Dorothy Yamashita prepares food for a Hartford Historical Society event at Garipay House. The historical society is looking for volunteers to records oral histories of the town's oldest residents. (Photograph courtesy of the Hartford Historical Society)
Dorothy Yamashita prepares food for a Hartford Historical Society event at Garipay House. The historical society is looking for volunteers to records oral histories of the town's oldest residents. (Photograph courtesy of the Hartford Historical Society) Credit: Courtesy photograph

Hartford — Do you like listening to people’s stories?

Then the Hartford Historical Society has the perfect volunteer opportunity for you: recording oral histories from Hartford residents. The society, located at Garipay House in Hartford Village, provides a list of names of people to interview, questions to ask and recording equipment to get the task done.

Usually, a volunteer asks a question and the subject of the interview “just takes off,” said Judy Barwood, an officer at the Hartford Historical Society.

People do not need to be a resident of Hartford to volunteer, but they must be high school-aged or older to participate.

“It can be anyone who is interested in the town of Hartford and our history,” Barwood said.

The society has recorded close to 100 histories so far and are always looking for more names to add to their list of people to interview.

“We want to talk with anyone who grew up here,” Barwood said, adding that interview subjects do not have to still live in Hartford.

Help also is needed to do office work and give tours of Garipay House, as well as other tasks.

Editor’s note: For more information, email info@hartfordhistoricalsociety.com. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.