CARROLLTON — The stories, memories and voices of Greene County will take center stage tonight with the online premiere of Porch Stories: Stories from Greene County, Illinois at 7 p.m. on YouTube.
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The film is part of the Porch Stories Project, a community storytelling and oral history effort created to record the people, places and experiences that have shaped Greene County.
Viewers can watch the premiere live on YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/live/0FwSKXPFhEg?si=B7-vFXSpXV_qe8AU
They can also follow the Porch Stories Facebook page and join the conversation at:
https://www.facebook.com/porchstoriesproject/
While tonight’s premiere brings together many of the stories collected during the project’s first phase, organizers say the film is not intended to be the end of the project.
It is the beginning.
The hope is that watching neighbors, family members and familiar faces share their memories will encourage others throughout Greene County to come forward and record their own stories.
“Every community has stories that people assume someone else will remember,” said Katie Dudley, project director and producer. “But if we don’t make the effort to record them, eventually we lose not only the stories, but pieces of how a place became what it is. We hope people watch tonight and think, ‘I have a story like that,’ or ‘There’s someone in my family we need to record.’”
The first film includes stories from residents throughout Greene County about family, businesses, farming, community traditions, local landmarks, childhood adventures and everyday experiences that often do not make their way into traditional historical records.
Residents who have a story to tell, know someone whose story should be recorded, or would like to learn more about participating are encouraged to follow the Porch Stories Project online.
Premiere: Monday, August 31, 2026, at 7 p.m.
Watch on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/live/0FwSKXPFhEg?si=B7-vFXSpXV_qe8AU
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/porchstoriesproject/
Porch Stories is presented in partnership with the Greene County Historical & Genealogical Society and is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.
