Tell Your Story at the Western Montana Fair – Oral History Project [AUDIO]

For the second year in a row, the Missoula Historic Preservation Commission will continue its oral histories project at the Western Montana Fair.

Volunteer historians will be recording stories from residents of Western Montana, along with collecting photographs and scanning historic artifacts and memorabilia. Historic Preservation Officer Leslie Schwab outlines the stories the commission is seeking.

"We're looking for information related to area schools, the university, changes in transportation, different types of businesses, construction, the military and the Forest Service," Schwab said. "Specifically, this year we're looking for stories relating to the Missoula underground, which are the subterranean spaces underneath the spaces in the historic district that have some associations with the red light districts  and Chinatown."

Schwab invites anyone with this kind of information to come to the fair and share their stories with the voluntary historians.

"This is happening Wednesday and Thursday, August 7th and 8th,between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.," Schwab said. "Wednesday is senior day, with free admission for those over 65, and we'll be in the Fair History Building, which is behind the Culinary Building and next to the Commercial Building."

Historic Preservation Officer Leslie Schwab