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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

In celebration of the Alabama Bicentennial, Chestnut Creek Heritage Chapel began a Sharing Our Stories oral history project to gather stories of local people.

Board members are recording interviews with those who have memories of the Verbena and Cooper communities.

“It’s fun,” Taylor said. “We kind of started with the idea of talking to people about the type of work that people used to do.”

The first few interviews were with people who had ties to the logging industry. Next, they interviewed people about the old Cooper school.

More people willing to be interviewed are needed for the project.

Taylor said they are really interested in “anything having to do with life, maybe what kids did in those days, entertainment, even stories they remember, anything about the area.”

Those interested in participating can contact Taylor at 205-217-9466.

The interviews will eventually be transcribed into written form and turned into a local history book.

Taylor said the opportunity will be ongoing because they want to include as many people as are interested.

Chestnut Creek Heritage Chapel is an organization dedicated to preserving the former Chestnut Creek Baptist Church’s building. The group was originally formed by family members with ancestors buried in the adjoining cemetery.

The group hosts musical events and fundraisers each year.