The Bedford Stories Project

bedford-stories-project

A Story Gathering Program at the Library

Inspired by StoryCorps®, The Bedford Free Public Library launched the Bedford Stories Project in 2016.

The Bedford Stories Project is a community-wide, story gathering program that allows the citizens of Bedford a forum to tell and preserve their stories.

You can listen to Bedford Stories here.

The Bedford Stories Project for 2019 focuses on recording interviews with Bedford’s Citizens of the Year. The Citizen of the Year has been an annual tradition since 1979 and 2019 marked its 40th anniversary. Nominations are received each year from June to early August.

The Citizen of the Year is honored by:

  • Riding in the Bedford Day Parade
  • A reception at Old Town Hall coupled with the annual Bedford Minutemen Change of Command Ceremony
  • Participates in the Annual Tree Lighting each December on the Common

The Bedford Stories Project for the years 2016 to 2018 included recordings of conversations between citizens who made a difference in each other’s other lives or memorial tributes to community members who inspired others.

Leslie Wittman conducted the Citizen of the Year Interviews and recorded the Community Conversations.

Recording equipment kindly provided through the generosity of The Friends of the Bedford Free Public Library.

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