Burgan said. “Through this podcast and oral history initiative, we hope to create a lasting archive that future generations can learn from and connect with. We’re actively looking for community members who would like to participate and share their experiences as part of this project.”

The Town of Kingston Springs and the Gazette are currently looking for people to share their stories of life in Kingston Springs. Please email cateburgan@ksgazette.com for more information.