Foothills Forum graphic; to enlarge, click on it; to download, right-click. |
In 2000, another longtime local, Hal Hunter, documented Amissville's past through oral histories and photos of historic buildings, told Hurley it's challenging to build community without a central place for people to congregate. "The truth is there is no village in the village," Hunter said. "We need to continually look for ways to come together and talk with each other." The Amissville ZIP code, which lies in three counties but mainly in Rappahannock, has about 5,100 people. That is expected to grow with a major development four miles east, in Fauquier County. Land use is a big issue in the region.
The story details some of the community's history through interviews with a slew of locals. That's one of the reasons it was well-received, Foothills Forum Chair Andy Alexander told The Rural Blog. The paper's editor, Dennis Brack, was once a graphic director for The Washington Post. But a story like this doesn't require fancy graphics to make an impact and create a connection with readers. Here are some other key takeaways from the package, for other newspapers to remember:
- People like to read about themselves, their neighbors and their community. It’s their identity and their world.
- Let people tell their own story. About two dozen locals are quoted in Hurley's story. That required a lot of legwork, but it paid off: Hearing Amissville residents describe their community — in their own words — gave the story richness and credibility.
- In writing about any community, nostalgia is catnip for readers.
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