INTRODUCTION

How do we actively engage students in the study of history? This is the ongoing challenge that history teachers must face at the secondary level. Historian David Blight of Yale suggests that "all historical experience . . . must be imagined before it can be understood." One way to engage students and their imaginations more fully is to connect them to the actual process of "doing" history and relate that process to an increased understanding of their local environment. Indeed, the story of Black River Falls and the surrounding area provides a rich and diverse landscape for historical research.  What was it like to grow up in Black River in the 1940s?  How did the depression impact Jackson County?  How did young men and women from this area react to the experience of World War 2?  The Korean War?  How has the political history of the county evolved?  These are the kinds of questions that allow our students to imagine a different time and place, but one that also has a ring of familiarity.    

With the turn of the new century in 2000, several of us were intrigued with the idea of developing a local history project that would authentically connect our students to the history of our region. Our intention from the start was that the project would be ongoing, that it would involve a number of teachers and students, and that an important component would be development of a permanent archive at the high school that focuses on local history.  Much of our inspiration for the project stemmed from the fascinating story of Mitchell Redcloud, Medal of Honor winner and graduate of BRFHS.

THE PROJECT INCLUDES ORAL HISTORY WORK . . . 

Due to the flexibility of scheduling related to the block schedule, our seniors often have room in their schedules for a variety of opportunities. During the 2001-02 school year we piloted an Independent Study project aimed at involving an advanced level senior history students in the process of compiling oral history related to our region.  Since then, we have had six advanced history students who developed a project that examined a particular aspect of our local history.  

MEET THE FALLS HISTORY PROJECT INTERNS

Andi Cloud was our first intern in the project.  She conducted interviews with four local veterans of World War II.  She did an outstanding job getting the project started!	Kristen Boehm was our 2002-03 intern.  She focused on  Black River Falls in the 1930s.  She was able to uncover some fascinating stories from the early part of the century in BRF.	Our 2003-04 intern was Jill Janke  The focus of our 2003-04 research was Black River Falls in 1952.
2004-05 intern Kirsten Bjerke explored various facets of music history in Black River Falls.	2005-06 intern Cory Schultz researched the political history of Jackson County with a special emphasis on the election of 1968.	2006-07 intern Katie Norton researched the story of the Korean War in our region.
2007-08 intern Max Hart did his research on the the Jackson County Fair.  Max is pictured here with his grandmother Lillian Hart, one of our interviewees in 2008.

AND RESEARCHING LOCAL DOCUMENTARY SOURCES . . . 

Students are introduced to the sources of history available at the Jackson County History Room located at the BRF Public Library, particularly the microfilm archives of local newspapers. In addition, students with a special interest in HoChunk history will be introduced to the archives of the Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources of the HoChunk Nation located at the Executive Building of the tribe.

WE ARE DEVELOPING A PERMANENT ARCHIVE AT BRFHS

We have developed a historical archive as a result of this project.  All materials that have been gathered, including tapes, transcripts, and pictures, are being stored there for use by our younger history students.  In the future, students will be involved in organizing and maintaining the archive. In addition to a physical archive, we will continue to develop the Falls History Project Website.   

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Falls History Project offers great potential for furthering history education in our school. In addition, it will provide an excellent opportunity for developing connections between the community and the school related to local history. As a symbolic beginning for this project, we have established a permanent display related to Corporal RedCloud, a BRFHS graduate who posthumously received the Medal of Honor from President Truman for heroism in the Korean War. His life story offers a compelling example of the power of memory in our community.