I love being project manager for the Magnolia Historical Society's history book project.
Well, that's how I feel today. So many Magnolians-many of whom never would have thought of themselves as writers, story-tellers or researchers-have written great pieces for this book.
Helen Haladyna wrote of an interesting Magnolian, Jo Swift, who was a Women Air Force Service Pilot (WASP)-one of 25,000 women who applied, 1,800 who were selected and 1,079 who actually graduated. Swift was one of first women to fly military planes
One of my favorite stories in the collection is of a female soda jerk, Barbara Wade Gates, who worked at Werttemberger's Magnolia Pharmacy circa 1940 and who once accidentally dropped her watch in a pot of clam chowder.
And then there's the writing of Hal Will's first research piece on J.J. Hill, railroad magnate, which is very good. (Thanks to Hill, Magnolia witnessed the Silk Trains at Smith Cove.) Hal got so involved with the writing of this piece that he practically brings the reader along rail by rail from east to west coast. That is the fun part of this project.
We also have the events: one coming up on Oct. 20, a reading from 7 to 9 p.m. at Discovery Park's visitor's center. This will be the first literary reading by the authors of the coming book, and everyone is invited. Rob Wilson will provide the Oktoberfest music and we will socialize and serve dessert. Come! This will be the first public hint of what the Magnolia Historical Essay Project II has to offer the reader. RSVP me at wootons@att.net or 284-2430.
Oh, and I like the surprise phone calls offering new information: the great-great-granddaughter of one of the early 1900s lighthouse keepers who presented us with his log book entries. Someone else possessed interesting abstract block prints of the West Point Lighthouse and Smith Cove. And there is amazing memorabilia from World War II: the ration books and the letters from overseas.
It's amazing to be a part of all of this, to be able to make sure Magnolia residents have this history in a permanent format. My fingers are crossed!
On other days, I feel that being project manager is a horrible burden. How can I manage the organization of it all? We have an electronic and hard-copy file of everything; I need a secretary! I need to write my stories, edit others and email, email, email.
We wait on the city and work through some quirkiness regarding the getting of grant money. People get sick. I will miss Jen Ryan, our grant manager, as she takes two months off for health reasons; and I welcome Whitney Mason, who will fill this jack-of-all-trades position. I also worry about Milt Furness, one of the editors, as he mends from a serious illness.
Don Clark, "the world's most famous writer" as he would jokingly say, passed away two months ago. His family has allowed us to use his material on Lawton Wood, for which we are grateful.
We are planning for a fundraiser to be able to add some "frosting on the cake" of our next edition. Boy, am I bad at asking for money! Perhaps that is why I am a perennial volunteer. But I will do it and do it well, because I believe in this project with my whole heart. This is a special project, by Magnolians for Magnolians, and on my worst day I am so proud to be a Magnolian, and so impressed with the work of the 35 volunteers working on this project.
I am more than happy to carry on as best I can. Actually, I am honored.
Monica Wooton, a longtime Magnolia resident, is a member of the Magnolia Historical Society.[[In-content Ad]]
