Though he has traveled the world, Leo Eaton has been working lately a little closer to home.

He has recently headed a local, grassroots, history-through-story-telling-style project. He is chief advisor and volunteer executive producer of the multi-faceted Carroll County History Project.

He is overseeing the videotaping and archiving of hundreds of individual oral histories from Carroll Countians, both young and old, distinguished and obscure.

The Carroll History Project is a cooperative effort by the Carroll County Community Media Center, the Carroll County Public Library and several other county-wide organizations.

The project has been under way for much of this year, and a key facet of the project, the documentary film "Carroll County's Legacy," will premiere Tuesday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m. at the Community Media Center, at 1301 Washington Road in Westminster.

The screening will be followed by a question and answer period for the audience. The screening is free and open to the public, although reservations are suggested. Call 410-386-4415 or visit CarrollHistory.org.

The film, "Carroll County's Legacy," explores the county's history by examining people, communities, agriculture, business and industry, religion, transportation and education. The hour-long production includes oral histories from local residents and descriptions of significant historical sites throughout Carroll County. Eaton says his involvement helps keep him anchored on his home turf.

"I spend so much time gone and dealing with issues where I don't live that when a friend suggested I join the board of the Community Media Center, I did," he recalls. "When (Media Center executive director) Marion Ware told me about her dream of doing a county-wide oral history project similar to National Public Radio's StoryCorps, I decided to help with that."

---

user comments (0)