StoryQuest 2015 Oral History Summer Workshop

On July 9, Rachel Brown held a follow-up interview with Ralph and Leona Van Dyke, who had been our first interviewees of the program. In this interview, Ralph shared more details of the explosion at the Kent Defense Munitions plant, and of Leona's aunt, who served in the Nurse Corps stationed in North Africa.

On June 1, the StoryQuest team conducted its first interview of the workshop! Ralph and Leona Van Dyke were interviewed about their childhoods growing up in Chestertown and the surrounding area, sharing stories about rationing, plane spotting, and an explosion at the local munitions plant, among other things. The interview was conducted by Adam Goodheart, Michael Buckley, Lani Seikaly, Rachel Brown, Sarah Graff, Joe Swit, Nick Coviello, Emma Buchman, Elijah McGuire-Berk, and Abby Gordon.

On June 18, Adam Goodheart and Abby Gordon interviewed James Valliant, who shared his memories of Centreville just before the war, as well as his own experiences in the armed services during the war, and his travels in Europe and Asia immediately after war's end.

On June 18, Emma Buchman interviewed Pat Ingersoll, who shared her experiences as a young mother living on a farm in the area around Chestertown during WWII.

On June 18, Nick Coviello interviewed Eddie GIllespie, who shared his memories of living in Sudlersville during World War II.

On June 18, Elijah McGuire-Berk interviewed Charles Dulin, an alum of Washington College who served in the armed forces stateside during World War II.

On June 18, Joseph Swit interviewed John Huntington, who shared his memories of serving in the US armed forces in Italy during WWII, and later attending Washington College on the GI Bill.

On June 18, Sarah Graff interviewed Ginny Hague about her experiences as a Washington College student during World War II.

On June 17, Emma Buchman and Abby Gordon interviewed Peggy Smith, a former Washington College student who shared her memories of the campus and Chestertown life during the war.

On June 17, Joseph Swit and Elijah McGuire-Berk interviewed Wilson Jackson "Jack" Stenger, who shared his memories of Chestertown during the war, including his time at Washington College.

On June 17, Sarah Graff and Nick Coviello interviewed Rogers Smith, who shared his memories of being a teenager in Church Hill during the war, volunteering for the fire department and eventually assisting Washington College after his own service.

On June 16, Sarah Graff and Nick Coviello interviewed Rolph Townshend, who shared his memories of being a teenager in Chestertown during the war and his eventual enlistment.

On June 16, Elijah McGuire-Berk and Joseph Swit interviewed Patsy Skirven Reihl, who shared her memories of her uncle who had been killed while in service in North Africa during WWII.

On June 11, Joseph Swit and Sarah Graff interviewed Tom Davis, who shares his childhood memories of the munitions plant explosion, neighbors and family members who served in the arm forces, and the wartime changes to everyday life in Chestertown.

On June 11, Elijah McGuire-Berk and Abby Gordon interviewed Charles Gill, who shared his memories as a service member during the war, and his wife Frances Long Gill, who shared her memories of the home front.

On June 11, Elijah McGuire-Berk and Abby Gordon interviewed Walter & Charlotte Slagle, as well as their friend Renee Coxon, who grew up during the war in Chestertown.

On June 10, Joseph Swit and Sarah Graff interviewed Mervin Cohey, who grew up in a farming family in the area, enlisted in the military, and ended up guarding one of Hitler's houses in Germany.

On June 10, Nick Coviello and Emma Buchman interviewed Tom Mulligan, who shared his memories of growing up on his father's farm, where German POWs worked. This is part two of the interview; part one is labeled SQ-2015-Mulligan-01a.

On June 10, Nick Coviello and Emma Buchman interviewed Tom Mulligan, who shared his memories of growing up on his father's farm, where German POWs worked. This is part one of the interview; part two is labeled SQ-2015-Mulligan-01b.

On June 9, Joseph Swit and Sarah Graff interviewed Dickie Hudson, who lived with his brothers on a farm just outside of Chestertown during the war.

On June 9, Abby Gordon and Elijah McGuire-Berk interviewed Virginia and Allen Capel, who share their memories of rationing, war work, and hosting German POWs as they grew up around Chestertown during the war.

On June 9, Nick Coviello and Emma Buchman interviewed Mackey Dutton, a woman who lived in Chestertown during WWII.

On June 4, sudents Rachel Brown, Abby Gordon, Nick Coviello, and Joseph Swit interviewed Mrs. Mary Wood, who worked for the Red Cross in Washington, D.C., and lived on a farm near Centreville during the war.

On June 2, Milford Murray shared his memories of growing up in Chestertown during the war era, discussing segregation and changing views of race. Michael Buckley, Elijah McGuire-Berk, Emma Buchman, and Sarah Graff conducted the interview.