Local Color: Western Massachusetts seniors write about life as they remember it

About Local Color

Local Color began in 1998 when, encouraged by my writing mentor, Gene Zeiger, I applied for a Massachusetts Cultural Council grant to teach memoir writing to Western Massachusetts senior citizens at the Montague Senior Center.

Sepia photo of three childrenThe first time the class met, most of the twelve seniors came in hesitantly. I heard quite a few of those elders say, "I'm only here because my daughter/son made me come." Many more said, "I'm not a writer."

Over the next eight weeks, these uncertain senior citizens opened their hearts and minds and created works prompted by phrases, family photos or heirlooms. As stories were written and read, all the seniors were reminded of similar incidents in their own lives, and even more stories were generated, all with their own unique twist. No two stories were the same by any means.

Model A FordWhat struck me was how skilled and comfortable these people (aged seventy to ninety-five) were with words. Their stories of life in the 20th and 21st centuries were clear, and they easily captured and shared their "oral histories." They were, in fact, writers and historians with a compassionate commitment to helping the coming generations understand how they had lived their lives.

As a grand finale to that memoir writing workshop, I "published" some of the stories under the title The Stories of Our Lives. Copies of these "homemade" booklets were given to authors and three area libraries. At about that time, I began to believe that this project should be opened up to other seniors in our county. Suddenly, I began receiving phone calls from people asking where they could buy The Stories of Our Lives or how they could submit to the next issue.

Model A FordIn 1999, thanks to another Massachusetts Cultural Council grant, Local Color was born. Named to reflect what these stories add to local history (what watercolor paint adds to a pencil sketch), issue number one had twenty-seven authors, all aged 65 and older. Supported by area businesses and individuals, Local Color is now published in a limited run each year. In 2006, Local Color #8 had sixty-one authors from three Western Massachusetts counties. The support of The Xeric Foundation will help Local Color #9 be printed in 2007.

In 2003, Local Color: The First Five Years was published by Haley's in Athol, Massachusetts. It is Local Color 1 - 5 plus thirty-six stories never before published. It is available year round.

Man with windmillI once heard a news reporter say, "A community is best defined by the stories its people tell." I couldn't agree more.

Though not planned this way, the year I turn 65 I will be able to contribute to Local Color #25. I can't wait!

Anna Viadero
Founder and Editor of Local Color