Storytelling takes center stage at senior center

Bob Miller shares stories of his home on his own porch during a recent storytelling event.

Members of the center pose together in the Norris' home during the storytelling event.

Submitted by Meg Dickens

Johnson County is rich in local lore and history. The Johnson County Senior Center makes a point to pay tribute to the past. These memories inform the future and are a foundation for both the area and those that frequent it. As a part of this, the center has been putting a strong focus on storytelling. Since October, the organization has attended two events and has several more coming. Two couples have opened up their homes to share personal and area history.

On October 19, seniors headed over to members Bob and Minnie Miller’s home to hear their stories of Forge Creek and Cold Springs. As Minnie explained, they focused on local history with a splash of folklore, which included two ghost stories. Both Millers have lived in the area for almost their entire lives and are well aware of its history. For example, the local third district was reportedly referred to as the “Bloody Third” because of incidents in the Civil War where Confederate soldiers tried to force Union soldiers into changing sides, which occasionally became bloody upon refusal.

Originally published in The Tomahawk Newspaper